Traditions around the world for the New Year

[Terpe]

As the clock strikes 12 on Monday, millions will pop champagne corks and light fireworks while others indulge in quirkier New Year's rituals like melting lead, leaping off chairs or gobbling grapes.

One of the world's oldest shared traditions, New Year's celebrations take many forms, but most cultures have one thing in common -- letting one's hair down after a long, hard year.

For much of the globe this involves sipping bubbly with friends until the sun comes up, seeing out the old year with bonfires and flares and off-key renditions of Auld Lang Syne.

But others have rather more curious habits, often steeped in superstition.

In Finland, say tour guides, people pour molten lead into cold water to divine the year ahead from the shape the metal sets in. If the blob represents a ship it is said to foretell travel, if it's a ball, good luck.

In Denmark, people stand on chairs and jump off in unison as the clock strikes midnight, literally leaping into the new year.

(The Danes also throw plates at their friends' homes during the night -- the more shards you find outside your door in the morning the more popular you are said to be.)

The Dutch build massive bonfires with their Christmas trees and eat sugary donuts -- one of many cultures to consume round New Year's foods traditionally believed to represent good fortune.

Spaniards, in turn, gobble a dozen grapes before the stroke of midnight, each fruit representing a month that will either be sweet or sour.

In the Philippines, revellers wear polka dots for good luck, while in some countries of South America people don brightly coloured underwear to attract fortune -- red for love and yellow for financial success.

Despite regional and cultural differences, for most the New Year's festivities are a chance to let off steam before the annual cycle starts all over again.

"This is a holiday that is about relaxation and letting go," explained George Washington University sociologist Amitai Etzioni.

"The whole year people are chained by social requirements, morals, laws... "And then there comes some occasion in which society says for today, 24 hours, for this evening, all bets are off, all norms are suspended, and it's OK.

"The next day we have to get back in line."

Historians say people have been marking the year change for thousands of years.

The ancient Romans, who gave us the solar calendar, celebrated in a way similar to ours.

"It was a day of public celebration. People spent the day playing, eating and drinking," according to French historian John Scheid of the College de France.

"During the period of the empire, the first four centuries AD, this originally Roman custom became a general festival in the whole Roman world, and so it remained until today."

January 1 became the day widely marked as New Year's Day only in 46 BC, when the emperor Julius Caesar introduced a new calendar. March 1 had been the first day of the year until then.

Medieval Europe, though, continued celebrating New Year's Day on dates with religious significance, including Christmas.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII replaced the Julian calendar with the Gregorian one, correcting mathematical inconsistencies.

Most Catholic countries immediately adopted the calendar and its January 1 start, but Protestant nations did so only gradually.

Britain and its then-colonies, including the United States, were among the last to introduce the new calendar, from 1752.

While most of the world has now adopted January 1 as the official start of the year, some still hold their festivities on other dates.

Orthodox churches celebrate on January 14 (January 1 on the Julian calendar), while the Chinese New Year can fall on any date between January 21 and February 20, depending on the position of the moon.

This year, it will be February 10.

Source:-
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story...r-the-new-year

[Terpe]

I might not have this perfectly correct, but as a kid I remember that the first person to enter your house on New Years day had to come through the back door and carrying coal in their left hand.
Don't suppose anyone has any coal these days

[Terpe]

I've already been told that tomorrow we will be shopping for certain numbers of round fruits.
That way the round fruits will be in the house as the new year arrives. That's the way to ensure a happy and lucky new year.

I remember we did just that last time round.
Didn't work for my 2012, which has been the worst I can remember.

Maybe we bought the wrong fruits

[vernier caliper]

Jumping as high as possible is one of the traditions my family use to do on New Year. By doing this, we believe that certain cm/inch has been added on our heights.

BTW Terpe, did you manage to collect atleast 7 round shape fruits? Again, the more the merrier. Likewise, glass of water, glass of salt and bowl of rice grains with coins on top shall be present in the table.

We wish everyone a New Year full of chances and satisfactions. Good luck is the strength in our hands.

Cheers,

Trefor and Rose

[irishman12]

As the clock strikes 12 on Monday ------ dont u mean on tuesday?

[Terpe]

As the clock strikes 12 on Monday ------ dont u mean on tuesday?

That's a debate you'd need to take up with the author

[Terpe]

...BTW Terpe, did you manage to collect atleast 7 round shape fruits? Again, the more the merrier. Likewise, glass of water, glass of salt and bowl of rice grains with coins on top shall be present in the table.

I'll make sure to follow that

Thanks for the tip, hope it works for me.

Happy new year to you and yours

[rusty]

Just got back from shop, 12 round fruits .

[rusty]

I might not have this perfectly correct, but as a kid I remember that the first person to enter your house on New Years day had to come through the back door and carrying coal in their left hand.
Don't suppose anyone has any coal these days

Must be a northern tradition, never heard it before we moved up here a couple of years ago.

[Terpe]

Of course another tradition is that on the stroke of midnight I have to kiss every lady in sight.

Well it's New Year ....

[Terpe]

Must be a northern tradition, never heard it before we moved up here a couple of years ago.

So you've heard that one Rusty?
Well we're north of London

It was a great tradition that also involved having a tot of something warming and alcoholic
You'd be surprised just how many people were running around with coal in their hand

[raynaputi]

just want to say Happy New Year everyone! (Just click photo#1 for animation..not sure why it's not working )

tumblr_mfw7r9swXa1r05j29o1_500.gif2013-happy-new-year.jpg

[Terpe]

Happy new to everyone near and far

[Terpe]

Well I've done everything I can to secure a good 2013

All the round fruits now bought and arranged

[Michael Parnham]

I remember the coal, it had to be brought inside the house by the first person that paid you a visit anytime after midnight, so it could be a few days before any one paid you a visit. I notice after reading the comments on the forum how many members really believe the superstitions surrounding special events. Is there anyone who is not superstitious?