How People Celebrate New Year Around the World

happy new year signage

New Year Day is one of the most celebrated holidays all over the world. On the new year’s eve, the world is filled with festivities, and everyone is in the celebration mood. The celebrations usually start on 31st December and continue the following day. However, there are a few instances where some communities celebrate the new year other than after 31st December because they use a slightly different calendar.

Regardless of the time in which different people celebrate the new year, everyone enjoys these celebrations. Many cultures follow specific traditions aimed at bringing new luck in the coming year. The festivities culminate with people sharing happy new year messages and gifs via phones and other media.

Lighting Big Fireworks

lighting fireworksThis is a tradition that is typically practiced by every culture around the world. On the new year’s eve, you can hear sounds of fireworks filling up the night, and in some places, people gather together, lighting up even bigger fireworks as they wait to cross to the new year together. For example, many people gather at the Auckland Sky Tower in New Zealand and light up a massive fireworks display. The same happens in Australia, where they gather at the Sydney Harbor, and people also congregate in Toronto in Canada and Rio in Brazil.

Breaking Plates

Though it might seem as not the right thing to do from your end, it is a popular way of celebrating the new year in other cultures. People usually go to the neighbor’s front doors and smash plates there. Do not be surprised, especially if you live in Denmark, when you get to your front door and find lots of dishes smashed there. The Danish believe that breaking a plate on your neighbor’s front door will give you good luck throughout the coming year.

Eating Lentils

lentilsWhile you expect people to usher a new year in style by eating roast meat, poultry, fish, and all these exquisite meals, some cultures usher the new year by eating lentils. In Brazil, they believe lentils represent money. People eat lentils on the new year’s eve to have an upcoming year filled with fortunes.

Dropping Things

One of the top places where people gather to usher the new year together is the New York Times Square. Here people do not only light up impressive fireworks but also drop a huge glowing ball through a flag pole. Many people have followed this tradition of dropping things like in Vincennes, Indiana, where they drop watermelons from high places.