New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the incoming year. Other individuals may observe the evening with a watchnight service. The observance of New Year's Eve generally extends through midnight of January 1 (New Year's Day).
Localised celebrations and traditions
North America
Canada
In
Canada, New Year's traditions and celebrations vary from region to region. Generally, New Year's Eve ('New Year's Eve Day' or
Veille du Jour de l'An in French) in Canada is a social holiday. In major metropolitan and tourist destinations such as
Toronto,
Niagara Falls, and
Montreal,
the holiday is celebrated with major celebrations and fireworks. Other
New Year's Eve celebrations such as late-night partying, sporting events
and concerts are major events in these cities and other places around
Canada. In some areas, such as in rural
Quebec, people
ice fish and drink with their friends until the early hours of January 1.
The
sketch comedy troupe
Royal Canadian Air Farce is known for their annual New Year's Eve specials on
CBC Television,
featuring sketches celebrating and lampooning major events and news
stories of the year. Debuting as a one-off special in 1992,
1992: Year of the Farce, it proved successful enough to spawn the creation of a weekly
Air Farce television series after years as a fixture on
CBC Radio. Consequentially, the
Year of the Farce
episodes continued to be a recurring part of the Air Farce television
series, and its 2008 New Year's Eve special served as its series finale
after 16 seasons. However, members of the original cast returned for
reunion specials in 2009 and 2010.
Similarly in
Quebec,
Télévision de Radio-Canada also airs a yearly New Year's Eve comedy special,
Bye Bye, which has been produced by various comedians since its original run from 1968-1998, and its revival by Québécois troupe
Rock et Belles Oreilles in 2006. Its 2008 edition, hosted and co-produced by Québécois television personality
Véronique Cloutier,
however became infamous for several sketches that many viewers
perceived as offensive, including sketches making fun of English
Canadians and then American
president-elect Barack Obama.
Mexico
Mexicans celebrate New Year's Eve,
Vispera de Año Nuevo in
Spanish, by downing a grape with each of the twelve chimes of the bell
during the midnight countdown, while making a wish with each one.
Mexican families decorate homes and parties, during New Year's, with
colors such as red, to encourage an overall improvement of lifestyle and
love, yellow to encourage blessings of improved employment conditions,
green to improve financial circumstances and white to improved health.
Mexican sweet bread is baked with a coin or charm hidden in the dough.
When the bread is served, the recipient whose slice contains the coin or
charm is believed to be blessed with good luck in the new year. Another
tradition is making a list of all the bad or unhappy events from the
current year; before midnight, this list is thrown into a fire,
symbolizing the removal of negative energy from the new year.
At the same time, thanks is expressed for all the good things had
during the year that is coming to its end so that they will continue to
be had in the new year.
Mexicans celebrate by having a late-night dinner with their families,
the traditional meal being turkey and mole, a tradition which has now
spanned worldwide. Those who want to party generally go out afterwards,
to local parties or night clubs. In
Mexico City there is a street festival on New Year's Eve; celebrations center around the Zocalo, the city's main square.
Celebrations include firecrackers, fireworks and sparklers and shouts of "¡Feliz año nuevo!"
United States
New Year's Eve is an occasion celebrated with elegant formal parties
and family-oriented activities; New Year's Day is a public holiday in
the
United States. Celebrations often center upon
dropping or raising an item of worth during the countdown, especially in the East coast.
Since 1907, the "
ball dropping" on top of
One Times Square in
New York City is a major component of the New Year celebration.
The 11,875-pound (5,386 kg), 12-foot (3.7 m) diameter
Waterford crystal
ball located high above Times Square is lowered, starting at 11:59:00
pm and reaching the bottom of its tower sixty seconds later, at the
stroke of midnight. (After fifty seconds has passed, the crowd will
count down the final ten seconds along with the hosts of various New
Year's Eve shows.
Toshiba's Times Square advertising screen will also tell the viewers when the New Year officially starts, which debuted in the
2009-10 edition.) From 1981 to 1988, the city dropped a large apple in recognition of its nickname as "the
Big Apple".
[citation needed] Similar ball drops are performed in many towns and cities across the United States.
The custom derives from the
time signal that used to be given at noon in harbors.
From 1972 onward (except 2005),
Dick Clark has hosted televised coverage of the event called
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, shown on
ABC, and now renamed
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest for the arrival of 2009 with
Ryan Seacrest handling hosting duties. On December 31, 1999, the show was integrated into
ABC 2000 Today,
with Dick Clark reporting during the "ABC 2000" broadcast and an
introduction from Peter Jennings, saying some would not consider it the
New Year if Dick Clark did not count it down. Between 1951 and 1976,
Ben Grauer was known for his live television coverage of New Year's Eve at Times Square in New York. From 1956 to 1976 on
CBS,
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians serenaded the United States from the ballroom of the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on
Park Avenue in
New York City. After Lombardo's death in 1977, the Royal Canadians continued on CBS until 1978, and
Happy New Year, America replaced it in 1979, continuing until 1995. The song
Auld Lang Syne has become a popular song to sing at midnight on New Year's Eve, with the Lombardo version being the standard.
NBC
also has hosted New Year's coverage; traditionally, the networks' late
night hosts have hosted special editions of their regular shows
(including a special Central Time Zone-specific countdown on
Late Night with Conan O'Brien), but since 2005, the network has opted for a special entitled
New Year's Eve with Carson Daly in which
Carson Daly hosted the program. Fox,
CNN, and
Fox News Channel also have their own New Year's specials along with the Spanish-language networks
Telemundo and
Univision.
New Year's Eve is traditionally the busiest day of the year at
Walt Disney World Resort in
Florida and
Disneyland in
Anaheim, California,
where the parks stay open late and the usual nightly fireworks are
supplemented by an additional New Year's Eve-specific show at midnight.
Over 60 cities nationwide celebrate
First Night,
a non-alcohol family-friendly New Year's Celebration, generally
featuring performing artists, community events, parades, and fireworks
displays to celebrate the New Year.
Religious observances
In the Roman Catholic Church, January 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation
honoring Mary, Mother of God. It is required that all faithful
Catholics attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on January 1st. However,
since in the Catholic Church, a vigil Mass may be held on the evening
before a Holy Day, it has become customary to celebrate Mass on the
evening of New Year's Eve.
