Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:

New Year is one of the greatest holidays of US. People join dance parties either in clubs, bars and disco or at the home party on the New Year's Eve at least up to mid night to welcome the New Year. Different parts of the country make it an enjoyable evening in their own way. Times Square in New York City always has a special attraction in the New Year. It is broadcast all over the United States. Just at 12.00 in the midnight of the New Year's Eve people would embrace and kiss or honk car horns and whistles are blown. American football is very popular sports here. American football is played throughout the country and is being shown in the television on New Year's Day. Women generally go to market.

Food for the American New Year: 

People eat cake, champagne. A food of black-eyed peas is considered lucky.


New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Australia

Customs, Traditions and Celebrations: 
Australians arrange parties on the New Year Eve. They dine together. Just at 12 at the mid night of they make loud noises with whistles and blow car horns. The ring bells in the Church to welcome the New Year. On New Year Day, People arrange picnic in beaches. Many go out for short tour. Some choose the holidays for excursion and adventures. Some celebrate New Year by long tours and Travels.

Food for Australian New Year: 

Cake and Champaign. People go out to have delicious dish in some restaurant.



New Year's Eve And New Year's Day in Cambodia
Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:

Cambodian New Year starts from 14th April and lasts for three days. Cambodian New Year's Eve is called "Chaul Chnam Thmey", means entering in the New Year. Rooms of the homes are cleaned from outside and inside to greet the New Year. Homes are adorned with different flowers, balloons, and colorful flags. Altars hold five candles, five incense holders, perfumed water to wash the Buddha, fruit, flowers, and rolled banana leaves. In New Year's morning there is a religious service either in home or in the temple. After the religious offerings the people fed monks and saints. People drench each other with holy water as a blessing. Water can be colorful to signify a colorful future. 

Foods for Cambodian New Year:

Rice is eaten with chicken curry. Special dessert- like cakes made of sticky rice with banana is made to honor the Hindu god Shiva. A sticky rice cake with sweet ground beans honors Shiva's wife Uma. New Clothing is worn on New Year Day. In New Year's Day children give wealth and money to their parents, aunts, uncles and other elders to show gratitude and respect. Children may also give other gifts including fruits to their elderly. 



New Year's Eve And New Year's Day in China:
Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:
Chinese New Year takes place between 21st January and 20th February depending upon the first day of their lunar-solar calendar year. This New Year is locally called 'Yuan Tan'. The Chinese New Year Celebrations last for 15 days. Before the New Year Eve homes are cleaned, new cloths are purchased and debts are settled. Homes are decorated with colored banners mainly red colored banners, different flowers, and good luck posters. Some people who keep a kitchen god put honey on his lips or offer rice cakes on the assumption that sweet remarks will be said when he returns to heaven. In the city, people take out procession. People paraded on the street. Other people come as visitor to queue by the side of the street. People believe that loud noise keeps away evil spirit away. So, People celebrate New Year Day by trumpeting drums, bursting firecrackers, and shouting together to keep away evil spirits. Dancing Dragons and lions entertains the crowd of the street. Dragon signifies longevity and wealth. On New Year's Day older people are wished good health and long life, business people are wished with prosperity and success, and young people are wished with fine marriages and happy life. The Kumquat tree is considered to very lucky for Chinese New Year.

Food for the Chinese New Year: 

Vegetable dishes are taken on New Year's Eve. A vegetarian dish made of mushrooms, ginkgo nuts, bean, curd, and yellow vegetables called Buddha's feast is served. On New Year's Day sesame rice balls, Winter melon soup, sesame rice balls, and scallops with broccoli, roast cod or duck, may also be served. 

 

New Year's Eve And New Year's Day in Iran:
Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:

Iranian New Year is called "Nouruz", means New Day. The term also signifies new life in broader concept. On New Year Day, new clothing is worn. The Iranian New year is either on March 20th or March 21st. The New Year lasts for 13 days. Before the New Year, people jump over fires to purify themselves. On the thirteenth day people attend picnics and watch the hero's dance. The male dancers chant to drums and juggle pins. It is the customs to offer growing wheat and lentils into an ocean or lake. 

Foods for the Iranian New Year: 

Generally, family members eat together in the Iranian New year. A table is generally full of seven types of foods that begin with the letter "S" in Farsi: sumac (berries), seeb (apple), samanoo (wheat pudding), serkeh (vinegar), sekkeh (gold coin), sombol (flower), and sear (garlic). In the table the holy Koran, pictures of relatives, colored eggs, pomegranates, 94 pennies, and a bowl of goldfish are kept. First they take Noodle soup. The patriarch of the family hands out bills that were blessed and kept between pages of the Koran. He signs each bill with date and gives them to the family. This money is not to be spent. Spending of this money is meant to be bad luck. 


