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Customs
and Traditions Around the World
by W.Holidays
It is universal to hear church bells ringing, people shouting and
making lots of noise, and throwing confetti at the stoke of
midnight. This stems from ancient practices of driving evil
spirits away from the New Year.
Ancient Rome
The practice of exchanging gifts on New Years Eve began in Rome. In the
beginning, symbols of good luck were given. This developed into coins
with Janus (the god of new beginnings) stamped on them. A friend would
also receive a glass jar filled with dates and dried figs soaking in
honey and a bay leaf branch so their year would be sweet and full with
good fortune.
Argentina
Rose (born in Argentina now residing in
Australia)
told us that on New Year's Eve people go out to visit relatives and
neighbors, kissing and toasting the beginning of a new year.
Cars
honk their horns. And in some streets, the neighborhood gets
together for drinks and dancing all night long and go house by house to
greet people. Is a tradition to have drinks and cakes to offer to
visitors. Some people wear fancy dresses and masks.
Australia
Jan Male from Australia reports that New Year's Eve is a night of
celebration. People gather at friend's homes or in major venues of
their hometowns. There is entertainment, dancing and wonderful
fireworks. At midnight everyone joins hands and sings "Auld Lang Syne".
They have the tradition of making a "New Year
Resolution."
Austria
Pork is the traditional food because the pig always roots forward. Even
sweet candy pigs are served. Conversely, lobster is avoided as it moves
backwards and might cause setbacks in the New Year.
Brazil
The streets of Brazil are decorated with bright colors and an abundance
of bells and flowers. After midnight a late meal is served. Lentils are
usually included as they symbolize good luck. Dancing and partying goes
on until dawn. In Eastern Brazil, people go to the beach. At midnight
people run into the waters with gifts of flowers and candles for the
goddess Lemanja.
Bolivia
Little dolls made of wood and/or straw are hung in the doorway for good
luck.
British Columbia, Canada
People plunge into the ice-cold water of
Vancouver in the traditional Polar Bear Swim.
Cambodia
Chaul Chnam Thmey meaning "Entering the New Year" is celebrated on
April 13th and lasts for three days. Homes are cleaned and decorated
with flowers and balloons. People douse each other with colored water
(red, pink, or yellow) as a blessing to symbolize a colorful future.
China
The Chinese New Year is celebrated in
January or
February. Homes are cleaned, debts are paid and there are celebrations
and symbolic meals. Lai see, small red packets with money, are given
out..
Ecuador
Karima Oglesby (from Philadelphia, PA) told us that families burn a
scarecrow and a will for the New Year representing the years
short-comings.
England
Prior to the 19th century gloves and pins were
the traditional gifts for the New Year. Today, people crowd into
Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square in London awaiting Big Ben to
announce the start of the New Year. The "first-footer" or the first
person to set foot in the house will determine the luck of the New Year.
Susan Haley Cornwall, UK - We put coal and silver coins just outside
our door before midnight and bring it in after midnight to ensure that
warmth and prosperity will enter our house all year round.
France
Families gather and exchange homemade gifts and greeting cards. Gifts
to friends and associates might include bonbons, flowers, and fresh or
candied fruit.
Anne Meha, France - Gifts of money are given to children or service
people, ie. postman.
Germany
Onions are used to predict the weather of the New Year. Six onions are
cut in half. The cut side is salted. Each half is designated as one
month of the year. They are left alone for an hour or so, then
predictions for the new year are made. Onions where the salt has
dissolved will be a wet month but if the salt is still there the month
will be dry. Other superstitions include eating pork and fish
for
riches.
Greece
This day is also the Festival of Saint Basil, the founder of the Greek
Church. Vassilopitta or St. Basil's Bread is served. Small trinkets are
baked inside the bread. The people who find the trinkets in their
pieces will have good luck. Greek children leave their shoes by the
fireplace in hopes that Saint Basil will fill them with gifts. The
"Baby New Year" is believed to have originated in Ancient Greece.
During the Feast of Dionysus, the god of Wine, a baby in a basket was
taken about representing the rebirth of the land.
Holland
The Dutch consume lots of wonderful food on New Years Eve and drink
spicy warm wine as they "eat out the old year and eat in the new".
Iran
No-ruz meaning “New Day, New Life” is celebrate on March
21st or 22nd and lasts 13 days. It is celebrated with new clothes,
symbolic foods, bountiful feasts, and exchanging gifts. It is bad luck
to stay indoors on the 13th day so many folks go on a picnic. A
ceremonial table called sofreh-e haft sinn , meaning “cloth of
seven dishes” is set. Seven dishes are prepared, each beginning
with the letter ‘s’ in Farsi, sinn: samanoo (wheat
pudding), sumac (berries), serkeh (vinegar), seeb (apple), sekkeh (gold
coin), sombol (flower), and sear (garlic). Each dish represents one of
the seven angelic heralds of life: rebirth, health, happiness,
prosperity, joy, patience, and beauty.
Italy
A sprig of mistletoe is hung over the front door to ensure good luck
and at midnight old pots and dishes are tossed out of windows to bring
good luck. A popular sweet treat is Chiacchiere.
It is made of tiny balls of dough that resemble little lentils, the
balls are drizzled with honey so the year will be sweet.
Japan
Called Shogatsu, The New Year is celebrated for three days. New cloths
are worn and straw ropes and fans are stung across the front door to
bring happiness and good luck. House entryways and
may be
decorated with pine for youth, longevity, and strength of character;
bamboo for luck; and plums for virtue and courage. The New Year brings
a fresh start and often Bonenkaior or "year forgetting parties" parties
are thrown. On New Year's Eve, everyone gets a change to ring the bell
in the Buddhist temple until it has rung a total of 108 times. Everyone
laughs at the stoke of midnight to ensure good luck in the New Year.
Craftsmen clean and honor their tools. Food plays an important part.
Rice is always served, usually as mochi, a cooked glutinous rice cake
shaped like a round ball.
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modified
April 6, 2008
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