Many Protestant Christian congregations have New Year's Eve
watchnight services. Some, especially
Lutherans and
Methodists and those in the
African American community,
have a tradition known as "Watch Night", in which the faithful
congregate in services continuing past midnight, giving thanks for the
blessings of the outgoing year and praying for divine favor during the
upcoming year. Watch Night can be traced back to John Wesley, the
founder of Methodism,
who learned the custom from the
Moravian Brethren
who came to England in the 1730s. Moravian congregations still observe
the Watch Night service on New Year's Eve. Watch Night took on special
significance to African Americans on New Year's Eve 1862, as slaves
anticipated the arrival of January 1, 1863, when Lincoln had announced
he would sign the
Emancipation Proclamation.
Europe
Austria
In
Austria,
New Year's Eve is usually celebrated with friends and family. At
exactly midnight, all radio and television programmes operated by
ORF broadcast the sound of the
Pummerin (bell of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna), and right after that the "Donauwalzer" ("
The Blue Danube") by
Johann Strauss II is played, which many people dance to at parties or on the street. Large crowds gather on the streets of
Vienna,
where the municipal government organises a series of stages from which
bands and orchestras play music. Fireworks are set off both by ordinary
people and the municipal governments.There are many lights and
explosions.
Belgium
In
Belgium, New Year's Eve is called
Sint Sylvester Vooravond ("Saint Sylvester Eve") or simply
Oudjaar ("old year"). Cosy family parties, called
réveillon in the
French speaking part of Belgium,
are thrown. On television, a stand-up comedian reviews the past year
after which a musical or variety show indicates midnight, when everyone
kisses, exchanges good luck greetings, and toasts
Champagne
to the new year and to absent relatives and friends. Many people fire
off their own fireworks, and those who don't go into the street to watch
them. Most cities have their own fireworks display, the most famous
being at
Mont des Arts in Brussels. Cities, cafés and restaurants are crowded. Free bus services and special new year's eve taxis (the
Responsible Young Drivers) bring everyone home afterwards.
January 1 is called
Nieuwjaarsdag and children read their 'new
year's letter' and give holiday greeting cards featuring golden cherubs
and angels, colored roses and ribbon-tied garlands to parents and
godparents, on decorated paper which they saved money to buy.
Belgian farmers also wish their animals a happy New Year for blessings.
Czech Republic
For the
Czechs,
Silvestr
is without doubt the noisiest day of the year. People generally equip
themselves with fireworks and champagne for the midnight toast and
gather with friends to eat, drink and celebrate at parties, in pubs,
clubs, in the streets or city squares. In larger cities and especially
in
Prague,
the first detonations of pyrotechics can be heard in full daylight,
even before noon, the frequency steadily rising until midnight. In the
first minutes after midnight, people toast, wish each other a happy new
year and go outside to light their fireworks or watch others'.
All major TV stations air entertaining shows before and after the midnight countdown which is followed by the
national anthem. The
president gives his New Year's speech in the morning.
Denmark
Many
Danish people
go to parties or entertain guests at home. The evening meal is more
exclusive than usual, with desserts including the marzipan ring cake
Kransekage along with champagne, and mains traditionally include boiled cod, or stewed kale and cured saddle of pork.
However, in recent years expensive cuts of beef as well as sushi have become increasingly popular.
[15]
Two significant traditional events are broadcast on television and radio on December 31: the monarch's New Year message from
Amalienborg Palace[16] at 6pm and the Town Hall Clock in
Copenhagen striking midnight. Thousands of people gather together in
Rådhuspladsen and cheer.
The climax is when New Year is celebrated with fireworks as the sound
of the Town Hall Tower Bells chime over Copenhagen on the strike of
midnight.
It is an excellent opportunity to see the parade of the
Royal Guard in red gala uniforms.
United Kingdom (except Scotland)
Clocks symbolize the transition that occurs at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, with the celebration in
London focusing on the clock housed in the clock tower at the
Palace of Westminster, recognised worldwide as "
Big Ben". The celebrations are televised from London by the
BBC in the
English regions,
Wales and
Northern Ireland.
Parties are held up and down the country, in pubs, clubs and private
houses. At the stroke of midnight people gather in a ring with hands
joined as they sing Auld Lang Syne.
On New Year's Eve 2010, an estimated 250,000 people gathered to view an eight-minute fireworks display around and above the
London Eye
which, on that occasion, was set for the first time to a musical
soundtrack, including some of the greatest songs by British artists such
as
Blur,
The Beatles and
Queen.
The celebrations in London continued into January 1, with the
New Year's Day Parade,
which has been held annually since 1987 and in 2011 marked its 25th
year, involving more than 10,000 musicians, cheerleaders and performers.
Other major New Year events are held in the cities of
Birmingham,
Manchester,
Liverpool,
Leeds and
Newcastle.
Bideford in north
Devon
is also renowned for its New Year's Eve celebrations, featuring a
carnival and fancy dress. The celebration centers on Bideford's quayside
and around its Old Bridge, with a lone piper playing
Auld Lang Syne at midnight, followed by a fireworks display.
Estonia
For New Year in
Estonia, people decorate villages, visit friends and prepare lavish meals.
Some believe that people should eat seven, nine or even 12 times on
New Year's Eve, those being three lucky numbers in Estonia, and for each
meal consumed the person gains the strength of that many men the
following year. Meals should not be eaten entirely; some should be left
for ancestors and spirits who visit the house on New Year's Eve.
Traditional New Year food includes pork with sauerkraut or Estonian sauerkraut (
mulgikapsad),
baked potatoes and Swedes with hog's head, white and blood sausage.
Potato salad with navy beet and pate form the delectable vegetarian
item. Gingerbread and marzipan are very popular for the dessert.
Traditional New Year drinks includes beer or mead, but mulled wine and
champagne have become modern favourites.
Finland
In
Finland, New Year's Eve is usually celebrated with family or friends. Late supper is served, often featuring wieners,
Janssonin kiusaus, and potato salad.
A peculiar tradition is telling the fortunes of the new year by
melting "tin" (actually lead) in a minuscule pan on the stove and
throwing it quickly in a bucket of cold water. The resulting blob of
metal is analyzed, for example by interpreting shadows it cast from a
candlelight. These predictions are however never taken seriously.
Some municipalities organize fireworks at midnight. Consumer fireworks are also very popular.
The Finnish Broadcasting Company broadcasts the reception of the New Year at
Helsinki Senate Square. In the afternoon programme, German short comedy
Dinner for One is shown every year. In the radio, just before midnight, the poem
Hymyilevä Apollo (Smiling Apollo) by
Eino Leino is read
France
The French call New Year's Eve "
la Saint-Sylvestre". It is usually celebrated with a feast called
le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre (also called
Cap d'Any in
Northern Catalonia). This feast customarily includes special dishes like
foie gras, seafood such as oysters and drinks like
champagne. The celebration can be a simple, intimate dinner with friends and family or a much fancier ball (
une soirée dansante).
On
le Jour de l'An (New Year's Day), friends and family exchange
New Year's resolutions
kisses and wishes, the main ones being "Bonne Année", Bonheur, Sante,
Amour, Argent ("Good Year", Happiness, Health, Love and Money). Some
people eat desserts made of
ice cream.
[26]
The holiday period ends on January 6 (The Twelfth Night) for the
Epiphany, or
Jour des Rois. On this day, they celebrate the Wise Men, eating a traditional type of flat pastry cake, la
galette des rois, most often two sheets of puff pastry, filled with
frangipane (almond paste). The cake contains a
fève,
a small china character; whoever finds it "becomes" king or queen and
gets to wear a gold paper crown and choose his or her partner. This
tradition can last up to two weeks.
Germany
Germans call New Year's Eve
Silvester because 31 December is the feast day of
St. Sylvester.
Since 1972, each New Year's Eve, several German television stations
broadcast a short comedy play in English (recorded by West German
television in 1963) entitled
Dinner for One.
A line from the comedy sketch, "the same procedure as every year", has become a catch phrase in Germany.
Every year Berlin hosts one of the largest New Year's Eve celebrations
in all of Europe which is attended by over a million people. The focal
point is the
Brandenburg Gate
and the fireworks at midnight are centered on that location. Germans
have a reputation for spending large amounts of money on firecrackers
and fireworks, and so fireworks are to be seen all over the country on
this night. When the clock strikes midnight on Silvester, Germans toast
the New Year with a glass of Sekt (German sparkling wine) or champagne.
'Bleigießen' is another German New Year's Eve custom, which involves
telling fortunes by the shapes made by molten lead dropped into cold
water. Other luck bringing things are touching a chimney sweeper or have
him rub some ash onto your forehead for good luck and health.
Traditionally jelly filled doughnuts with and without liquor fillings
are eaten. Finally a tiny marzipan pig is consumed for more good luck.
Hungary
Boldog új évet is "Happy New Year" in
Hungarian. New Year's Eve is called
Silvester (Szilveszter) in Hungary. It is celebrated nationwide with home parties and street parties, including a gathering in downtown
Budapest.
Fireworks and firecrackers are popular. Champagne, wine and traditional
Hungarian New Year dishes -- mostly frankfurter sausages with
horseradish,
lentil soup and roast pig -- are consumed In past centuries, some Hungarians believed that animals were able to
speak on New Year's Eve, and that onion skins sprinkled with salt could
indicate a rainy month. Hungarian Christian communities focus on
celebrating a Mass on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Iceland
Gleðilegt nýtt ár is "Happy New Year" in
Icelandic. Fireworks are very popular in
Iceland, particularly at New Year. Bonfires are also very common, often accompanied by shows, musical events and foodtables.
Iceland's biggest New Year events are usually in and around the
capital, Reykjavík. On the evening of December 31, the mass at
Reykjavik's cathedral is listened to on the radio by most Icelanders.
This is followed by dinner. Nightclubs in the city are very crowded and
tend to stay open until at least 5am.
Áramótaskaupið
("The New Year's comedy" in English) is an annual Icelandic television
comedy special, and is an important part of the New Year for most. It
focuses upon the recent year from a satirical standpoint, and shows
little mercy towards its victims, especially politicians, artists,
prominent businesspeople and activists. Neighbours then meet at their
nearest large bonfire, while watching the midnight fireworks.
Ireland
The Irish call New Year's Eve by its English language name or in
Irish by
Oíche Chinn Bliana,
Oíche na Coda Móire or
Oíche Chaille.
Celebrations in major cities are modest, with most people favouring
small parties in the home for family and friends. Pubs and clubs across
the country hold events on New Year's Eve, particularly in larger cities
such as Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Derry.
Italy
Italians call New Year's Eve
Vigilia di Capodanno or
Notte di San Silvestro (the night of
St. Silvestro).
Traditionally there are a set of rituals for the new year, such as
wearing red underwear and getting rid of old or unused items by dropping
them from the window.
Dinner is traditionally eaten with parents and friends. It often includes
zampone or
cotechino
(a meal made with pork's trotter or other part of the entrails) and
lentils. At 8:30 pm, the President reads a television message of
greetings to Italians.
At midnight, fireworks are displayed across Italy. A lentil stew is
eaten when bell tolls midnight - one spoon per bell. This is supposed to
bring good fortune; the lentils represent coins, being round in shape.
Macedonia
Macedonian New Year's Eve celebrations are celebrated in all families across
Macedonia.
New Year's Day is usually the day where the children are getting gifts
and the celebration is accompanied by fireworks all day long. The day is
celebrated together with family or friends in house or usually in
restaurants, clubs, cafe's and hotels with evening celebration
encompassing good food, music, and dancing to both traditional
Macedonian folk music but also modern music. New Year's Eve is
celebrated on December 31 as well as on January 14 according to the
Macedonian Orthodox Calendar.
Malta
Malta organized its first street party in 2009 in
Floriana, Malta,
parallel to what other major countries in the world organize. The event
was not highly advertised and controversial, due to the closing of an
arterial street on the day. In 2010 then organised the first national
celebrations in
St. George's Square,
Valletta
In spite of fireworks being very popular in Malta, where they are
mostly constructed by amateur volunteers, their shooting is almost
totally absent from Malta on New Year's Eve.
