The whole world celebrates New Year… with joy, dancing, evening partying… some with tarboush on the head, some horns in their mouth… some sleep in their homes…. some sleep on the sidewalk due to drinking too much alcohol… some sleep at the hospital because of accidents. The importance is a year passes… and a year comes to receive its letters of credence for the year 2016… clock hands hug each other announcing the start of a new year.
Dear reader, come with me on a trip around the world to watch together the most important New Year customs and traditions.
United States of America:
Millions spread out at the Times Square in New York City to watch the falling of a glass ball, along with shining lights from a high raised column. At one particular minute, the ball falls to the bottom of the column, during which time cheering breaks out at midnight.
Denmark:
The tradition is to throw the previous year’s plates on neighbors’ and friends’ doors. If one finds in the New Year’s morning more broken plates at his/her apartment’s door, he/she becomes happy and certain that he/she has a lot of friends.
Japan:
Fried chicken meal is the Master of the table. Houses are decorated with flower wreaths because they chase away devil souls.They also symbolize luck and happiness with the coming of the new year. Japanese start laughing because they believe that it brings good luck.
Mexico:
Eating 12 grapes … They eat one grape grain every hour. Each one stands for a month of the new year’s months, along with tasting each piece separately, so that they can expect how each month of the new year will be.
Venezuela:
They have to carry their stuff on their back the day of 31 December if they want to travel a lot in the following year. They also have to wear yellow-colored underwear because they believe that it brings good luck. They write their wishes and dreams before the new year…. and by the time the night approaches, they collect their wishes and burn them.
China:
The Chinese make various shapes of paper lights and put them around a Christmas tree. They also add their ancestors’ photos on the tree when they are having New Year’s dinner.
Dubai:
Khalifa Tower is the star of the New Year’s Eve as to fireworks, lights and water show. More than a million visitors a year , in addition to world music shows and a special performance in the Tower’s lake.
Germany:
Lighting trees reflects the belief that their ancestors used to light the paradise trees. Apples, sweets, crackers, and cakes are spread out during this night. As soon as entering in the New Year, the older persons start to read kids’ stories, and then presents are unwrapped.
England:
Britain relies on socks hanging on the chimney mantel awaiting Santa Claus’ arrival to place Christmas presents inside the socks. Grilled pork head is a main dish on the table.
Philippines:
On New Year’s Eve, kids jump 10 times if they want to be tall. Tables are full of rich assorted colored fruits with many kinds of French cheese. Then exchanging presents follows.
Brazil:
Dancing samba and drinking alcohol until sunrise on the beach, wearing swimsuits, as the temperature in December often exceeds 100 degrees. Whoever does not pass out from dancing and drinking is not allowed to share the pork and colored rice, with salad and fruit dishes.
You have been around the world learning about customs and traditions of celebrating the New Year’s Eve… Everyone is happy… it is a holiday… happy because we won a new year, and lost a year from our age.