New Year's Eve in People's Mindsis inextricably linked with some kind of magic. Centuries pass, but nothing changes - everyone waits with bated breath for the moment when the hands on the dial converge at one point, as if forming a mystical code that opens the door to an unknown, but necessarily better tomorrow. Preparing for this holiday, everyone tries to come up with something special, to bring their own twist to the New Year's party, which may become a tradition. I want every participant in the holiday, be it your family or friends, to remember this magical evening. Have you ever wondered how New Year is celebrated in different countries of the world? Then why not dream a little on the eve of the New Year and imagine that you can visit for a moment every house where the clock is now frozen between the past and the future, at the highest point of the dial. Any miracles are possible on New Year's Eve! Boom!!! The clock strikes midnight in England.
New Year in England
In England, however, as in any other country,Children rejoice most of all at the coming of the New Year. How could it be otherwise? Children sincerely believe in miracles and Santa Claus. All the theaters of foggy Albion these days put on performances based on old English fairy tales, cheerful and colorful carnival processions take place in the streets. The March Hare, the Mad Hatter, Tra-la-la and Tru-la-la walk along the avenues and streets of the prim lady of England. Improvised toy markets and multi-colored stalls selling masks, whistles, balls and all sorts of sweet treats. A little before midnight, as if warning that it is time to traditionally open the back doors and let the old year out, all the bells begin to ring. But they ring barely audibly, dully, in a whisper - they are wrapped in a blanket so as not to offend the outgoing year with a joyful ringing. But exactly at midnight the bells are "undressed" and then, like loud, loud-voiced boys, they announce the arrival of the new year. Lovers, following ancient custom, stand under the mistletoe branches and exchange kisses, and the front doors of all houses are thrown wide open so that the New Year does not pass by. Boom!!! The Southern Hemisphere - Brazil!
New Year in Brazil
Perhaps it is possible to celebrate the New Year in Brazilrightfully considered the brightest and most colorful. Just imagine: numerous crowds of people in white clothes go out to the ocean coast to bring simple gifts to Yemaja, the goddess of the deep sea. Small boats decorated with candles and filled with improvised gifts: aromatic oils, pocket mirrors, flowers, beads made of shells and precious metals. This is how Brazilians thank Yemaja for the year that has passed in peace and prosperity. And ask for protection in the coming new year. By the way, if you notice someone in the crowd dressed in clothes of a different color, do not think that they are tourists, each color simply means some additional request. People in pink clothes ask for health, red - for love, green - for hope, and yellow or gold - for prosperity. And the boats scattered along the coastal waters beckon to follow them, to Spain. Boom!!! We are in Spain.
New Year in Spain
Solid and proud Spaniards before the New Yeargather in the main square of the city in front of the church, and talk long and thoughtfully from the rostrum about the achievements of the past year. And this "rally" continues until someone remembers a certain dead donkey. The neighbors begin to "divide" it among themselves, reminding each other of minor and major offenses and reprimanding each other for minor weaknesses. The "frivolous" signora gets the tail, the boastful chatterbox gets the tongue, the reveler and dancer gets the hooves, and the bully gets the donkey's skin. But this is not the only thing that the Spaniards have distinguished themselves with. On New Year's Eve, all the locals come out to the squares and streets of the cities and exactly at midnight, joyfully embracing each other, they wish their acquaintances and strangers good luck and happiness in the new year. And young girls are traditionally given "in marriage" on New Year's Eve. Of course, this marriage is considered fictitious and in the morning the girl ceases to be a "wife", but for the whole night she gets a "husband" who was drawn by lot. An amazing example of happiness on paper! But the most interesting, or rather, the most wonderful thing is that some young people really find their happiness and their soulmate for life. Still, miracles on New Year's Eve are not at all uncommon. At least among the Spaniards. Bommm!!! And what about Italy?
New Year in Italy
Charismatic, passionate Italians and inThe celebration of the New Year brought something that is characteristic only of their fiery temperament. Exactly at midnight, the windows of all houses open and armchairs, couches, nightstands and chairs that have served their time are thrown straight out into the street. So it is not at all safe to wander under the windows of houses at this time. But the Italians sincerely believe that a new thing will definitely be purchased for the vacated place in the new year. In the provinces of Italy, it is customary to begin the first morning of the new year with the gift of “new water” and an olive branch. Friends and acquaintances go from house to house, presenting each other with vessels of water, symbolizing happiness. And for Italians, it is also very important who they meet first on the morning of the new year. The best thing is some old man, but the luckiest sign would be to meet a hunchback. Then the new year will definitely be successful and prosperous. Boom!!! The Netherlands.
