Customs and Traditions of New Year's Day in Different Countries

The New Year is approaching, and each country has its unique way of celebrating. Let’s explore the distinctive customs for the New Year in various countries around the globe.

1. Japan

Due to Western cultural influences, the Japanese have long ceased to celebrate the New Year according to the lunar calendar, unlike some other Asian countries. In Japanese spirituality, the New Year is regarded as the primary festival. On the early morning of January 1, all family members in Japan gather to welcome the first sunrise of the new year. Afterwards, they often visit temples to pray or go to the homes of relatives and friends to exchange New Year greetings. On this day, families hold a New Year celebration (Oshogatsu). The Japanese New Year feast is rich and beautifully arranged.

Osechi – New Year dish of Japan after offering to the New Year God.

First is the celebratory sake (otoso) to ward off evil spirits from the past year and to promote longevity. Next is the New Year food (osechi) after offering to the New Year God. People enjoy food and share the best wishes. The first three days from January 1 to 3 are considered the most special and sacred days of the New Year. During these three days, the Japanese observe a vegetarian diet to show their respect to the gods and ancestors, praying for a prosperous new year. Additionally, similar to the Vietnamese New Year, the Japanese also maintain the tradition of giving money to children or exchanging gifts among family members or friends after the New Year’s Eve celebration. Notably, according to traditional customs, the act of giving gifts or New Year money in Japan is not perceived as “heavy” due to material value, but mainly carries spiritual, emotional, and ethical significance.

2. France

The French start drinking heavily from New Year’s Eve until January 3.

There is a saying: “the French drink wine to welcome the New Year.” Why is that? Because the French start drinking heavily from New Year’s Eve until January 3. They believe that on New Year’s, one must finish all the wine they have; doing so will bring good fortune in the new year. If any wine is left, it is thought to bring misfortune in the new year. Moreover, on New Year’s Day, the French often go out to observe the wind direction to predict their fortune for the year. If the South wind blows, it signals a year of good weather and warmth. If the West wind blows, it will be a lucky year for fishing and dairy farming. If the East wind blows, it indicates a fruitful year with abundance for all households. If the North wind blows, it signifies bad luck and a year of poor harvests.

3. England

On New Year’s Eve, households are busy stocking up on wine and filling their cabinets with meat. The English believe that if there is not enough wine and meat, the new year will bring hardship and poverty. Additionally, in England, there is a custom called “first water of the New Year.” Everyone competes to fetch water to be the first to scoop the first cup of water in the early moments of the new year. According to English belief, the person who scoops the first cup of water will be lucky throughout the year. On New Year’s Eve, the English typically bring cakes and wine to visit relatives and friends; however, guests do not knock on the door but enter directly. The English believe that after the midnight bell rings to mark the new year, the first person to enter the house should be a man with dark hair or a cheerful and wealthy person, as this will bring the hosts a prosperous new year. Conversely, if the first person is a woman with platinum blonde hair or a sorrowful, poor, and unfortunate person, it signals a year of misfortune, challenges, and disasters for the hosts. When visiting someone in England on New Year’s Eve, the first thing you should do before starting a conversation is to approach the fireplace to add coal. This act symbolizes a blessing to the hosts, signifying “opening the door to great fortune.”

4. Scotland

On the eve of the New Year, each Scottish family scatters a little gold coin at their front door. Despite no one watching, neither thieves nor beggars ever take these coins. This is because, according to local custom, scattering gold coins at the door on New Year’s Eve and seeing them the next morning is believed to bring wealth, symbolically meaning “seeing wealth.”

5. Germany

During the New Year celebrations, the Germans place a fir tree adorned with velvet flowers, signaling the arrival of spring and prosperity. One minute before the New Year, everyone climbs onto a chair, and when the clock strikes midnight, everyone jumps off the chair and hurriedly throws a heavy object behind the chair, symbolizing the act of throwing away misfortunes and negativity from the past year to embrace the new year. In rural Germany, a rather interesting New Year custom is the practice of “climbing trees,” symbolizing progress and development in both work and life each year.

6. Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, the first person to sneeze is considered the one who brings happiness to the household for the year.

After the clock strikes midnight, everyone in the family gathers to eat a special cake made for New Year’s Eve. The person who finds the coin hidden in the cake will be the happiest in the new year. Additionally, during the New Year’s feast, whoever sneezes first is believed to bring happiness to the household for the year. The host will gift this person a goat, cow, or foal as a blessing and a token of gratitude for bringing happiness to their family.

