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Below, we've traveled the world—virtually, at least—to round up some of the most creative and culturally unique New Year's Eve traditions from around the world. Keep reading to find out how other countries will be celebrating! From the rhythmic popping of grapes in Spain to the invigorating plunge into the ocean in Brazil, each tradition carries a unique significance, reflecting the diverse beliefs and aspirations of different societies. Though the world of people rings in the New Year on the same day and at the same time, New Year’s Traditions are quite different for each country. We have rounded up some of the captivating traditions perceived by the people in various countries. These are the deep roots of modern New Year’s Eve traditions, although Akitu took place at the beginning of spring, tied to the annual rebirth of nature. Egyptians timed their own New Year celebrations to the flooding of the Nile. The Chinese, Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic and Jewish calendars are still linked to the lunar calendar. Read on to discover some of our favorite New Year’s traditions worldwide, from Spain and Scotland to Brazil, Japan, and beyond. It’s time to ring in a very happy New Year! From old favorites to delightful surprises, this list offers fresh inspiration for celebrating New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Many New Year’s traditions that we take for granted date from ancient times. This year, ring out the old and ring in the new with a New Year tradition—or two! From singing “Auld Lang Syne” to eating black-eyed peas for good luck, discover different ways to celebrate the start of 2025! In this blog post, we’ll explore New Year celebrations from around the world beyond January 1st, shedding light on the diverse traditions and customs that make each one unique. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a significant event in the Jewish calendar. In every corner of the globe, cultures and communities have their own special New Year's Eve traditions they believe will usher in 365 days of health, wealth or good luck. Across the world in A torchlight procession kickstarts Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations - the largest New Year party in the UK. Photo: TCSPR / Ian Georgeson 15 New Year's Eve From the Times Square ball drop to hanging onions, here are some of the ways different countries welcome the new year. Islamic New Year, also called the Hijri New Year or Arabic New Year, is the day that marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year, and is the day on which the year count is incremented. Ashura is an Islamic holiday that occurs on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Réveillon, Rio’s New Year’s celebration, is one of the world’s largest. is among the first inhabited places in the world to celebrate the New Year. With only around 5,000 residents, Have a look at our list below of some of the world’s most weird and wonderful New Year’s Eve traditions. Where are Oxford Summer Courses Hosted? For ages 9-12, our junior summer courses are hosted at renowned boarding schools including Harrow School, Eton College, and St. John's Beaumont. This has got to be at the top of the list of strange New Year’s traditions around the world. 27. Sharing soup joumou in Haiti. The Independence Day of Haiti coincides with New Year on January 1 leading to double celebrations. An important tradition to mark the double celebration is a New Year’s soup called joumou. They eat this pumpkin soup After the New Year's festivities wind down, join an Afternoon Tea Voyage aboard the World Star Ferry, sipping seasonal teas while live music plays during a cruise around the Victoria Harbour. New Cultures around the world ring in the new year in a variety of ways, with each custom intended to instill hope, optimism, and luck throughout their communities for the year ahead. Centuries-long traditions have been passed down from generation to generation in the form of festive decor, baking a special New Year’s dish, or performing a The marking of a New Year is an age-old tradition around the world—food, fireworks and reflection with friends and family are common threads, but ultimately this varies between different As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, people all over the world gather together to celebrate the start of a new year. And what better way to celebrate than with delicious food? From lucky noodles in Japan to pork and lentils in Italy, there are many different New Year’s food traditions around the world. Each dish has its own The Lunar New Year marks the start of the lunisolar calendar, which occurs sometime between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. Also known as the Spring Festival, it is considered one of China's most significant celebrations, with each year being named after one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. Festivities include fireworks, parades, and performances. As previously mentioned, round fruits play a significant part in New Year’s traditions around the world, but in some cultures they aren't just for eating. In Turkey, it’s customary to smash a pomegranate—a highly prized symbol of prosperity and abundance—on your doorstep to celebrate the New Year.
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