Montenegro
Montenegrin New Year's Eve celebrations are held in all large cities,
usually accompanied by fireworks. It is usually celebrated together
with family or friends at home or outside. Restaurants, clubs, cafes and
hotels organize celebrations with food and music.
Netherlands
New Year's Eve is called
Oud en Nieuw ("Old and New") or simply
Oudejaarsavond ("old year's evening") in the
Netherlands, and is usually celebrated as a cosy evening with family or friends. Traditional snack foods are
oliebollen (oil dumplings) and
appelflappen (
apple turnovers) or
appelbeignets (apple slice
fritters).On television, the main feature is the
oudejaarsconference, a performance by one of the major Dutch
cabaretiers (comparable to
stand-up comedy, but more serious; generally including a satirical review of the year's politics). In
Reformed Protestant families,
Psalm 90 is read, although this tradition is now fading away
At midnight,
Glühwein (bishops wine) or
Champagne
is drunk. Many people fire off their own fireworks, which are on sale
from a few days before. Towns do not organise a central fireworks
display, except for
Rotterdam where the national fireworks display can be seen near the
Erasmus Bridge. Public transport shuts down completely (the only scheduled time during the year) between approximately 8pm and 1am.
On television a clock is broadcast several minutes before midnight.
Poland
The celebrations of New Year's Eve in
Poland
are full of much vibrance. Traditionally, Christian Poles have devoted
each day on the calendar to a particular saint for adoration and
devotion to that saint. December 31 is named after
St. Sylvester, and thus the day is commonly referred to as
Sylwester. Celebrations partake both indoor and out, with the most notable open-air concert being held in the
Main Square in
Krakow. Here 150,000 to 200,000 revelers celebrate the New Year with live music and a fireworks display over
St. Mary's Basilica.
Similar festivities are held in other cities around Poland including
Wrocław.
For those who do not wish to spend the New Year in the city, the mountains are a popular destination.
Zakopane, located in the
Carpathian Mountains, is the most popular Polish mountain resort in winter.
Romania
The celebration of the New Year's Eve in
Romania
has a totally traditional flavor. Romanians welcome the New Year with
the customs, rituals and conventions that have been around for
centuries. The children as well as the adults, take part in the joyous
celebrations with great enthusiasm. On New Year's Eve in Romania, small
school going children sing Plugusorul and Sorcova. The songs wish good
luck, happiness and success. Since 1989 when the revollution occured the
romanians gather in the University Square and have a lot of partyes
from more than 15 years the partyes ware called ,,, Rebeliune (Revelion =
New Years Eve)
Russia
Most Russians celebrate New Year's Eve with their families and close friends. The origin of this holiday in
Russia
derives from the Christian holiday of Christmas. Christmas was also a
major holiday in Russia up until it was banned along other religious
holidays by the Communist Party. To compensate for the absence of
Christmas, New Year's was now celebrated similarly to Christmas, just
without the religious aspect of the holiday. Even after the fall of the
Soviet Union, New Year's is celebrated in Russia and has became a
Russian tradition.
The celebration usually starts one or two hours before midnight and
the common tradition is to "say farewell to the old year" by remembering
most important events of the last twelve months. At five minutes to
twelve most of the people watch the president's speech on TV or watch popular New Year TV shows ("Goluboy Ogonek"). There is a tradition to listen to the
Kremlin clock bell (
Kuranty)
ringing twelve times on the radio or on TV. During these last 12
seconds of the year people keep silence and make their secret wishes for
the next year. After that they drink champagne and have rich dinner,
watching TV concerts and having fun. Some people like starting fireworks
outside and visiting their friends and neighbors. As December 30 and 31
are working days, a lot of people also have small parties at work,
though December 31 is mostly spent at home or with friends. There is an
old superstition that if the first visitor (especially an unexpected
one) on January 1 is a man, the year will be good. People also try to
start the new year without debts.
Scotland
Scotland celebrates New Year as
Hogmanay, and with several different customs, such as
First-Footing, which involves friends or family members going to each others houses with a gift of whisky and sometimes a lump of coal.
Edinburgh,
the Scottish capital, hosts one of the world's most famous New Year
celebrations with the focus being a major street party along
Princes Street. The cannon is fired at
Edinburgh Castle
at the stroke of midnight and is followed by a large fireworks display.
Edinburgh hosts a festival of four or five days, beginning on 28
December, and lasting until New Year's Day or January 2, which is also a
bank holiday in Scotland. Other cities across Scotland, such as
Aberdeen,
Glasgow and
Stirling have large organised celebrations too, including fireworks at midnight.
BBC Scotland broadcast the celebrations in Edinburgh to a Scottish audience, with the celebrations also screened across the world.
STV covers both worldwide New Year celebrations, and details of events happening around Scotland.
Serbia
New Year in
Serbia
is traditionally celebrated extensively. Indoors, families celebrate
New Year's Eve with an abundance of food. Decorated "Christmas"-trees
are predominantly related to New Year, hence called "novogodišnja jelka"
(new years tree). Around or after midnight,
Deda Mraz (Santa
Claus) visits houses and leaves presents under the tree, to be unpacked
then or, if the family is asleep, only to be discovered in the morning.
Restaurants, clubs, cafes and hotels are usually fully booked and organize New Year's celebrations with food and live music.
However, Serbian New Year's celebrations are most known for the outdoors festivities in
Belgrade, and several other major cities such as
Novi Sad and
Niš.
As of mid-December, cities are extensively decorated and lit. The
decorations remain until way into January due to the persistent
influence of the old,
Julian calendar. Throughout the region, especially amongst former
Yugoslav
republics, Belgrade is known as the place to be for major parties,
concerts and happenings. It has become common for large groups of
Slovenes to visit their former capital and celebrate the beginning of a
new year. Especially since the mid-nineties, street celebrations grew
into mass gatherings with hundreds of thousands of people, celebrating
New Year on one of several locations throughout Belgrade. During former
President Milošević's mandate, the gatherings had a strong political
connotation as well. As of 2000, every year the City of Belgrade
organizes several concerts with major national and international
performers on Belgrade's major squares; the Republic Square, Terazije
Square and in front of the Serbian (formerly Federal) Parliament
building. The concerts commence early in the evening and last well into
the morning. Usually, there are separate celebrations and concerts
organized for small children (Slavija Square) and for elderly
(Kalemegdan park). Midnight is marked by major fireworks fired from
suitable buildings within the city.