New Year in the Netherlands
My point of view on how to celebrate the New Yearyear, have in the Netherlands. Tables are "groaning" with all sorts of food, and the hosts spend the whole day in blissful idleness. And it's not at all that people here are lazy - not at all, it's just that in the Netherlands it is not customary to start any business or borrow money on the first day of the year. If you strictly follow this custom, you can count on luck all year long. By the way, in the Netherlands the first day of the year can rightfully be called Children's Day. Long before the holiday, children prepare all sorts of skits, write holiday letters, intricately decorating them with ribbons, learn songs and poems to please their parents. And adults put all sorts of sweets under the children's pillows on New Year's Eve. Since ancient times, there is another tradition here - to choose the king of the holiday. The most skillful housewife bakes a huge pie in which one bean is baked. The one who gets a piece of the pie with the bean becomes the king of the holiday. This "bean" king selects his retinue himself. By the way, the honors paid to such a joke king are not at all jokey. Boom!!! We won't hear the chimes of a clock in Tibet, and yet…
New Year in Tibet
A Philosophical Approach to Celebrating the New Yearwere shown in Tibet. Losar, or Tibetan New Year, does not have an exact date. It is calculated in a special way, but what can be said for sure, without going into lengthy calculations, is that the celebration will last exactly two weeks. And how can you celebrate less if the preparations begin not with the usual pre-New Year cleaning, but with painting the house. Even the ground in the yards is painted with images of the sun, stars and moon. Trees and walls are decorated with lanterns, and altars are strewn with all kinds of offerings to the gods. During the holiday, the streets turn into a kind of stage. Bright costumes and theatrical performances based on the plots of legends unfold before the eyes of the public. Ritual dances of animals and skeletons, symbolizing the eternal struggle between good and evil, the dance of black hats and the dance with swords are a little creepy, but very colorful action. Small pies with fortunes are a traditional treat. But in addition to the usual rolled-up sheets of rice paper, guests also come across some rather exotic fillings. Hair, wood chips, salt, and even manure. If a guest comes across a pie with such a filling, it means wealth. On the morning of the first day of the year, the whole family washes thoroughly. Women put on all the decorations they have in the house, and the family starts a hearty meal consisting of no less exotic dishes. Are you still wondering how New Year is celebrated in different countries? Well then... Bommm!!! We're heading to Scotland.
New Year in Scotland
The most colorful part of the New Year celebration inScotland can be called famous torchlight processions. But let's start from the beginning. The loud-mouthed Scots begin celebrating the New Year on December 31. Moreover, it is customary to celebrate the New Year on the street. Unbridled joy flows like a river, interspersed with loud conversations and songs. Completely different chants are heard from different ends of the street. The only moment when the song repertoire becomes uniform is midnight, when everyone performs the traditional folk Auld Lang Syn, and then hugs and kisses each other in a friendly manner. And it does not matter who is standing next to each other. Those who were not familiar with each other, after showing such warm feelings, will definitely get acquainted. They also get acquainted during the performance of the folk dance kylie. It is performed by everyone together throughout the festive night. The tradition of setting fire to barrels of tar and rolling them along the streets of the city has long been considered an obligatory ritual of celebrating the New Year. In this way, the Scots burn the old year, and the trails of tar drops left on the ground show the way to the new one. It is very important for the Scots who is the first to enter their house on the morning of the first day of the year. The well-being of the family depends on it. It is best if the first guest is a brunette with a piece of coal in his pocket or hand, necessarily healthy and without flaws. Such a guest will bring health and wealth to the house. Boom!!! Mysterious Japan.
New Year in Japan
The New Year for the Japanese begins with letters andpostcards. And not electronic ones, as you might think, but real postcards. You can send your work colleagues a regular postcard bought in a store, and you will have to make them by hand for numerous relatives and close friends. The Japanese are very careful about their traditions, and each postcard becomes almost a work of art. Since it is customary in Japan to thank everyone who has somehow influenced your life in the past year, and everyone should be gifted with such a greeting, the number of postcards sent by an ordinary Japanese person reaches several thousand. But the preparation for the New Year does not end there. Traditional ikebana are placed at the doors of houses, becoming a symbol of prosperity and well-being of the family. Various amulets ("hamami" for protection from evil spirits, "kumade" - a bamboo paw that brings good luck, "takarabune" - a boat of the seven gods of luck) are purchased in special shops and kept in the house throughout the year. The Japanese festive meal is also based on special signs and beliefs. Thus, the Japanese eat rice cakes for a cheerful spirit, caviar for wealth, beans for health, and noodles for longevity. Exactly at midnight, the bell of the main temple strikes... no, not twelve, but a hundred and eight times. That is how many harmful passions the Japanese have counted among people. And each strike of the bell cleanses a person of them. After prayer, the Japanese return home to go to bed and be sure to see the sacred Mount Fuji in their dreams. And they have to wake up before dawn to see with their own eyes how the first rays of the sun cut through the horizon. If you try to compare, the traditions of the peoples of the world differ from each other as much as the people themselves. But, despite all the differences in traditions, characters and tastes, the whole world celebrates the New Year in unison with the expectation of a better, kinder, happier and more successful future. It doesn't matter what language you speak, what dishes you eat at the holiday table, what songs you sing and what signs you consider lucky. The main thing is that your loved ones are with you and that your home is filled with joyful laughter. So may all your dreams come true in the New Year, filling your eyes with joy and your hearts with gratitude, love and faith in miracles! We recommend reading:
