India: India celebrates the New Year from October 31st every year, which lasts for 5 days, and the fourth day is New Year's Day. On the first day of the new year, no one is allowed to be angry with others, let alone lose their temper. In some places in India, instead of celebrating the New Year, people hug each other and cry. This is really a strange thing in the world, but their philosophy of life makes people feel quite touching. They believe that at the beginning of New Year's Day, time flies by - life is short, and they express their sighs by crying. In some areas, people fast for a day and night to welcome the new year, starting from the early morning of New Year's Day until midnight. Because of this weird custom, New Year's Day in India is known as "New Year's Day of crying" and "New Year's Day of fasting".
Japan: The Japanese pay special attention to the New Year, and December 29th to January 3rd is a national holiday every year. The Japanese call December 31st the "big dark day", which is also New Year's Eve. On New Year's Eve, the Japanese call it "New Year's Eve". On New Year's Eve, they pray to the gods for blessings, bid farewell to the troubled old year, and usher in a beautiful new year, which is called "Hatsuachi". At midnight on New Year's Eve, temples in urban and rural areas ring their bells 108 times to drive away evil. The Japanese sit quietly and listen to the "New Year's Eve Bell". The silence of the bell means the arrival of the New Year.
The Japanese call the first day of the New Year "the first day of the year". The 1st to 3rd are the "Three Congratulatory Days". On the first day, the younger generation must first go to their parents to pay New Year greetings, and then go to the homes of relatives and friends to pay New Year greetings. New Year is also a festival of "eating". On the "Sunday" day, Japanese people have a very rich breakfast, eating sugar squid, buckwheat noodles, etc., and drinking Tusu wine. After that, they eat vegetarian food for three consecutive days to show their piety and pray for good luck in the coming year.
Thailand: Thailand's traditional New Year, the "Songkran Festival" ("Songkran" is the transliteration of Sanskrit), also called the "Splashing Festival", is from April 13th to 16th every year in the Gregorian calendar.
During the festival, people carry or carry huge Buddha statues in vehicles. The Buddha statues are followed by floats, on which stand the "Songqian Goddess" with makeup, and groups of men and women. Young people, dressed in colorful national costumes, beat long drums, sing and dance. On both sides of the road where the procession passes, faithful men and women walk along the road, filling silver bowls with water soaked in bay leaves and soaked with spices, and pouring it on the Buddha statues and "Goddess Songgan" to pray for good luck and good weather in the new year. Then people sprinkle water on each other, happily wishing their elders health and longevity, and wishing their relatives and friends good luck in the New Year. Unmarried young men and women splash water to express their love for each other. On the first day of the New Year, Thai people put a basin of water on the window sill or at the door, and every household goes to the outskirts of the river to take a New Year bath.
Germany: German New Year is celebrated one week before and after. During this period, every household must place a fir tree or a horizontal tree with silk flowers tied between the leaves, which means that the world is full of flowers and spring. At midnight on New Year's Eve, just before the New Year arrives, Germans climb on chairs. When the bell rings, they jump off the chair and throw a heavy object behind the chair to show that they are throwing away the trouble and jumping into the New Year. The children formed a band, put on new clothes, held harmonicas and accordions, and lined up to play in the streets. The adults held colorful flags and followed behind, shouting and singing to celebrate the New Year. Women in Germany perform impromptu comedy sketches with family themes in the New Year. There is a New Year custom circulating in rural areas of Germany - the "Tree Climbing Competition", in which young men compete to climb higher along a bare tree. The first place is hailed as the "New Year's Hero" to show that they are rising higher and higher.
Egypt: Egypt is an ancient civilization. In 40 BC, the Egyptians were able to observe the stars. They discovered that Sirius and the sun rose together, and the Nile River immediately rose. Egypt regards the day when the Nile River floods as the beginning of the New Year, which is called "High Flood New Year". The Kroot people of Egypt welcome the New Year by placing a table at the door with seven or eight plates containing grains of soybeans, lentils, alfalfa and wheat, as well as many small buds of green plants, which symbolizes abundance. The more you give to God, the greater your harvest will be in the new year. The Egyptian New Year is in autumn, because Egyptian agricultural production begins in autumn.
North Korea: Like our country, North Korea also has the custom of posting window grilles and peach charms during the New Year. During the New Year, North Koreans post couplets and New Year pictures on every household. Some people put pictures of longevity stars or fairies on their doors to pray for God's blessing, drive away ghosts, and bring happiness. At the dawn of New Year's Day, people stuff some banknotes into pre-tied scarecrows and throw them at the crossroads, which means sending away evil and welcoming good fortune. At dusk, people burn off the hair that the family has lost throughout the year, wishing their families peace all year round. During the Spring Festival, North Korean women dress up.
On New Year's Day, girls wear hemp hats called "luck towels" and patterned five-color clothes for a swing competition. They target a tree flower and see who can kick or bite it first to win. There are also those who hang bronze bells at high places, and the one who rings the bell first is the winner.
