Heralding New Year all around the World

It is that of the year when the calendar dates come to an end and the year count is incremented. Various cultures celebrate the day in some manner. According to the Gregorian calendar that we all use, the day falls on first of January. This was the same for Roman calendar. The world follows different calendars depending on their cultures and region. Each specific calendar will calculate its New Year accordingly.

In the Roman calendar, the order of months was from January to December since King Numa Pompilius in 700 BC. It was relatively in the recent times that 1 January became the first day of Western culture. In 1751, England, Wales and all British dominions followed the calendar where New Year started on 25th March or Lady Day. It was one of four-quarter days. The change to January 1 took place in 1600. Since then, the day has been celebrated. In many countries, the day is often considered as a national holiday. The celebrations also call for exchange of gifts. If you are staying geographically apart, one even send New Year Flowers with the help of online portals.

As the western culture expanded, the Gregorian calendar was accepted by all countries. The January 1 was accepted as the beginning of year by all countries including the countries where different days were celebrated. In Latin American, culture there was a host of traditions and superstitions that surrounded these dates. This extended to the level of being omens.

The traditions surrounding the New Year is same all around the world. There are however some that are different for some countries. Beginning with Austria, the New Year’s Eve is called Sylverterabend which is the Eve of Saint Sylvester. The culture requires sharing of spiced “punch”. Decorations and champagne are part of the celebrations galore and evil spirits are chased away by lighting moroars or boller. People attend the midnight mass and trumpets are blown from church towers. The Belgian people call it the same and throw parties till the dawn of the new era. For them, the new year day is called Nieuwjaarrsdag.

British Isles follow the custom of first footing wherein the first male visitor is supposed to herald in good luck. The man brings in gifts like money, bread or coal to usher in good luck. There are however many conditions including that the person should not be blonde, red haired or a women as they usher in bad luck. In London, huge crowds gather in the Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly circus. Here the Big Ben’s chimes harbingers the arrival of New Year.

France sees the new year as Jour des Etrennes, or Day of New Year's Presents. There are elaborate dinner parties that are thrown for families and gifts are equally exchanged. While in Germany, people dropped molten lead into cold water and people would predict future from the shape it makes. The bit of food eaten on New Year’s Eve is left onto the plate. This signage means stocked larder in the coming years. Greek calls it St. Basil’s Day. Children knew him for his kindness. People continue to meet together, have special meals and exchange gifts.

Hungary burns effigies or a scapegoat known as Jack Straw. The scapegoat would represent the evil and misfortunes of the past year, and burning them removes the bad luck. Indians herald the new year during festival called Diwali. The Japanese celebrates Oshogatsu where all businesses are closed.

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