On January 1, the central Svetogorska street is closed for traffic
and used to hold the "street of open heart" festival; food and warm
drinks are served and open air theater plays are performed, while
families with children as well as politicians (often including the
President) walk down the street. The evening of the first of January is
reserved for the so-called "repriza", a repetition of the previous
night; people often go to the club, friends or square where they were
last night to celebrate once more. Slightly down-scaled festivities are
organized.
On January 13, a large part of the population
[citation needed] celebrates "
Serbian New Year",
according to the Julian calendar. This time, usually one concert is
organized in front of either City Hall or the National Parliament (in
Belgrade), while fireworks are prepared by the Serbian Orthodox Church
and fired from the
Cathedral of Saint Sava, where people also gather. Other cities also organize such celebrations.
Spain
Spanish New Year's Eve (
Nochevieja or
Fin de Año in Spanish) celebrations usually begin with a family dinner, traditionally including
shrimp or
prawns and
lamb or
capon.
Spanish tradition says that wearing new, red underwear on New Year's
Eve brings good luck. The actual countdown is primarily followed from
the clock on top of the
Casa de Correos building in
Puerta del Sol Square in
Madrid.
It is traditional to eat twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock.
This tradition has its origins in 1909, when grape growers in
Alicante
thought of it as a way to cut down on the large production surplus they
had had that year. Nowadays, the tradition is followed by almost every
Spaniard, and the twelve grapes have become synonymous with the New
Year. After the clock has finished striking twelve, people greet each
other and toast with sparkling wine such as
cava or
champagne, or alternatively with cider.
After the family dinner and the grapes, many young people attend New
Year parties at pubs, discothèques and similar places (these parties are
called
cotillones de nochevieja, after the
Spanish word
cotillón,
which refers to party supplies like confetti, party blowers, party
hats, etc.). Parties usually last until the next morning and range from
small, personal celebrations at local bars to huge parties with guests
numbering the thousands at hotel convention rooms. Early next morning,
party attendees usually gather to have the traditional winter breakfast
of
chocolate con churros, hot chocolate and fried pastry.
Switzerland
In
Switzerland,
New Year's Eve is typically celebrated at a residence with friends
(Christmas usually having been celebrated with family). There are no
particular main dishes associated with the event, although sweets and
desserts are usual. Each
commune has its own government-arranged countdown in a public space, accompanied with formal fireworks shows in smaller cities.
Sweden
In
Sweden,
New Year's Eve is usually celebrated with families or with friends. A
few hours before and after midnight, people usually party and eat a
special dinner, often three courses. New Year's Eve is celebrated with
large fireworks displays throughout the country, especially in the
cities. People over the age of 18 are allowed to buy fireworks, which
are sold by local stores or by private persons. While watching or
lighting up fireworks at midnight, people usually drink champagne.
Ukraine
In the former Soviet Union, New Year has the same cultural
significance as Christmas has in the United States, but without the
religious connotations. Ukrainian and other families from former Soviet
Union traditionally install spruce trees at home, the equivalent of a
Christmas tree. In Ukraine, there is the
Mykolai,
who looks similar to Santa Claus, except he wears robes. Families
gather to eat a large feast and reflect on the past year. They have a
large celebration, make toasts, and make wishes for a happy New Year.
Families give presents to their friends as well as informal
acquaintances. This is due to Ukrainians being a closely knit community,
and it is seen as a taboo to not give presents to those the family
associates with. Children stay up until midnight, waiting for the New
Year. Also, during these celebrations many Ukrainians tune to special
New Year shows, which have become a long-standing tradition for the
Ukrainian TV.
New Year is often considered a "pre-celebration" for the Greek
Catholics and Eastern Orthodox living in Eastern Europe, primarily in
Ukraine, since Christmas is celebrated on January 7.
Turkey
Numerous decorations and customs traditionally associated with Christmas and
Bayrams find a secular translation in
Turkish
New Year's Eve celebrations, where homes and streets are lit up in
glittering lights as well as various traditional Turkish aesthetic
practices. Small gifts are exchanged, and large family dinners are
organized with family and friends, featuring a special
Zante currant-
pimento-
dill iç pilav dish,
dolma, hot
börek,
baklava and various other
eggplant dishes, topped with warm
pide,
salep and
boza.
Television and radio channels are known to continuously broadcast a variety of special New Year's Eve programs, while
municipalities
all around the country organize fundraising events for the poor, in
addition to celebratory public shows such as concerts and
family-friendly events, as well as more traditional forms of
entertainment such as the
Karagöz and
Hacivat shadow-theater and even performances by the
Mehter - the
Janissary Band that was founded during the days of the
Ottoman Empire.
Public and private parties with large public attendances are
organised in a number of cities and towns, particularly in the largest
metropolitan areas such as
Istanbul,
Ankara,
Izmir,
Adana and
Antalya, with the biggest celebrations taking place in Istanbul's
Taksim,
Beyoğlu,
Nişantaşı and
Kadıköy districts and Ankara's
Kızılay Square, which generally feature dancing, concerts, laser and lightshows as well as the traditional countdown and fireworks display.
Wales
Welsh celebrations on New Year's Eve are known as
Calennig. The tradition of giving gifts and money on New Year's Day is an ancient custom that survives even in modern-day
Wales, though nowadays it is now customary to give bread and cheese.
[38]
Thousands of people descend every year on
Cardiff to enjoy live music, catering, ice-skating, funfairs and fireworks. Many of the celebrations take place at
Cardiff Castle and
Cardiff City Hall.
Nos Galan road race
Every New Years Eve there is a 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) running race called the
Nos Galan road race (
Welsh:
Rasys Nos Galan) in
Mountain Ash in the
Cynon Valley,
Rhondda Cynon Taf,
South Wales.
The race celebrates the life and achievements of Welsh runner
Guto Nyth Brân.