7. Hungary

On New Year’s Day, Hungarians avoid eating poultry and fish. Among close friends, it is common to give each other a piglet and a porcelain figurine of a worker cleaning a chimney as a sign of good wishes.

8. Spain

In Spain, New Year’s Eve is a time for families to gather together, celebrating with music, singing, and games. As the first bell tolls at midnight, marking the transition to the New Year, people rush to eat grapes. If you manage to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of 12, you will be lucky, as it is believed that everything will go well for you throughout the year. On this day, the biggest taboo for children is to refrain from yelling, fighting, or crying. Spaniards believe that such behaviors are omens of bad luck. Thus, adults strive to fulfill the wishes of children to keep them happy and joyful. Additionally, it is customary for Spaniards to wear a gold or copper coin to symbolize good luck and prosperity during the New Year.

9. Belgium

In rural Belgium, there exists an interesting tradition known as “blessing the pets.” On New Year’s Day, the first activity involves people going to their animals—such as cows, horses, goats, sheep, dogs, and cats—and pretending to announce to them: “The New Year has arrived, enjoy!”

10. Argentina

In Argentina, water is considered the most “sacred” element. Therefore, on New Year’s Day, people flock to the rivers to “bathe in celebration of the New Year.” Before entering the water, they scatter fresh flower petals on the surface. Following this, everyone joyfully jumps into the river to cleanse themselves, using the flower petals to scrub their bodies, symbolizing the removal of impurities and bad luck from the past year while wishing for good fortune in the year ahead.

11. Egypt

In some places in Egypt, various harvested seeds such as soybeans, green beans…

Egyptians celebrate the New Year based on the highest water level of the Nile, referred to as the “New Year of Rising Water.” In certain regions, on New Year’s Day, it is customary to offer various harvested seeds like soybeans, green beans, lentils, and wheat. Additionally, fresh sprouts from other plants symbolize abundance and prosperity. Egyptians believe that the more offerings made to the deities, the more bountiful the harvest will be in the New Year.

12. India

New Year’s Day in India is known as “The Day of Sorrow” or “The Day of Fasting.” On the very first day of the New Year, people are discouraged from getting angry, arguing, or fighting. In some areas, instead of exchanging blessings, people hug and cry together. They believe that as the New Year begins, life expectancy decreases, and each year is shorter, so crying is a way to express sorrow for oneself. In some regions, individuals will fast for a day and a night to greet the New Year, with the fasting period starting from dawn on New Year’s Day until midnight.

13. Pakistan

On the first day of the New Year, every Pakistani steps out with a bag of red powder in hand. Upon meeting friends and family, after exchanging greetings and New Year wishes, they smear a streak of red chalk on the forehead of the person in front to express their New Year blessings.

14. Afghanistan

In northern Afghanistan, people celebrate the New Year with lively mountain goat hunting competitions. Two teams compete for hunted animals, and the contest is both intense and joyful, filled with excitement.

15. Brazil

In Brazil, on New Year’s Day, people carry torches and climb high mountains in search of golden fruit, a symbol of happiness. Only those who are unafraid of danger can find this rare fruit. This event is known as the “search for happiness.” Another unique custom in rural Brazil is “pulling earlobes.” When people meet on New Year, they grasp the earlobes of the person opposite and pull them hard to convey their blessings.

16. Mexico

In some regions of Mexico, there is a tradition of not laughing when the New Year arrives. People in these areas divide the year into 18 months, each with 20 days. On the last day of the year, everyone is prohibited from joking or laughing.

17. Paraguay

Paraguayans observe the last five days of the year as “the days of cold food.” During this period, from the highest officials to ordinary citizens, no one is allowed to light fires or cook; they can only eat cold food that has been prepared in advance. It is not until New Year’s Day on January 1 that they are allowed to cook to wish for a new year of warmth and prosperity.

18. Cuba

In Cuba, on New Year’s Eve, every household pours water out of their windows until midnight for luck. When the church bells ring the first chime, everyone begins to swallow grapes, ensuring that by the twelfth toll, they have consumed twelve grapes. Successfully doing so is believed to bring prosperity and wealth in the New Year.

19. Colombia

The tradition of burning “Old Man Year” is an age-old custom in Colombia that involves family participation. Everyone collaborates to create a doll representing the old year, stuffing it with unwanted items and burning it on New Year’s Eve. This practice symbolizes shedding the misfortunes of the past and welcoming a happy New Year.

