各國新年風俗及來歷（英語版）
Won't the world be a boring place, if everyone across the globe celebrated New Year in a ditto manner? Honestly, if it had not been for the various New Year traditions, watching the clock strike 12 across 24 time zones wouldn't have been so interesting. So, let's find out how people in some countries wish good luck and prosperity to each other, every year.
Traditions of New Year around the Globe
India : Hindu New Year is the time of festivity. This is the time to meet and greet people and share gifts and sweets. Hindus will paint their houses, decorate it and lit up lamps and candles in the evening. Some of the traditions followed in Hindu New Year celebrations are, Lighting up oil lamps
Making rangolis at houses
Buying and gifting new clothes
Distributing sweets amongst neighbors and relatives
Worshiping Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi. They are believed to bring in wealth and prosperity.
Ploughing is an important part of New Year celebration. In some parts of India New Year celebration is marked with the beginning of the harvest session.
US : In the USA, it is a tradition to gather at Times Square (in the New York City) on New Year eve and celebrate through the night until the clock announces onset of the new year. An exhilarating amount of crowd jam packs the stunning square and everyone enthusiastically participates in the gala event. The entire program is telecasted live for the rest of the Americans and the world to watch from home. As the clock strikes past midnight, the entire Times Square breaks into euphoric cheers, honking cars and people sharing kisses to wade off the old and the evil. Among other popular new year traditions, people like to watch football games, crowd streets and have special food called Hoppin' John with black-eyed beans, along with cakes and champagne for luck and prosperity.
UK : Welcoming the new year in UK is supposed to be noisy - full of loud cheers and whistles of family and friends, followed by kissing and drinking and singing the melodious "Auld Lang Syne" song.
One of the most popular of UK new year traditions still prevalent is called "First Footing". According to the custom, a family is blessed with good luck and prosperity if a tall, dark and good-looking male is the first person to enter through the front door after the new year arrives. Carrying a piece of coal, a loaf and a bottle of Whiskey, the visitor should neither speak to anyone nor be spoken to until he places the coal on fire, puts the loaf on table, serves the drink to the family head and finally wishes everyone a "Happy New Year". He should leave the house through the back door to complete the tradition with flying colors.
China : The Chinese New Year is known as "Yuan Tan". Among all the other New Year traditions around the World, the Chinese celebrations are very famous and colorful.
The traditional Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and it may fall between January 1 and February 19. The Chinese New Year celebrations last for 10-15 days. Some of the different ways to express joy is by playing drums, setting off fireworks and beating the cymbals. The Chinese believe that it wades off the evil sprits and brings fortune. People exchange red envelopes with gold coins in it as a symbol of good luck.
Denmark : It is pretty surprising but, it is very auspicious to find the door heaped with pile of broken dishes on New Year in Denmark. Throughout the year people save all the old dishes and then throw them at the entrance of the homes on the New Year eve. It is believed that the number of broken dishes you have, that many friends you have which is considered very auspicious.
In most of the parts of Scandinavian countries, New Year celebrations are done with great joy and preparation. There are many Danish cuisines which served on the New Year party eve. Kale, is among the favorite dishes which is served with sprinkled sugar and cinnamon with white sauce.
Greece : January 1st is the most important date in the history of Greece. The day is not only observed as New Year but, also as St Basil's Day. The Greek Orthodox churches considered St Basil as one of the forefathers.
Special New Year bread is baked by all the family members. A coin is buried in the dough which is considered very auspicious. Greeks celebrate the New Year with great pomp and show. They share traditional sweet bread with everyone. The coin brings good luck and fortune for the year.
Some traditions to bring in good luck in the New Year
It is a common notion that the New Year will bring in new hopes and luck to people. Hence, people take utmost care in preparing themselves for the New Year.
Following are some of the popular practices that are performed at different countries to welcome good luck in the New Year.
Australia – In Australia suckling pigs are considered to bring good luck and hence, traditional foods are prepared with sucking pigs. In dessert they offer peppermint ice cream in the shape of four-leaf clover.
England- In Britain the tradition says that the first guest on the New Year must be male, carrying gifts for the master of the house.
Wales – In Wales the back door is opened with the first toll of the bell and then shut to release bad omens from the last year. With the 12th stroke of the bell the front door is open to welcome New Year.
Spain - In Spain, people will eat 12 grapes with each stroke of the bell. This is said to bring good luck for the coming 12 months.
Japan - In Japan people decorate their homes with pine branch, bamboo stalk and plum blossom which symbolizes longevity, prosperity and nobility respectively.
