A New Year is upon us and people all around the world will celebrate the coming of the New Year in peace with their traditions, some of which are a little odd.
Again, it’s that time of the year to make new resolutions, wishes and have great hopes for the coming year. It’s a New Year. New Year’s Eve is a night to spend with family and friends and may be just another night for going out and enjoying party, there are very interesting traditions around the world for celebrating the coming of a new year. From eating a certain amount of grapes to burning effigies, there are many nations to welcome a new year. On the night of December 31, festivities start in cities around the world to celebrate the coming of the New Year.
In Turkey the Tayyare Lottery was announced each year at 12:00 a.m. on New Year’s Eve on the radio. And soon, as the next day was a holiday, people started celebrating it with their loved ones at homes, restaurants and hotels and announcing the lottery became a tradition of New Year’s Eve, with Turkish Radio and Television hosting the draw on Dec. 31 each year. Some celebrate it by writing their wishes and tying them to trees, while others simply welcome it surrounded by family and friends and offering a big meal to all those invited and with a big countdown to 12:00 a.m.
Scotland celebrates its New Year in a unique manner as Scotland’s Great Balls of Fire. Here, they pay honor to the Vikings as the custom of parading through the streets with blazing balls of fire continues to this day. The walk ends at the harbor where people throw their fireballs into the water, while making wishes for the New Year. The New Year is “Hogmanay”.
Belgium’s New Year celebration is also unique as they wish animals a Happy New Year. Here, livestock are taken very seriously as farmers have a habit of wishing their cows and other cattle Good Luck. While no one is really sure about where this tradition came from but all animals do deserve a nice New Year wish.
As Japan has a major number of Buddhists, their tradition of ringing 108 bells continues during New Year’s Eve. The trust is that it brings cleanness. In addition, smiling while going through the first hours of the New Year is also thought to bring good luck, so do not be worried if the whole of Japan is ringing bells and smiling while the clocks hit midnight on Dec. 31.
In South Africa, people like to throw out old or unused household goods out of the window on New Year’s Eve. Do not be shocked if you come across old TVs or cups when you are walking on the streets of Johannesburg on New Year’s Eve. Hopefully none falls on the head of anyone.
On New Year’s Eve in Brazil, wearing white color is a tradition. The tradition comes from the goddess known as Lamanja, the “Mother of Waters”. She is the protector of fishermen and her worshippers believe jumping over seven waves on New Year’s Eve will win her luck and she will offer them to new opportunities in the coming year. Some believers also throw jewelry and rice into the ocean to win her kindness in the New Year.
Even in India, New Year is no less than a festival. It has become a national festival of celebration in recent years. It is celebrated with a lot of energy and enthusiasm in all parts of India. People start planning weeks in advance, they make plans for get together with friends and family. Christmas and New Year’s Eve are considered to be the last holidays of the year. So people celebrate it with a bang.
And now we welcome the New Year. Full of things that have never been.
Regards
Khushi Anand
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