New Year Celebrations Around The World
People celebrate the New Year in many different ways, and at slightly different times due to the time differences around the world; some even celebrate it on a completely different day by using a different calendar altogether. Let’s have a look at some of the wonderful ways we humans celebrate the beginning of a new year.
Fireworks
Fireworks are the most common way the western world marks the new year; from New York to London and Sydney to Paris, these colourful lights in the sky reflect the jubilant mood of the huge audiences found in these cities. There are subtle differences though – New York features its iconic dropping orb, whereas London enjoys headline music acts perform by the Thames River.
Rosh Hashanah
‘Rosh Hashanah’ in Hebrew literally means ‘head/first of the year’, and marks the beginning of the Jewish Days of Awe, perhaps the most important ten days in the Jewish calendar. Most synagogues are filled to the brim during these days as this is a time for repentance, and many important religious traditions are performed throughout this period. Rosh Hashanah usually occurs in the early autumn of the Northern Hemisphere.
Chinese New Year
The ‘Spring Celebrations’ are centuries old and have many customs due to the legend and myths that have accumulated around it over the years. Traditions vary from region to region, but some customs stay the same; the ‘reunion dinner’ is a staple throughout the country, where families meet up and enjoy a meal together. Cleaning the house, which symbolises getting rid of bad luck and making room for good fortune is common, as is giving money in red envelopes to friends and family members. The first day of the Chinese New Year can fall between the 21th of January to the 20st of February.