Founded in 1958 by local runner Bernard Baldwin, it is run over the 5
kilometre route of Guto's first competitive race. The main race starts
with a church service at
Llanwynno, and then a wreath is laid on Guto's grave in
Llanwynno graveyard. After lighting a torch, it is carried to the nearby town of Mountain Ash, where the main race takes place.
The race consists of a double circuit of the town centre, starting in
Henry Street and ending in Oxford Street, by the commemorative statue
of Guto. Traditionally, the race was timed to end at midnight, but in
recent times it was rescheduled for the convenience of family
entertainment, now concluding at around 9pm. This has resulted in a
regrowth in size and scale, and the proceedings now start with an
afternoon of street entertainment, and fun run races for children,
concluding with the church service, elite runners' race and
presentations.
Central and South America
Argentina
In
Argentina, traditionally the entire family gathers together from around 9pm to partake in a dinner of traditional dishes, including
vitel tonné, asado,
turron and
pan dulce.
[39]
Just before midnight, people flock to the streets to enjoy fireworks
and light crackers. The first day of the New Year is celebrated at
midnight with cider or champagne, wishing each other a happy New Year,
and sometimes sharing a toast with neighbours. Parties often continue
until dawn. Swimming is perhaps an unusual activity that Argentines
partake in on New Year, at rivers and lakes or public pools.
Brazil
The
Ano Novo ('New Year' in Portuguese) celebration, also known in
Brazilian Portuguese by the French word
Réveillon, is one of
Brazil's main holidays, and officially marks the beginning of the summer holidays, that usually end by Carnival (analogous to
Memorial Day and
Labor Day in the
United States).
Brazilians traditionally have a copious meal with family or friends
at home, in restaurants or private clubs, and consume alcoholic
beverages (traditionally
champagne)
. Those spending the new year's eve at the beach usually dress in
white, to bring good luck into the new year. Fireworks and eating grapes
or lentils are some of the customs associated with the holiday.
The beach at Copacabana (in Portuguese:
Praia de Copacabana) in
Rio de Janeiro has a large fireworks display.
The city of
São Paulo also holds a famous event: the
Saint Silvester Marathon (
Corrida de São Silvestre), which traverses streets between
Paulista Avenue and the downtown area.
[40]
In other regions, different events also take place. At
Fortaleza,
Ceará, there is a big party with fireworks and live music shows by the
Praia de Iracema area, which attracts more than one million people in recent years.
[41][42][43]
Chile
Over one million visitors crowd the streets and beaches of
Valparaiso each New Year's Eve.
Special dishes, usually including lentils and twelve grapes to
symbolise each month of the year, are prepared in every home and family
celebrations usually last until midnight, then some may disperse to
continue partying with friends until dawn. In
Chile's capital
Santiago, thousands of people gather at the Entel Tower hours before to watch the countdown to midnight and a fireworks display.
[44]
There are several fireworks shows, most notably the "Año Nuevo en el Mar" in
Valparaiso, Chile's second city, which is generally the most popular, with 1,000,000 viewers.
[45] However, from the year 2000, the sale of fireworks to individuals has been illegal,
[46] meaning fireworks can now only be observed at major displays.
Many people also travel to
Easter Island, off Chile's coast, to welcome the New Year.
Costa Rica
In
Costa Rica,
families usually gather around 9 pm to party until 1 or 2 am of the
next day. There are several traditions among Costa Rican families,
including eating 12 grapes representing 12 wishes for the new year and
running across the street with luggage asking for new trips and
adventures in the upcoming year.
El Salvador
In
El Salvador,
the day is a day to be spent with families, dinner is made and families
have parties starting from around 5pm until 1 to 3am of the following
day. During the dinner, music is played with traditional new year's eve
songs, a famous one
Cinco para las Doce repeats what it means many times, its 5 until twelve. Children play with fireworks, that are safe such as
Estrellitas and
Volcanzitos.
Teen and Young adults use heavier fireworks many of them have been
banned due to many people getting burned by the great quantities of
gunpowder. A radio station that has the updated UTC-6 Time where El
Salvador is broadcasts a countdown right before twelve and when the
clock strikes 12:00 all across every city in the country fireworks are
lit up illuminating the night skies of the Capital and every corner of
the country. After this event around 12:05 people start exchanging hugs,
and wishes for the new year. El Salvador is known to be the most
colorful nation of Central America, and New Year's Eve is not the
exception.
Ecuador
During New Year's Eve, some men in Ecuador dress as women
representing the "widow" of the year that has passed. They go around
collecting money for buying dummies or any other custom. As well as
traditional family events and meals, modern celebrations such as hosting
parties and going to nightclubs are a prominent feature of New Year's
Eve across Ecuador, but the main event takes place at midnight where
fireworks are lit and thousands of dummies are burned in the streets
representing the year that just finished.
[47][48]
Guatemala
In the town of
Antigua Guatemala, people usually get together at the Santa Catalina Clock Arch to celebrate
Fin del Año (New Year's Eve). In
Guatemala City the celebrations are centered around Plaza Mayor. Banks close on New Year’s Eve, and businesses close at noon.
[49] Starting at sundown, firecrackers are lit, continuing without interruption into the night.
Guatemalans wear new clothes for good fortune and eat a grape with
each of the twelve chimes of the bell during the New Year countdown,
while making a wish with each one.
The celebrations include religious themes which may be either
Mayan or
Catholic.
[50] Catholic celebrations are similar to those at Christmas.
[51]
Gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning by the Christ Child
for the children. Parents and adults do not exchange gifts until New
Year's Day.
[52]
Suriname
Pagara (red-firecracker-ribbons) New Year's Eve in
Suriname is called
Oud jaar
which means old year. It is during this period that the Surinamese
population goes into cities' commercial districts to watch
demonstrational fireworks. This is however, a spectacle based on the
famous red-firecracker-ribbons. The bigger stores invest in these
firecrackers and display them out in the streets. Every year the length
of them is compared, and high praises are held for the company that has
managed to import the largest ribbon. These celebrations start at 10 in
the morning and finish the next day. The day is usually filled with
laughter, dance, music, and drinking. When the night starts, the big
street parties are already at full capacity. The most popular fiesta is
the one that is held at café 't Vat in the main tourist district. The
parties there stop between 10 and 11 pm. After which the people go home
to light their pagaras (red-firecracker-ribbons) at midnight. After
midnight, the parties continue and the streets fill again until
daybreak.