Jewish New Year's Eve And New Year's Day:
Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:
The Jewish New Year is called "Rosh Hashanah". The meaning of that is head of the year. The Jewish follow a lunar - solar calendar. The first day of the New Year starts from the first month of 'Tishri' in the fall. In temples a ram's horn (shofar) is sounded to call the people to repent. The Jewish believe God determines the fate of a person for the year at the beginning of the New Year. People wish each other life. On the tenth day of 'Tishri' (called Yom Kippur), day of amendment, many Jews observe fast for a whole day. To the Jew, it is the holiest day of the year. People offer prayer to god to ask for forgiveness for their wrongdoing. Some wear white ceremonial dress to symbolize freshness, purity and renewal. People wear new clothing on the day of New Year. Some Jews do not put leather in any form on the New Year day. Families and friends share the meal to break the fast after the sunset. 

Foods for the Jewish New Year: 

People eat apples and honey to signify a sweet year. Jews eat dates, figs, and pomegranates also. Egg bread represents god's crown and is also taken by some. Eastern European Jews eat brisket, Gefilte fish, turkey, and honey cake. Some Kurdistan Jews eat flat bread. Moroccan Jews eat fritters in honey (local namefijuelas); blue plum pie (local name Alsatians). 


New Year's Eve And New Year's Day in Scotland:
Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:

In Scotland New Year's Eve is more important than the New Year Day. The Scottish New Year Eve is called as "Hogmanay". It respects the Scottish solar god 'Hogmagog' and the goddess of winter. To throw away evil spirits, bonfires are lit, blazing tar barrels are rolled down from hills, torches and hogmanay smoking sticks, are used. To purify the home people collect juniper and water after sunset. According to the directions of the winds, different rituals are done to welcome the Scottish New Year. 
To ensure good luck throughout the year a dark-haired or dark-complexioned man with gifts should be first person to come after New Year's Eve. The person brings a gift (handsel) of coal or whiskey to ensure prosperity in the New Year. To see a cat, a dog, a woman, or a beggar is considered unlucky. Breaking glass, carry out dirt and rubbish is considered as bad luck for the coming Year. New Year Eve and New Year Day are not considered auspicious for marriage proposals and engagement.
Just at 12 in the mid night of the New Year's Eve doors and windows are kept open to let the old year go and to welcome the New Year. Plays are also performed during the New Year ---- to show the conflict between Good and devils. The Good characters put on white dress and devils put on black dress. 

Food for the Scottish New Year: 

People eat three-cornered biscuits. Some people also take different types of breads and cakes e.g. black bun, bread, shortbread, oatcake, carol or carl cake, currant loaf, a they take wine, cheese, along with cakes and breads.


New Year's Eve And New Year's Day in Austria:
Customs, Traditions and Celebrations: 

As per the declaration of Pope Innocent XII, in 1691, January 1 started as Austrian New Year Day. In Austria, New Year's Eve is called as "Sylvestera bend". Inns and bars are decorated with garland, flowers and lights. With the help of fire works evil spirits are driven out. At church Midnight mass is attended and trumpets are blown from church towers at midnight. At the 12 of the Midnight on the New Year's Eve people exchange kisses. People burst crackers. In Vienna, concert is performed in every New Year's Eve and New Year Day at the Vienna State Opera. 

Food for the Austrian New Year:

A punch is prepared with cinnamon, sugar, and red wine in New Year's Eve to drink for the New Year. Champagne is the drink of New Year's Eve.
 

New Year's Eve And New Year's Day in Belgium:
Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:

In Belgium, New Year's Eve is considered as Saint Sylvester Eve. Members of the family and near relatives and friends come together to observe New Year's Eve. People throw family party at the Belgian New Year's Eve. At midnight people exchanges New Year's good luck greetings. Everyone kisses. The people assemble in bars, restaurants and even on streets to bid farewell to the Old Year and to welcome the New Year. Belgian New Year's Day is called as "Nieuwjaarsdag". Children buy colorful paper with their savings money for writing colorful and decorated greetings for the New Year. 
The children read their writings on New Year's morning. 

Food for the Belgian New Year:

Different types Cakes and Champagne.
 

New Year's Eve And New Year's Day in France:
Customs, Traditions and Celebrations: 

France adopted January first as the New Year from the Year 1582. Earlier their new year Beginning was from 25th. March. Family members, relatives and friends assembled On New Year's Eve. The host throws the dinner party. People greet each other with greetings cards and gifts. Sometimes people send fake gifts also to joke with friends and relatives. Many friends anonymously send humorous postcards imprinted with pictures of fish. Different cultural program take in French New Year.

Foods for the occasion: 

Sweets, oysters, chicken, eggs, wine, chocolate, candied fruit are the preferred in the New Year.


New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Japan

Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:
It is one of the greatest festivals of Japan. This festival is observed from 31st. December to 3rd. January. 31st December is the New Year's Eve and the preparatory day to welcome the New Year. New Year's postcards 'nengajo' are sent before New Year to greet friends, relatives and business associates. Before the New Year's Eve people clean their homes and workplaces, even temples dust off their Buddhist images. Many people get together with their family members to watch a special song festival program in television named Red and White Song Festival. The program is composed of most popular songs of the last year. On the New Year's Eve midnight Buddhist temple would be ringing the bells for 108 times welcoming the New Year. People offer prayer in the shrine. Many purchase arrow or some amulet to ensure good luck and prosperity. Some celebrates New Year by traveling abroad, or having joining a picnic or even quietly sleeping or lying in home. Watching sunrise of the New Year Day signifies good luck. Children get monetary gift from their elderly and buy toy, candy etc.

