New Year Traditions in Different Countries
New Year is considered to be the most important and wonderful holiday in all over the world. It is a special day for the people as this day is the beginning of the New Year and they welcome the upcoming year in their way. People start the preparations for the celebration, buy gifts, new clothes, shops are full of the crowd in these days. On the midnight of 31st December and on 1st January there is a celebration of New Year in all over the world.
As we have clients with various nationalities, we would like to speak about New Year celebration of different countries. One of the best things is getting to know new cultures and customs, especially when it comes to New Year’s traditions. Let’s go ahead and discover interesting traditions.
Australia – Usually, with New Year being a public holiday, people along with their friends and families come out of their houses to be a part of the group celebrations as made at beautiful clubs, discotheques, hotels and social parties organized for the purpose. The highly fervent New Year celebrations in Australia are world popular, which is the reason why Australia emerges to be the favorite tourist spot among visitors in and around the time on New Year. Traditionally, people prefer to make a visit to the church to offer their prayers to the supreme Lord. People with their families make an early morning visit to the local or main Church to pray Lord in order to get confer with His blessings for the New Year. A soon as people hear the twelve rings, they mutually show their feelings, it is followed by sharing of hugs, kisses and wishes with all those who are present.
China – The Chinese New Year is colorful and exciting. There are various interesting traditions in China. One particular tradition is handing out cash in red envelopes. Elders usually hand out various sums of money to the young people in red envelopes. Another tradition here is bursting firecrackers that burst aloud. It is believed that the sound can and fire can ward off evil spirits. The Chinese New Year celebration occurs anywhere between late January and the third week of February. People throughout the country light plastic firecrackers to create loud noises that scare away evil spirits. Taking Place in late January or early February, this celebration is one of the most important holidays of the year.
Thailand – The New Year is a long holiday in Thailand from 31st December to 3rd January. Many people take this opportunity to travel either hometown or abroad. For people who are away from their hometown, it is the time to go home to visit parents, family and friends. A lot of Thais celebrate the New Year by attending countdown events around the country where there are concerts and magnificent fireworks. A number of Thai people visit their local temple to make merit either on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Thai Buddhists make merit by giving alms to the monks, listening to sermons by the monks, giving food and releasing birds or fish. By donating money for the upkeep of the temple, Thai Buddhists believe that they earn merit which helps them in the next life.
Germany – Germans call New Year’s Eve Silvester, in honor of Pope Sylvester I, who died on December 31, 335. According to the legend, non-believers who were around him choked on fish bones. Some superstitious people therefore state that one shold avoid fish that night, or at least eat it very carefully. Wonderful parties are thrown all over the Germany in discotheques, restaurants, pubs, clubs and hotels. Throngs of people come in these parties to eat, drink, sing, dance and celebrate New Year’s Eve. In Germany, there is a major following for the tradition of leaving a bit of the New Year’s Eve food till the midnight, till the time New Year arrives. Also people share meat and cheese with close friends and family members over the feast.
Unites States of America – The streets are crowded with youth and elderly people dressed fashionably to welcome the New Year with great joy. The Times Square in the New York City hosts several events which is hosted by the television celebrity Dick Clark. Many people love watching these programs broadcasted on the TV with all their family and friends. The streets are decorated with lanterns, flash lights and colored papers. Flags are also adorned to express happiness. Giant vibrant colored electric apples are lowered to the ground at the time when people start saying “Happy New Year”. American New Year customs and traditions are very colorful and entertaining. You can have fun at the dance parties which is one of the major celebrations on New Year Eve. At the stroke of midnight all the Americans shares kisses and express their New Year greetings.
Philippines – New Year happens to be one of the biggest festivals that get celebrated in Philippines with great enthusiasm. The New Year Eve or the Bisperas ng Bagong Taon paves the way for the New Year with great food and drink with people enjoying with family and friends. The family members offer prayers after dinner. The midnight mass or Media Noche is an age old and important customs followed in the New Year by the people in Philippines. They strongly believe that this mass will bring and retain good luck throughout the year by driving all evil forces away from their life forever.
So we have explored different traditions of different countries, now let’s see what traditions and customs have Armenian people. Armenian New Year celebration always starts on the evening of December 31st and continue throughout January 1st. There are many traditions and customs which are the same in many countries: such traditions as fireworks, parties. Armenian always have rich tables with various dishes, foods, salads and so on. Must-prepare dishes of Armenian the traditional New Year table are: Armenian dolma, pork, Pasuts Dolma, Blinchik, etc.
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas my dear followers. Thank you for your time and consideration. We promise to share more interesting articles in 2019!
Kind Regards,
TCO