Singapore: On Lunar New Year’s Eve, children have the habit of staying up late until midnight when their parents’ activities to worship gods and ancestors are over before going to bed. During the Chinese New Year, dragon and lion dance teams formed by clubs in the city perform along the streets, and the faces of men, women, and children are permeated with a festive atmosphere.
UK: In the UK, although New Year's Day is not as grand as Christmas, various celebration activities are still carried out according to local customs on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to show off the old and welcome the new. On New Year's Eve, every household must have wine in the bottle and meat in the cupboard. The British believe that if there is no food and wine left, they will be poor in the coming year. In addition, there is also a popular custom in the United Kingdom of "drawing water from the well" during the New Year. People strive to be the first to draw water. They believe that the first person to draw water is a happy person and the water drawn is auspicious water.
Italy: New Year's Eve is a carnival night in Italy. People flock to the streets, set off firecrackers and fireworks, and even fire live ammunition. Men and women danced gracefully, and at midnight, every household smashed something breakable in the house. This is their traditional way of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new year.
Iran: Iran implements the Islamic calendar, and its seasons and months are not fixed. In Iran, celebrating the New Year means celebrating the arrival of spring, which is usually in late March of the Gregorian calendar. The New Year is celebrated grandly for a week. People flock to the streets to light "bonfires" - "night fires", and then the whole family jumps up and down on the night fire one after another, which means burning away "bad luck", ushering in light, driving away evil spirits and diseases, and lasting happiness. There are "seven dishes" to be eaten on New Year's Eve, and the name of each dish must start with the letter "S" to show good luck. From the first to the third day of the lunar month, people visit relatives and friends and wish each other a happy Spring Festival. On the last day of the new year, the whole family goes on an outing to avoid evil.
France: Celebrate the New Year with wine. People start partying and drinking from New Year’s Eve until January 3. The French believe that the weather on New Year's Day heralds the coming of the new year. In the early morning of New Year's Day, they go to the streets to check the direction of the wind and predict fortunes: if the south wind blows, it indicates good weather and the year will be safe and hot; if the west wind blows, there will be a good harvest for fishing and milking; if the east wind blows, there will be a high yield of fruits; if the north wind blows, it will be a good year. If the wind blows, it will be a bad harvest year. (Source: "Life Times" December 25, 2001/Guo Ji)
New Year customs around the world
India: India celebrates the New Year from October 31 every year,** *5 days, the 4th day is New Year’s Day. On the first day of the new year, no one is allowed to be angry with others, let alone lose their temper. In some places in India, instead of celebrating the New Year, people hug each other and cry. This is really a strange thing in the world, but their philosophy of life makes people feel quite touching. They believe that at the beginning of New Year's Day, time flies by - life is short, and they express their sighs by crying. In some areas, people fast for a day and night to welcome the new year, starting from the early morning of New Year's Day until midnight. Because of this weird custom, New Year's Day in India is known as "New Year's Day of crying" and "New Year's Day of fasting".
Japan: The Japanese pay special attention to the New Year, and December 29th to January 3rd is a national holiday every year. The Japanese call December 31st the "big dark day", which is also New Year's Eve. On New Year's Eve, the Japanese call it "New Year's Eve". On New Year's Eve, they pray to the gods for blessings, bid farewell to the troubled old year, and usher in a beautiful new year, which is called "Hatsuachi". At midnight on New Year's Eve, temples in urban and rural areas ring their bells 108 times to drive away evil. The Japanese sit quietly and listen to the "New Year's Eve Bell". The silence of the bell means the arrival of the New Year.
The Japanese call the first day of the New Year "the first day of the year". The 1st to 3rd are the "Three Congratulations Days". On the first day, the younger generation must first go to their parents to pay New Year greetings, and then go to the homes of relatives and friends to pay New Year greetings. New Year is also a festival of "eating". On the "Sunday" day, Japanese people have a very rich breakfast, eating sugar squid, buckwheat noodles, etc., and drinking Tusu wine. After that, they eat vegetarian food for three consecutive days to show their piety and pray for good luck in the coming year.
Thailand: Thailand's traditional New Year, the "Songkran Festival" ("Songkran" is the transliteration of Sanskrit), also called the "Splashing Festival", is from April 13th to 16th every year in the Gregorian calendar.
During the festival, people carry or carry huge Buddha statues in vehicles. The Buddha statues are followed by floats, on which stand the "Songqian Goddess" with makeup, and groups of men and women. Young people, dressed in colorful national costumes, beat long drums, sing and dance. On both sides of the road where the procession passes, faithful men and women walk along the road, filling silver bowls with water soaked in bay leaves and soaked with spices, and pouring it on the Buddha statues and "Songgan Goddess" to pray for good luck in the new year and good weather. Then people sprinkle water on each other, happily wishing their elders health and longevity, and wishing their relatives and friends good luck in the New Year. Unmarried young men and women splash water to express their love for each other. On the first day of the New Year, Thai people put a basin of water on the window sill or at the door, and every household goes to the outskirts of the river to take a New Year bath.
