Ring in the New Year someplace completely different this yr! There are many unique locations to have fun New Year’s Eve that carry the celebration issue to one other degree. We’ve had the luck of ringing in the New Year’s round the world from India to Mexico. When touring full-time, we frequently deliberate our itineraries round the place the most occurring New Year celebrations have been happening. From Asia to Australia and Africa to Scandinavia, let’s take a look at how different nations have fun and what New Year’s Eve traditions you may anticipate worldwide.
Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve Around the World
For practically 20 years, Dave and I escaped Canada for the winter season and loved completely different New Year’s traditions as we mentioned goodbye to the previous yr and good day to the new.
New Year’s Eve is a time for a recent begin and to want for peace and luck for the yr forward. So, it is sensible that folks like to make the most of celebrating the final night time of the yr in type. From long-standing traditions in South America nations like Brazil and Bolivia to the finest New Year’s Eve Party in Australia, let’s see who does it finest!
1. Edinburgh, Scotland
In Scotland, the phrase for the final day of the previous yr is Hogmanay, they usually love to ring in the New Year with full-on festivities. This celebration was taken from the Vikings, who celebrated the winter solstice with bonfire ceremonies. Today, it has morphed right into a 3-day celebration. This yr’s greatest celebration is happening in Inverness.
Scotland celebrates with typical New Year occasions like many nations, with fireworks and gatherings, however the Scots additionally maintain bonfire ceremonies and torch-lit processions whereas swinging big fireballs, making it the finest place to ring in the yr forward. Read extra: 22 Best Things To Do in Edinburgh, Scotland
New Year’s traditions in Scotland have traditionally been to observe the ‘first footing’ the place the first particular person crossing the threshold of a house after midnight brings luck. Historically, that particular person was an important man with darkish hair bearing presents. The first particular person they encountered to ring in the new yr set the tone for the yr forward.
Scottish Poet Robert Burns wrote Auld Lang Syne
It is sensible to start our New Year’s celebrations in Scotland since one in every of the high New Year’s traditions round the world is to sing Auld Lang Syne. Auld Lang Syne was written by the well-known Scottish poet Robert Burns and the Scots started singing it on Hogmanay to have fun the winter solstice. As they emigrated round the world, they took it with them.
However, there’s a Canadian reference to the tune as effectively. Famous Canadian bandleader Guy Lombardo was the present to watch on New Year’s Eve from 1929 to 1962. His orchestra performed at the first nationwide New Year’s Eve broadcast from the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. He performed Auld Lang Syne that night time, and for years to come, it has been ingrained in New Year’s celebrations in all places ever since. Auld Lang Syne means previous way back, lengthy way back and New Year’s wouldn’t be the identical with out it.
2. New York, USA
Even in case you haven’t been to New York City on New Year’s, you recognize about New York’s iconic ball drop. The Times Square celebration is televised worldwide as everybody watches Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen take pleasure in the festivities. Read extra: Things to do in Times Square – A Walking Tour and Nearby Attractions
At midnight, the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square has turn out to be the world’s most well-known New Year occasion. As the giant crystal ball drops down the flagpole of One Times Square, revelers countdown from 10 whereas singing Auld Lang Syne, as {couples} kiss and toast with some bubbly to mark a recent begin to the New Year. Check out: 41 Awesome Things to Do in New York City
3. Sydney, Australia
For an unforgettable New Year’s expertise, head to Sydney, Australia, for its fireworks show over Sydney Harbour. The City of Sydney organizes two units of fireworks – one at 9:00 pm and one at midnight. The fireworks may be seen from throughout the metropolis, together with the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and completely different parks and vantage factors round the harbor.
Since Sydney has a heat local weather, many outside actions and occasions happen on New Year’s Eve. These can embrace seashore events, picnics, and outside live shows. Check out extra Fun Facts About Australia
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is residence to a few of the most well-known seashores in Brazil, and it’s common for individuals to have fun the New Year by having events on the seashore. These events usually embrace reside music, dancing, and fireworks shows. The most well-known seashore celebration in Rio is the Reveillon na Praia (New Year’s Eve on the Beach), which takes place on Copacabana Beach and is attended by 1000’s of individuals.
