New Year’s Traditions from Across the Globe

New Year’s festivities in the USA are memorable for Times Square, fireworks and resolutions, but other cultures celebrate very differently. Here is a look into several unique traditions our distant neighbors enjoy.

Scotland

The Scots refer to New Year’s celebrations as “Hogmanay.” Festivities begin on the last day of the year and extend through the next morning. One custom, the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”, has crossed over to other countries. In Scotland, it is traditionally sung in a circle with singers linking arms and then crossing them over one another at the start of the last verse. Parties in the streets of Edinburgh are lavish and notorious for heavy drinking.

Greece

In Greece, the first day of the new year is also St. Basil’s Day. Holiday presents are exchanged on this day rather than Christmas. St. Basil’s function, like Santa Clause, is to bear gifts. Families plan special meals and parties to welcome him. A traditional New Year’s food in Greece is the vassilopitta cake. A coin is hidden inside the cake; whoever receives the piece with the coin is said to be lucky for the entire year. Family card games and other games of chance are customary. Children and teens participate in a mock street war on New Year’s Eve using harmless weapons such as foam spray and plastic clubs. Nightlife is very active through the holiday.

Japan

Oshogatsu is the Japanese New Year. On December 31st, Buddhist temples across Japan ring their bells 108 times to symbolize the 108 perceived human sins and worldly desires. On New Year’s Day, Japanese families enjoy fish cakes and seaweed. Homes are adorned with origami cranes to bring peace and happiness. Japanese children are given money in decorative envelopes, and postcards are sent to friends and family. Traditional games are played.

Germany

Germans toast at midnight on New Year’s Day with the phrase “May the new year turn out well.” It is customary to eat sauerkraut, pork and seafood. Food is always left on the table after the meal. Germans also drop molten lead into cold water believing that the shape it makes will predict the future. A heart shape would indicate a wedding; a pig would mean plentiful food. Berlin holds a massive New Year’s party at the Brandenburg Gate.

South America

South American New Year celebrations involve constructing a scarecrow-like figure which is stuffed with firecrackers. It is meant to represent something that happened during the year. At midnight, the family lights the dummy on fire which ignites the firecrackers.