New Years Traditions

Celebrating New Years is one of the few holidays that is celebrated around the world in all towns, cities, villages, townships, counties, states and countries.

United States of America New Year

Celebrating starts on New Year's Eve with lots of parties leading up to the famous ball drop in Times Square in New York City which can be seen on most any TV in the US. This stroke of midnight is further celebrated by lots of people kissing, people blowing whistles and paper blowers and the loud noise of car horns honking.

There is a lot of party foods but the real tradition is to eat black-eyed peas in order to have good luck in the coming year. There will also be lots of champagne toasts to the New Year as well.

On New Year's Eve and New Years Day you will find lots of people in football stadiums and in front of their TVs watching football games.

South America

The New Years festival is celebrated in South America by creating a dummy or fake person in the form of a scarecrow. This dummy is completely dressed and stuffed with firecrackers and newspapers.

This dummy will usually represent something that has happened during the previous year in that person or family's life and it is normally placed outside the home.

At the stroke of midnight each family sets the dummy on fire. As the fire catches on then the firecreacers go off to add to the festivities. The New Year begins and the old year is forgotten and left behind.

Puerto Rico South America

In this country it is believed that the home is rid of evil spirits by the throwing of pails of water out the window at the stroke of midnight.

Australia New Year

Like the United States celebrations begin on New Year's Eve with parties and at midnight they make noise with car horns, whistles and rattles and church bells to ring in the New Year.

Unlike the US with their football games on New Years Day, people in Australia enjoy their day by having picnics, rodeos, surf carnivals and camping out on the beach.

Belgian New Year

In Belgium New Year's Eve is called Saint Sylvester Eve and is celebrated with family parties. At midnight there are lots of kisses, good luck greetings and toasts to absent relatives and friends. The cities and restaurants are crowded with those bidding farewell to the Old Year.

New Year's Day is called Nieuwjarrsdag. During the year children have saved money and used it to purchase decorated paper for writing their holiday greeting to their parents or god parents. On the morning of Nieuwjarrsdag the children read to their parents and god parents what they have written to them on their decorated holiday paper.

For family blessings animals are wished a Happy New Years by Belgium farmes on New Years Day.

No matter where you are or what the traditions of that area are, New Year's Eve is usually a night of parties culminating with a special celebration at the stroke of midnight ringing in the New Year and a chance for a new beginning.