Venezuela
In
Venezuela,
many of the traditions are very similar to the ones from Spain, with an
over-emphasis in traditions that supposedly will bring good luck in the
year forthcoming. Those who want to find love in the New Year are
supposed to wear red underwear on New Year's Eve; those who want money
must have a bill of high value when toast, those who want to travel must
go out home while carrying some luggage, and so on. Yellow underwear is
worn to bring happiness in the New Year.
Usually, people listen to radio specials, which give a countdown and
announce the New Year according to the legal hour in Venezuela, and, in
Caracas',
following the twelve bells from the Cathedral of Caracas. During these
special programs is a tradition to broadcast songs about the sadness on
the end of the year, being popular favorites "Viejo año" ("Old year") by
Gaita group
Maracaibo 15
and "Cinco pa' las 12" ("Five minutes before twelve") who was versioned
by several popular singers like Nestor Zavarce, Nancy Ramos and
José Luis Rodríguez El Puma,
and the unofficial hymn for the first minutes of the New Year is "Año
Nuevo, Vida Nueva" ("New Year, New Life"), by the band Billo's Caracas
Boys.
Oceania
Australia
Each major city around
Australia holds New Year's Eve celebrations, usually accompanied by a fireworks display amongst other events.
Gloucester Park, a racecourse in central
Perth, is the largest and most recognised display in the Western Australian city. In
Brisbane, 50,000 people annually gather at sites around the
Brisbane River in the city to watch a fireworks display while events are held in the city and at
Southbank. The two largest celebrations in Australia are held in its two largest cities;
Sydney and
Melbourne.
Each year, the celebrations in Sydney are accompanied by a theme with two pyrotechnic shows; the
9pm Family Fireworks and the
Midnight Fireworks. Centring on the
Sydney Harbour Bridge,
the fireworks are synchronized to a blend of popular music with a
lighting display called the "Bridge Effect", shown on the bridge itself
displaying various symbols and other images related to the current
year's theme. The
Midnight Fireworks are regularly watched by more than one million people at
Sydney Harbour and are often regarded as the best in the world. As one of the first major New Year's celebrations each year (due to
time zones), Sydney's
Midnight Fireworks are often broadcast throughout the world during the day of 31 December and are regularly watched by one billion people.
Kiribati
Kiritimati (
UTC+14), part of
Kiribati, is the first location in the world to welcome the New Year.
New Zealand
Gisborne is 496.3 kilometres (308.4 mi) west of the
International Date Line and thus is the first major city to see the beginning of the new year. In
New Zealand, cities celebrate this with large street parties and fireworks displays. Elsewhere in
New Zealand,
local councils usually organise parties and street carnivals and
fireworks displays. In recent years however, liquor bans have been
imposed on many of the more popular areas due to disorder, vandalism and
other anti-social behaviour. During the day of New Year's Eve, in
recent years, the
Black Caps have played a One Day International cricket game in
Queenstown. The tallest freestanding structure tower in the Southern Hemisphere, the
Sky Tower, celebrates the new year by lighting up
Auckland's sky with fireworks from the top of the tower.
Africa
Ghana
In
Ghana
people celebrate New Year's Eve by going to Church, others prefer to go
to the nightclubs, pubs or take to the street to celebrate. And when
the clock strikes midnight, fireworks are displayed across various
cities of Ghana especially in
Accra and
Tema. Ghanaians call New Year's Eve by its English language name. The
Akan people call Happy New Year, Afenhyia Pa.
Morocco
Moroccans call New Year's Eve
Rass l'aam or (رأس العام) which means the "head of the year".
In
Casablanca,
New Year's Eve is celebrated in the company of family and friends.
People get together to eat cake, dance, laugh. Traditionally, people
celebrate it at home, but some of them prefer to go to nightclubs.
At midnight, fireworks are displayed across
Ain Diab, in the
corniche of Casablanca.
Asia
China
In
China, although the celebrations of the
Lunar New Year
are not until a few weeks into the new year, celebrations of the
Gregorian New Year are still held in some areas. Celebrations with
fireworks and rock concerts have taken place in
Beijing's Solana Blue Harbor Shopping Park.
Hong Kong
In
Hong Kong,
the people usually get together in Central, Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha
Tsui to celebrate and to look at the night lights along the harbor. The
Times Square shopping mall also holds their own send-off to the ball drop held at
Times Square in
New York City. The celebration had been extended to other districts such as
Tsuen Wan,
Sha Tin,
Mong Kok and
Kwun Tong by district-wide celebration activities.
From 2008, for the last 60 seconds before entering the next year (23:59:00), a 60-second numerical countdown by
LED lights with pyrotechnic display effects on the facade of Two
International Finance Centre was launched, followed by a firework display of
A Symphony of Lights.
Central Asia
In FSU Central Asia, it is celebrated the same way as in Russia, as inheritance of the Soviet Tradition.
India
In
India, most celebrations take place in the major metropolitan cities like
Mumbai,
Delhi,
Pune,
Bangalore,
Chennai,
Hyderabad,
Kolkata,
Ahmedabad,
Guwahati and since 2009-10, in
Chandigarh. In
Hyderabad, fireworks, street racings and brawls are very common.
Goa
is one of the most visited spot during new year celebration both by
Indian and foreign tourists. Events such as live concerts and dances by
Bollywood
stars are organised and attended mostly by youngsters. Large crowds
also gather at popular spots along the coastline such as the
Gateway of India,
Girgaum Chowpatty, Bandra Bandstand, Juhu Beach etc. More often people
like to celebrate new year eve with family. Hotels and resorts are all
decked up in anticipation of the tourist influx and feverish competition
ensures to entice the vacationers with exciting New Year offers. As old
tradition at many places across the country several special
Yagya and
Puja are organized for the wish of fruitful year by Hindu people.
[citation needed]
Indonesia
New Year's Eve is celebrated with some revelry in urban areas.
Hotels, discos and major restaurants offer special meals, entertainment
and dancing.
[53]
People celebrate with their families, siblings, and/or friends.
