New Year Around The World
New year is an exciting moment celebrated by people around the world. Each place has its own way to celebrate the New Year. Some of them have unique ways - such as who knows you can bring luck by eating raisins? or throwing plates to your neighbour's house? Here are 8 countries and their ways to celebrate the new year.
JAPAN
If people usually celebrate the new year by hosting a party, then in Japan, people celebrate the New Year by cleaning the house. Oosouji literally means “big cleaning”. Japanese believe that welcoming the new year should be with a fresh and clean house. They also believe that oosouji is respecting Toshigami (the God of Shinto) to come to the house.
FRANCE
In France, there are some steps to celebrate the New Year. These steps should be done on New Year's Eve. It is called La Saint-Sylvester. The first thing to do is having dinner with family and friends. Then, do not forget to dress up because some French people celebrate new year with a costume party while waiting for New Year. Another activity that cannot be missed is le baiser sous le gui (kissing under the mistletoe) with the loved one.
USA
One of the famous places to celebrate the New Year is the United States. In New York, people gather near Times Square Ball to see the ball drop. The ball descends down a specially designed flagpole, beginning at 11:59:00 p.m. and resting at midnight to signal the start of the new year. Another place in the US, called Louisiana, celebrates New Year by eating Cajun-style black-eyed peas and cabbage, with the promise that it will deliver health and wealth over the next 12 months.
INDONESIA
Many Eastern countries celebrate the New Year according to the lunar calendar. But in Bali, Indonesia, people use the Saka calendar. On the Nyepi day, Hindu Balinese celebrate new year by having a rest full-day without any activity. If you happen to be in Bali at this time, make sure to prepare your food the day before, because almost no shops and restaurants open at Nyepi.
DENMARK
What will Danish do to celebrate The New Year? They will break plates. On New Year's Eve, Danish will throw plates in front of their friend's door. Why? To give you good luck. This can help you measure how many friends you have. The more broken plates, the more friends.
BRAZIL
Food is everything on New Year's Eve in Rio. Eating the right kinds of food products will ensure a more prosperous year ahead. For example, lentils are very important staples, while pork and fish are specific food choices to symbolize moving fast forward. By midnight, you have to eat 7 pieces of raisins and keep the seeds in your pocket to ensure a prosperous year ahead.
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland has a strange way to celebrate The New Year. Usually, people will eat food on the new year. But in Switzerland, they will eat and put whipped cream (or ice cream!) on the floor. Then, they let it for the rest of the year. Whipped cream symbolizes the richness of the coming year.
EGYPT
In Egypt, the New Year’s Day celebration changes according to the moon. But, unlike other countries that go the lunar route, here the festivities do not begin until a crescent moon is sighted!
There are a lot of ways to celebrate the new year. Each of them is done to bring goods to people. Bright Internships wishes you a Happy New Year 2020. May 2020 brings new goals, new achievements, and a lot of happiness for you.