Won't the world be a boring place, if everyone across the globe celebrated New Year in a ditto manner? Honestly, if it had not been for the various New Year traditions, watching the clock strike 12 across 24 time zones wouldn't have been so interesting. So, let's find out how people in some countries wish good luck and prosperity to each other, every year.
Traditions of New Year around the Globe
India : Hindu New Year is the time of festivity. This is the time to meet and greet people and share gifts and sweets. Hindus will paint their houses, decorate it and lit up lamps and candles in the evening. Some of the traditions followed in Hindu New Year celebrations are, Lighting up oil lamps
Making rangolis at houses
Buying and gifting new clothes
Distributing sweets amongst neighbors and relatives
Worshiping Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi. They are believed to bring in wealth and prosperity.
Ploughing is an important part of New Year celebration. In some parts of India New Year celebration is marked with the beginning of the harvest session.
US : In the USA, it is a tradition to gather at Times Square (in the New York City) on New Year eve and celebrate through the night until the clock announces onset of the new year. An exhilarating amount of crowd jam packs the stunning square and everyone enthusiastically participates in the gala event. The entire program is telecasted live for the rest of the Americans and the world to watch from home. As the clock strikes past midnight, the entire Times Square breaks into euphoric cheers, honking cars and people sharing kisses to wade off the old and the evil. Among other popular new year traditions, people like to watch football games, crowd streets and have special food called Hoppin' John with black-eyed beans, along with cakes and champagne for luck and prosperity.
UK : Welcoming the new year in UK is supposed to be noisy - full of loud cheers and whistles of family and friends, followed by kissing and drinking and singing the melodious "Auld Lang Syne" song.
One of the most popular of UK new year traditions still prevalent is called "First Footing". According to the custom, a family is blessed with good luck and prosperity if a tall, dark and good-looking male is the first person to enter through the front door after the new year arrives. Carrying a piece of coal, a loaf and a bottle of Whiskey, the visitor should neither speak to anyone nor be spoken to until he places the coal on fire, puts the loaf on table, serves the drink to the family head and finally wishes everyone a "Happy New Year". He should leave the house through the back door to complete the tradition with flying colors.
China : The Chinese New Year is known as "Yuan Tan". Among all the other New Year traditions around the World, the Chinese celebrations are very famous and colorful.
The traditional Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and it may fall between January 1 and February 19. The Chinese New Year celebrations last for 10-15 days. Some of the different ways to express joy is by playing drums, setting off fireworks and beating the cymbals. The Chinese believe that it wades off the evil sprits and brings fortune. People exchange red envelopes with gold coins in it as a symbol of good luck.
Denmark : It is pretty surprising but, it is very auspicious to find the door heaped with pile of broken dishes on New Year in Denmark. Throughout the year people save all the old dishes and then throw them at the entrance of the homes on the New Year eve. It is believed that the number of broken dishes you have, that many friends you have which is considered very auspicious.
In most of the parts of Scandinavian countries, New Year celebrations are done with great joy and preparation. There are many Danish cuisines which served on the New Year party eve. Kale, is among the favorite dishes which is served with sprinkled sugar and cinnamon with white sauce.
Greece : January 1st is the most important date in the history of Greece. The day is not only observed as New Year but, also as St Basil's Day. The Greek Orthodox churches considered St Basil as one of the forefathers.
Special New Year bread is baked by all the family members. A coin is buried in the dough which is considered very auspicious. Greeks celebrate the New Year with great pomp and show. They share traditional sweet bread with everyone. The coin brings good luck and fortune for the year.
Some traditions to bring in good luck in the New Year
It is a common notion that the New Year will bring in new hopes and luck to people. Hence, people take utmost care in preparing themselves for the New Year.
Following are some of the popular practices that are performed at different countries to welcome good luck in the New Year.
Australia – In Australia suckling pigs are considered to bring good luck and hence, traditional foods are prepared with sucking pigs. In dessert they offer peppermint ice cream in the shape of four-leaf clover.
England- In Britain the tradition says that the first guest on the New Year must be male, carrying gifts for the master of the house.
Wales – In Wales the back door is opened with the first toll of the bell and then shut to release bad omens from the last year. With the 12th stroke of the bell the front door is open to welcome New Year.
Spain - In Spain, people will eat 12 grapes with each stroke of the bell. This is said to bring good luck for the coming 12 months.
Japan - In Japan people decorate their homes with pine branch, bamboo stalk and plum blossom which symbolizes longevity, prosperity and nobility respectively.