Trumpets and fireworks are the most important elements of New Year's Eve
for Indonesians. However, the New Year is generally not as big a
celebration as
Eid ul-Fitr in
Indonesia.
The local government of
Jakarta
often holds a music show, New Year countdown and fireworks party in New
Year's Eve celebration. The events are often held at the
Monumen Nasional, waterfront resort of
Ancol Dreamland, and the recreational area
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah.
Bali is another popular destination for New Year's Eve, with many locals and toursits gathering at the beach at
Kuta.
Japan
The day is a preparation day to welcome
toshigami (年神), new year's god. Therefore, traditionally, people clean their home and prepare
Kadomatsu and/or
Shimenawa to welcome the god before New Year's Eve.
Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times
[28] at midnight. This tradition is called
joya no kane (除夜の鐘) which means "bell rings on new year eve's night." The rings represent 108 elements of
bonō (煩悩), defilements, or
Kilesa in
Sanskrit, which is said people have in their mind. The bells are rung to repent 108 of the
bonnō.
A popular TV show on New Year's Eve in
Japan is
Red and White Year-end Song Festival. Kōhaku Uta Gassen is a 60-year-old tradition involving a singing contest between male and female teams of celebrity singers.
Lebanon
In
Lebanon,
people celebrate New Year's Eve by the use of fireworks, and by
organizing tabouli, hummus and kibbi and other Lebanese foods for family
and friend gatherings. These celebrations could also take place at some
diners and clubs. Game shows are also organised where people can try
their luck to win some money. The synchronised final countdown is
broadcast through the leading TV channel and the celebrations usually
continue until sunrise.
Malaysia
A government-held New Year countdown known as 'Ambang Tahun Baru' will be held at
Merdeka Square, the field opposite the
Sultan Abdul Samad Building in the
Malaysian capital of
Kuala Lumpur. The event will be broadcast live on government as well as private TV stations.
Besides the governmental event in Merdeka Square, private
organizations too hold their own New Year countdown parties at major
shopping malls and landmarks, most notably the fireworks display at the
Petronas Towers.
Philippines
Also known as "
Last Day of the Year", the
Philippines
is one of the few countries having New Year's Eve as a special
non-working holiday. Filipinos usually celebrate New Year's Eve with the
company of family and close friends. Traditionally, most households
stage a dinner party named
Media Noche in their homes. Typical dishes include
pancit,
hamon,
lechon
(roasted pig), which is usually considered as the centerpiece of the
dinner table. Barbecued food is also an integral part of the menu.
Most Filipinos follow a set of traditions that are typically observed
during New Year's Eve. Included among these traditions is the customary
habit of wearing clothes with circular patterns like polka dots, this
signifies the belief that circles attract money and fortune or other
colorful clothing to show enthusiasm for the coming year. Throwing coins
at the stroke of midnight is said to increase wealth that year.
Traditions also include the serving of circularly shaped fruits, shaking
of coins inside a metal casserole while walking around the house, and
jumping up high which is believed to cause an increase in physical
height. People also make loud noises by blowing on cardboard or plastic
horns, called "
torotot", banging on pots and pans or by igniting
firecrackers and
fireworks at the stroke of midnight, in the belief that it scares away malevolent spirits and forces.
Urban areas are usually hosts to many New Year's Eve parties and
countdown celebrations which are usually hosted by the private sector
with the help of the local government. These parties usually display
their own fireworks spectacles and are often very well attended. The
main celebration is focused on Manila Bay at Roxas Boulevard in
Manila.
Pakistan
New Year's Eve is usually celebrated in
Pakistan with joy. In
Karachi,
a mega metropolis city, people visit the beaches at night and use low
intensity fire works to enjoy the new year; as Pakistan is an
Islamic country they also celebrate New Year's Eve on the every first of
Muharram (first Islamic month). It is celebrated as a religious occasion with Muslims offering special prayers on this day.
Singapore
In
Singapore, the biggest celebration and also the main focal point of all New Year's Eve celebrations in Singapore takes place at the
Marina Bay area. It would be attended by some 250,000 or more people spanning around the bay area starting from the
Marina Bay floating Stadium to the Esplanade promenade, the
Esplanade Bridge,
Benjamin Sheares Bridge,
Merlion Park, and the
Padang at
City Hall facing the Marina Bay direction.
Other places where people has also soak in the celebration atmosphere in Marina Bay includes from nearby hotels such as
The Fullerton Hotel,
Marina Madarin,
The Ritz-Carlton Millenia,
Marina Bay Sands, offices located at
Raffles Place,
Marina Bay Financial Centre, Residential Apartments at
The Sail @ Marina Bay, and from atop the world's tallest ferris wheel -
The Singapore Flyer. All of whom are facing the Marina Bay direction and overlooking the waterfront also.
Out on the watersfronts of Marina Bay, 20,000 inflatable 'wishing
spheres' - carrying 500,000 wishes penned down by Singaporeans would
formed a visual arts display filled with brilliant colors beamed from
the spotlights erected along the Esplanade promenade open area.
The audiences would also be entertained by a host of variety shows
and concerts staged at the Marina Bay floating platform stage featuring
local and overseas artists viewable by all at the bay and telecast live
on the republic's local TV channel.
At ten seconds to the stroke of midnight, the concert emcees would be
initiating the final countdown together with the audiences and when
time runs out, spectacular and glittering fireworks would be fired off
from the waters at Marina Bay and lighting up the whole bay against the
backdrop of the
Singapore skyline.
Republic of China
In
Taiwan, the end of the year is celebrated with concerts held in cities including
Taoyuan,
Taichung,
Taipei, and
Kaoshiung.
Recently, the nation has used higher technology to communicate among
the cities via video, enabling the cities to count down together. The
most crowded city is the capital, Taipei, where most people gather by
Taipei 101 and shopping centres in its vicinity. The tower is located in the shopping and financial area of the
Xinyi District.
People gather around the streets of Taipei 101 as they count down. With
each number they count, one of the layers of Taipei 101 (eight floors
per layer) lights up until zero, when the fireworks shoot out from the
top of each layer (eight layers excluding a layer under the antenna) in
different directions, as shown in the picture at right.