In Brazil, it’s common to have a particular New Year dinner, often called Ceia de Ano Novo, consisting of varied conventional dishes. These dishes can embrace roast beef or pork, consuming black-eyed peas, and lentils, that are believed to carry good luck and prosperity in the new yr.
Other New Year’s traditions in Brazil are to put on white after which when the clock strikes midnight, they bounce seven waves and make seven needs with every wave. Seven is a fortunate quantity so moreover leaping over seven waves, in addition they eat seven pomegranate seeds. You may like: The Top 18 Most Excellent Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
5. Tokyo, Japan
New Year’s Eve, also called Omisoka in Japan, is a serious vacation in Japan and is historically a time for households to come collectively and have fun the finish of the yr. Toyo is already an thrilling metropolis and in Japan, Tokyo and Tokyo Disneyland is the place to be.
In Japan, it’s common for individuals to go to temples and take part in spiritual ceremonies. At these temples, individuals pray for luck and prosperity in the upcoming yr. Some of the most well-known temples to go to in Tokyo embrace the Meiji Shrine and the Asakusa Shrine. Read extra: Mind-Blowing Facts about Japan
Like many nations, the Japanese welcome the new yr with a recent begin by doing a serious home cleansing. The identical is true amongst business institutions. Merchants take this chance to clear previous stock by providing fukubukuro or fortunate luggage crammed with fortunate charms. Read extra about Japanese New Year Traditions at 7 Unique Japanese New Year Traditions
6. Toronto, Canada
It has been mentioned {that a} Canadian custom to have fun New Year’s Eve is to go ice fishing, however I severely don’t know anybody who has executed that for the New Year. Don’t get me unsuitable, individuals go ice fishing in Canada, however on New Year’s Eve, the Canadians I do know like to have fun the coming yr with festivities both in heat or at one in every of the many events round the nation. Check out: 22 Adventurous and enjoyable Things to do in Winter in Canada
Usually, we attend home events (so there’s no consuming and driving) however cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Halifax have full-blown celebrations. Many individuals courageous the chilly to watch outside live shows in the predominant metropolis squares. With fireworks and the countdown to midnight. We comply with the typical New Year’s traditions of popping the cork and sipping champagne to kissing at midnight and singing Auld Lang Syne.
One New Year’s Day, one in every of the finest New Year’s Traditions in Canada is that many individuals take the polar plunge problem. Yep, a bunch of individuals dressed in humorous costumes bounce into freezing water in the title of charity and bragging rights for years to come.
7. London, UK
One of the most well-known New Year’s Eve traditions in London is the London New Year’s Eve fireworks show. The fireworks show is organized by the Mayor of London and takes place on the Thames River, with fireworks being launched from the London Eye and different areas alongside the river. The chimes of Big Ben assist ring in the new yr as individuals maintain arms and sing Auld Lang Syne.
The fireworks may be seen from varied areas round the metropolis, together with the South Bank, Westminster Bridge, and Victoria Embankment. If you’re searching for one thing somewhat extra low key, head to one in every of the metropolis’s many pubs for a conventional New Year’s celebration. Read extra about journey to London: 38 Best Things to do in London, England
8. Hong Kong
Hong Kong celebrates Chinese New Year between January 21 and Feb 20 relying on the yr, however the metropolis positively embraces the typical New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31. No skyline can fairly examine to the Hong Kong skyline and the mild present is taken up a notch on New Year’s Eve with a fireworks show over Victoria Harbour.
The countdown clock is displayed on the conference heart positioned instantly on the harbor as well-known artists carry out from conventional drums to pop musicians. Check out extra of Hong Kong at Things to do in Hong Kong – The Complete Travel Guide to Hong Kong
9. Cape Town, South Africa
Nowhere is sort of as lovely as the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa and one in every of the finest methods to have fun is to head onto a celebration boat to ring in the New Year. The waterfront has rooftop bars and the waterfront promenade to watch the fireworks over The Harbourfront.