Food for the Japanese New Year: 

People eat buckwheat noodle soup and buckwheat noodles during New Year's Day to ensure good luck and longevity. People also take candied black beans, fish eggs attached to seaweed, dasheens and fish. A soup called New Year's soup known as ozoni is also popular among Japanese.
 

New Year's Eve and New Year Day in India: 
Customs, Traditions, Celebrations:

India is a multi-cultural and multi-lingual country. There are so many regional calendars in vogue. They observe New Year Day on the basis of 1st day of those regional New Year. Even 40 years back Indian used to observe only regional New Year. But now the Indian civilization is being influenced by Western culture. Now, Gregorian New Year is also being observed here with great enthusiasm along with the observance of regional New Year in their respective timings. Mainly young generation is more interested and enthusiastic about the 'English New Year'. They send greetings card to their friends. They go out to arrange some picnic or go out to travel somewhere. From Christmas day to the 1st. January people enjoys the festive mood. People enjoy best part of the weather in this part of time.

Food for the New Year in India: 

People eat various types of cakes in New Year. They eat good tasty food in their meals as per their choice during the New Year's Day. Some youths drink liquor to observe the New Year Day which is deplorable in the Indian Society in general.
 

New Year's Eve and New Year Day in Korea:
Customs, Traditions & Celebrations In Korea:

Koreans celebrate the Lunar New Year sometimes in January. New Year is one of the most important holidays of Koreans. They clean their homes. They take bath in the evening with hot water. People also burn bamboo to keep away the evil force. It is thought that the sound of exploding bamboo knots to make the demon run away. On the Korean New Year's Eve people bows down to the elders to offer their respect and the elders bless them for Prosperity and success in the New Year. It is the custom to keep the light on in all the rooms including the kitchen in the New Year's Eve. People are supposed to welcome the New Year with awaken eyes. Some people believe that: The eyebrows would be turn white if someone sleep on the night of New Year's Eve. Korean New Year's Day is locally called "seol" or "seol ral". Mostly people say "Seol" means 'to be careful', and to some that it means sadness. At dawn they take a bath and put on new clothes prepared for the purpose of New Year. Women remain busy preparing special food for the New Year. Children get money and candies from the elders. People visit the their ancestral tombs. People play Yut game, Kite flying, Top-spinning, snow sliding, etc. through out the day. 

Food For the Korean New Year: 

Food and liquors are served to adults in respect. Some famous foods during Korean New Year are meat fritters, dates, walnut etc. But special Korean Dish for New Year's Day is 'ttokkuk'. Many people drink a glass of liquor called "gui balki sool", which is believed to clarify the hearing. Many Korean people believe that the liquor helps to hear clearly throughout the year.
 

New Year Eve and New Year Day In Egypt 

Customs, Traditions and Celebrations: in Egypt 
Egyptian New Year takes place in the month of January. New Year is a public holiday in Egypt. It is a festive season. It is the custom to observe the new crescent moon for the declaration of the New Year. After the declaration, the men who have been waiting outside the mosque wish each other a happy New Year. After then they go to tell their families about the New Year. On New Year's Day every one dresses up specially. Girls are allowed to put on colorful dresses on this day instead of conventional black dresses. The elderly persons visit their friend's house to meet them.

Food for Egyptian New Year: 

Children get sweets from the elders. Boys get sweet, shaped as 'a boy on horse back' and girls get sweets shaped as 'a girl wearing a dress'. All family members sit down to have New Year dinner together. People eat meat on New Year Day. Alcohol is prohibited.
 

New Year' Eve and New Year's Day in Vietnam
Customs, Traditions and Celebrations:
Vietnamese New Year takes place in January. The New Year falls in the period between harvesting crops and the sowing of the next new corps. New Year is a very important festival in Vietnam. Before the New Year Vietnamese cleans their homes and polishes their utensils and ornaments and pays off debt to prepare for the New Year. A tree is planted in the premises of the house and is decorated with color papers, flowers and bells. By this decoration it is thought to keep away evil forces. During the New Year's Day incense sticks are burnt and an offer is placed for ancestors of the family. Many people believe that the first person that would come to their home would bring good luck or bad luck. People meet relatives, friends, and teachers during the New Year festival. People visit shrines and temples also and bring back offered flowers as auspicious article and keeps in the house throughout the Year. 

Food for the Vietnamese New Year: 

For the New Year a pudding made of rice is prepared beforehand. The pudding includes mung beans and pork. Watermelon with red inside is considered lucky for the New Year. In New Year people eat chicken, sweets, beef, fish, oranges, coconuts and other fruits.