Germany: German New Year is celebrated one week before and after. During this period, every household must place a fir tree or a horizontal tree with silk flowers tied between the leaves, which means that the world is full of flowers and spring. At midnight on New Year's Eve, just before the New Year arrives, Germans climb on chairs. When the bell rings, they jump off the chair and throw a heavy object behind the chair to show that they are throwing away the trouble and jumping into the New Year. The children formed a band, put on new clothes, held harmonicas and accordions, and lined up to play in the streets. The adults held colorful flags and followed behind, shouting and singing to celebrate the New Year. Women in Germany perform impromptu comedy sketches with family themes in the New Year. There is a New Year custom circulating in rural areas of Germany - the "Tree Climbing Competition", in which young men compete to climb higher along a bare tree. The first place is hailed as the "New Year's Hero" to show that they are rising higher and higher.
Egypt: Egypt is an ancient civilization. In 40 BC, the Egyptians were able to observe the stars. They discovered that Sirius and the sun rose together, and the Nile River immediately rose. Egypt regards the day when the Nile River floods as the beginning of the New Year, which is called "High Flood New Year". The Kroot people of Egypt welcome the New Year by placing a table at the door with seven or eight plates containing grains of soybeans, lentils, alfalfa and wheat, as well as many small buds of green plants, which symbolizes abundance. The more you give to God, the greater your harvest will be in the new year. The Egyptian New Year is in autumn, because Egyptian agricultural production begins in autumn.
North Korea: Like our country, North Korea also has the custom of posting window grilles and peach charms during the New Year. During the New Year, North Koreans post couplets and New Year pictures on every household. Some people put pictures of longevity stars or fairies on their doors to pray for God's blessing, drive away ghosts, and bring happiness. At the dawn of New Year's Day, people stuff some banknotes into pre-tied scarecrows and throw them at the crossroads, which means sending away evil and welcoming good fortune. At dusk, people burn off the hair that the family has lost throughout the year, wishing their families peace all year round. During the Spring Festival, North Korean women dress up. On New Year's Day, girls wear hemp hats called "luck towels" and patterned five-color clothes for a swing competition. They target a tree flower and see who can kick or bite it first to win. There are also those who hang copper bells at high places, and the one who rings the bell first is the winner.
Singapore: On Lunar New Year’s Eve, children have the habit of staying up late until midnight when their parents’ activities to worship gods and ancestors are over before going to bed. During the Chinese New Year, dragon and lion dance teams formed by clubs in the city perform along the streets, and the faces of men, women, and children are permeated with a festive atmosphere.
UK: In the UK, although New Year's Day in the Gregorian calendar is not as grand as Christmas, various celebrations are still carried out on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day according to local customs to show off the old and welcome the new. On New Year's Eve, every household must have wine in the bottle and meat in the cupboard. The British believe that if there is no food and wine left, they will be poor in the coming year. In addition, there is also a popular custom in the United Kingdom of "drawing water from the well" during the New Year. People strive to be the first to draw water. They believe that the first person to draw water is a happy person and the water drawn is auspicious water.
Italy: New Year's Eve is a carnival night in Italy. People flock to the streets, set off firecrackers and fireworks, and even fire live ammunition. Men and women danced gracefully, and at midnight, every household smashed something breakable in the house. This is their traditional way of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new year.
Iran: Iran implements the Islamic calendar, and its seasons and months are not fixed. In Iran, celebrating the New Year means celebrating the arrival of spring, which is usually in late March of the Gregorian calendar. The New Year is celebrated grandly for a week. People flock to the streets to light "bonfires" - "night fires", and then the whole family jumps up and down on the night fire in order to burn away "bad luck", usher in light, drive away evil spirits and diseases, and achieve eternal happiness.
There are "seven dishes" to be eaten on New Year's Eve, and the name of each dish must start with the letter "S" to show good luck. From the first to the third day of the lunar month, people visit relatives and friends and wish each other a happy Spring Festival. On the last day of the new year, the whole family goes on an outing to avoid evil.
France: Celebrate the New Year with wine. People start partying and drinking from New Year’s Eve until January 3. The French believe that the weather on New Year's Day heralds the coming of the new year. In the early morning of New Year's Day, they go to the streets to check the direction of the wind and predict fortunes: if the south wind blows, it indicates good weather and the year will be safe and hot; if the west wind blows, there will be a good harvest for fishing and milking; if the east wind blows, there will be a high yield of fruits; if the north wind blows, it will be a good year. If the wind blows, it will be a bad harvest year. (Source: "Life Times" December 25, 2001/Guo Ji)