Tens of thousands of articles have been written about the chimes and the clinking of glasses filled with champagne. We will not bore the reader by repeating banal advice and common truths. Belshazzar has something more interesting for you!
Do you know why the Japanese make small boats on New Year's Eve and then fill them with lentils, beans, rice and other cereals? Do you want to know why it is customary in Scotland to celebrate the holiday in deathly silence? Have you ever heard that the inhabitants of Micronesia prefer to change their name on New Year's?
In this case, this article will surely seem interesting to you. Get ready to find out how your planetary neighbors are going to welcome the coming year of the Red (Fire) Rooster!
New Year's traditions around the world
Many customs of the Land of the Rising Sun seem to us very colorful, and the celebration of the New Year in Japan was no exception. Preparing for this celebration, the Japanese carve special arrows of hamimi, which will have to protect the home from evil spirits. In addition, they make takarabune boats, which are supposed to be filled with multicolored trinkets and cereals. According to the legend, these miniature boats are used by deities who bring good luck to the house.
In Scotland, just before the New Year, the whole family gathers in front of a lighted fireplace, in which a fire blazes merrily. As soon as midnight comes, the head of the family must open the door to let in the New Year. After that, you can have fun and start the feast, but until the ritual is completed, everyone should remain silent. The Scots believe that idle chatter on New Year's Eve can bring various troubles to the household.
Micronesia is a group of small islands in Oceania with several states. It also has its own unusual New Year traditions that deserve our attention. Residents of Micronesia are changing their names on New Year's Day, as they believe that this will help confuse the evil spirits and provide them with a comfortable life in the coming year. But who knows, maybe it is they who are so tax evaders?
Promotional video:
The inhabitants of the black continent celebrate the New Year in their own way. For example, the citizens of Tanzania and Kenya are forced to celebrate the holiday by the water. You can understand them, because at this time of the year in their countries it is very hot! Ethiopians collect a large pile of palm branches and then set the structure on fire. Tunisia hosts poetry evenings and camel races. Wild Abji tribes arrange amusing competitions - running on all fours with an egg in their mouth.
Fast forward from sultry Africa to the Land of Snows. We mean Tibet - the homeland of the hermits of anchorites, the mystical practice of Tumo and legends about the mysterious country called Shambhala. On New Year's Eve, it is customary to bake pies and then distribute them to random passers-by. Tibetans believe that the more baked goods they can deliver, the more prosperous their family will be in the coming year. Local legends often feature a certain "lucky bird", so there is no game on the festive table.
New Year's in New Zealand (may the reader forgive my involuntary tautology) passes in the aroma of ginger and oranges with alluring notes of mulled wine. Here you can watch a real Santa Claus parade! Moreover, each participant invents both a suit and a means of transportation. Instead of Christmas tree dances, local residents arrange beach parties, go fishing and surfing, since the climate allows it.
Saudi Arabia. If for some reason you hate the New Year, then you will love to spend the night from December 31 to January 1 in this country. The fact is that here this holiday is not only unsuccessful, but even banned! In Saudi Arabia, festive festivities are not allowed (police strictly monitor order on the streets), and it is forbidden to sell New Year's goods in stores.
But in Madagascar, New Year is celebrated twice! Until 1960, this island was a French colony, so some European traditions have taken root here. The "French" version of the holiday includes a parade, songs and dances. It is customary to celebrate the traditional New Year in March - local residents always prepare offerings to deceased ancestors and arrange merry feasts.
If you are ready to exchange herring under a fur coat and Olivier for fried lobster and king prawns, then welcome to Sri Lanka! Local residents exchange bouquets of leaves of the sacred betel plant, visit their elder relatives and receive their blessings. Incidentally, the date of the national New Year in this country is calculated by astrologers!
Cuba is the Island of Liberty, which recently said goodbye to its national hero Fidel Castro. Instead of spruce, araucaria (tree with flat needles) is dressed up here. One of the curious local traditions prescribes filling all pots, buckets, jugs and other vessels that can be found at home with water. At midnight, this water is supposed to be thrown out into the street, as a sign of a symbolic farewell to the old year. There is also a tradition to eat one grape with each stroke of the clock. If the berry is sweet, then the month will be happy, if it is sour, then not very much.