In elements of South Africa they throw previous furnishings out the window. This isn’t so well-liked anymore because it’s very harmful, however in case you occur to be in South Africa in the New Year, make sure that to search for as you stroll previous any tall buildings!
10. Panama
We celebrated New Year’s Even on the Panama Canal a couple of years in the past and it was spectacular to watch fireworks over the well-known landmark. Panama City is a world metropolis that’s an incredible place the place individuals collect to ring in the New Year.
While looking for traditions, we realized that in Panama, individuals burn life measurement dolls at the stroke of midnight. The dolls are known as muñecos de año viejo (previous yr dolls), muñecos judas (judas dolls) and symbolize individuals they don’t like for instance, unhealthy spirits, political figures or somebody who has executed them unsuitable. When the effigies are burned, hearth, the sins of the previous yr are destroyed making room for a Happy New Year.
11. Philippines
One of the most distinctive traditions on New Years Eve in the Philippines includes sporting polka dots. This stems from the Filipino perception that circles symbolize prosperity and wealth. The spherical shapes resemble cash, and sporting them is believed to appeal to monetary fortune in the coming yr.
Besides polka dots treets and houses are sometimes adorned with spherical shapes from bowls of spherical fruit to spherical ornaments. As midnight approaches households come collectively, sharing festive meals and making some noise utilizing every little thing from firecrackers and pots and pans to push back evil spirits and usher in a affluent new yr.
12. Ireland
Ireland has attention-grabbing New Year traditions, from banging bread to push back evil spirits to cleansing their home from sharpening the flooring and scrubbing the home windows. Like Scotland, they too embrace the first footing, and once you go to a home, it’s mentioned to carry good luck in case you enter by way of the entrance door and out the again.
13. Italy
In Italy, it’s a New Year’s custom to eat 12 grapes at midnight to carry good luck. The 12 grapes symbolize 12 months of the yr. Italians additionally historically make some extent of sporting purple underwear to push back unhealthy luck.
14. Bolivia
On New Year’s Eve, Bolivians usually put on particular underwear to appeal to luck. The coloration of the underwear that’s chosen is essential and relies on the wishes and hopes of the particular person for the new yr. The most typical coloration is purple underwear to appeal to love and keenness and yellow to carry wealth and financial success.
15. Denmark
We began with Scotland, which started its New Year celebrations by embracing the Viking celebrations of the winter solstice, so we should finish with the distinctive custom of smashing plates. Like many different nations, the Danes like to celebration and have fun with fireworks, champagne, and eating out at locations like Tivoli Gardens.
But one in every of Scandinavia’s extra distinctive New Year traditions is smashing plates in your neighbor’s door. If you awake to a door filled with smashed plates, it’s omen for the coming yr. The custom of throwing previous plates in opposition to doorways is to banish unhealthy spirits.
New Year’s Resolutions
One would suppose that making New Year’s Resolutions is a brand new custom, however New Year’s Resolutions date again to historic occasions.
It is believed that the historic Babylonians have been the first to make New Year’s guarantees some 4000 years in the past. Their massive resolutions have been to return borrowed farm gear and repay money owed.
While traditions and values have modified a bit over these previous few thousand years, all of us nonetheless take a look at new yr’s day as an opportunity to say goodbye to the previous yr and look ahead to the coming yr by planning.
Where is your favourite place to Ring in the New Year? Do you have got any favourite New Year’s traditions? Most cities and nations have incredible celebrations, enlighten us and inform us about your New Year traditions and celebrations so we are able to add to this listing!
Whether you might be the first nation to have fun New Year’s Day, which is Kiribati in the South Pacific, or the final nation to Celebrate New Year, which is American Samoa, we hope you have got a yr crammed with pleasure, luck, love, and laughter.