Another year has begun, how did you celebrate the start of 2017? Did you know that all over the country people celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in different ways from drinking to praying? Here at SANZA Teaching we have listed a few locations that have traditional and special ways of celebrating 2017.
The UK
The UK has some great traditional celebrations for New Year, but nowadays the most popular of them being the fireworks display. Staged in the centre of London near Big Ben and the London Eye, thousands of people watch in wonder with millions around the world. More traditional celebrations include first-footing which still exists in Scotland and the Isle of Man. This is when a tall, dark haired gentleman has to be the first foot in the house after midnight to welcome in the New Year bearing gifts.
Greece
New Year’s Day in Greece is celebrated with families getting together to bake a vasilopita, which is special Greek cake. They hide a coin in the dough which is believed to bring good luck to the family in the New Year. New Year’s Day is known as the luckiest day of the year which is why families participate in playing cards and rolling dice in hope they’ll win something from the luck of New Years.
China
Chinese New Year can follow the lunar calendar where New Year is known as “Yuan Tan”, this day occurs any day between mid-January and mid-February. A colourful and noisy celebration occurs with the colour red dominating the show. The beating of drums and cymbals to drive away evil and the celebrations can continue for 10 to 15 days. Keeping with traditions there is a Lion dance; hundreds of lanterns are lit to welcome homes positivity. Red envelope containing money is exchanged to the children in the family from either the parents or grandparents as a symbol of good luck.
Japan
In Japan each year is viewed as completely separate so everyone gets a fresh start in the New Year, which means that all duties should have been completed by the end of the year. “Year Forgetting Parties” are held to leave the old year’s worries and troubles behind. Houses are cleaned and no work should be done leaving you free of stress and anger. In Tokyo they release white balloons near the Tokyo Tower.
Australia
The famous Sydney Harbour is the host to Australia’s celebrations with one of the most spectacular fireworks displays in the world. People across the country celebrate with drink, friends and family.
Not only to they celebrate hard in Sydney but they also have fireworks displays in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.
America
The Ball Drop is probably one of the most famous New Year’s Eve celebrations that take place in Times Square, New York. The first celebration was in 1904 with fireworks, however, two years later fireworks were banned so they created a very simple ball drop.
Brazil
Fancy a beach party, on a very large scale. Head over to Copacabana beach to jump into the sea at midnight, the reason for this is because the New Year in Brazil coincides with The Feast of Lemenja, who is the African Goddess of the sea.