20. Canada

In Canada, people welcome the New Year by building snow around their homes. They believe this will ward off evil spirits and ensure a peaceful New Year.

In British Columbia, there is a unique New Year tradition that could be described as “chilling.” People here wear swimsuits and leap into icy waters at the arrival of the New Year, even though this occurs during the coldest time of the year in Canada.

21. USA

In the Southern states of the USA, at midnight, people often eat a lot of turnips and black-eyed peas, believing that each turnip will earn them $1,000, while each black-eyed pea will earn them 100 cents. According to tradition, to make this effective, they must eat 365 seeds.

For couples in love, exchanging a kiss at midnight is an ancient American custom, believed to bring luck and good fortune in the New Year.

In the USA, at the moment of transition from the old year to the new one, at Times Square, they drop a crystal ball and release confetti.

22. Italy

Italy has an interesting tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. Italians believe that wearing red underwear on the first day of the New Year will bring good luck for the entire year.

In Italy, no one goes outside on New Year’s Eve, because when the clock strikes twelve, everyone throws out old, broken items into the streets. This custom is based on the belief that discarding old possessions will lead to new ones in the coming year.

23. Denmark

Neighbors visit each other’s homes and throw plates.

In Denmark, there’s a unique New Year tradition where neighbors visit each other and break plates at their doorsteps. The more broken plates one has, the luckier they are expected to be in the New Year, demonstrating they have many friends.

While broken dishes during the New Year symbolize bad luck in some cultures, for the Danish, it has the opposite meaning, signifying good fortune. Throughout the year, people keep old, unused plates for this occasion.

As the New Year approaches, people visit the homes of loved ones and dear neighbors, throwing plates and dishes into their houses. The more broken dishes a house has, the luckier it will be in the new year. Moreover, the more dishes you throw into someone’s house, the stronger the bond you demonstrate with the host.

24. The Netherlands

On the first day of the new year, tens of thousands of Dutch people, along with many others around the world, brave the bone-chilling cold of the North Sea by jumping into the water. This daring act often leaves witnesses breathless. However, for those who cherish this tradition, experiencing the frigid sea is a cherished aspiration for the new year. According to local beliefs, the more one swims during the moments leading up to midnight, the more luck they will receive in the coming year. The country of windmills boasts over 60 beaches, with Scheveningen being a popular spot during New Year’s.

In addition to seeking personal luck for the year ahead, the Dutch and others worldwide also engage in a humanitarian tradition of raising funds for underprivileged children.

In the Netherlands, local authorities sell tickets for access to beaches popular for swimming on New Year’s Day. To stand on the beach, everyone must purchase a ticket costing 3 euros. Whether participating in the cold water swim or simply watching and taking photos, everyone is required to buy a ticket, and all proceeds go to charity.

25. Venezuela

Similar to several countries in Europe, Venezuelans have a tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight, with the hope of a joyful and peaceful new year. During this transitional moment, Venezuelan families gather around a large banquet table filled with traditional dishes and bottles of champagne.

Another custom in this South American country on New Year’s Day is for people to wear yellow underwear. Additionally, some individuals write down their wishes for the upcoming year on a piece of paper and burn it, believing that doing so will help their dreams come true in the following year.

26. Africa

Kenya and Zimbabwe host the largest New Year celebrations on the continent. The Kilifi Music Festival in Kenya takes place in the coastal town of the same name, situated between Mombasa and Malindi. Running from December 30 to January 2, this event spans approximately 80,000 square meters under the canopy of ancient baobab trees, featuring numerous DJs, singers, and a variety of food and drink stalls. A sculpture is burned to symbolize new beginnings, filled with hopes for a bright future.

Cape Town is a fantastic place to celebrate New Year’s Eve, with countless parties happening throughout the city. For those seeking a more vibrant atmosphere, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is the place to be. Annually, this complex hosts the largest New Year’s celebration in South Africa, featuring a parade and a spectacular fireworks display. Visitors can stroll through bars, listen to live music, and watch street performances.

For those less interested in parties, there are numerous events set against Africa’s stunning landscapes. In the southernmost part of the continent, adventurous souls can climb to the top of Lion’s Head in South Africa to enjoy the fireworks at V&A Waterfront from above. The view of Cape Town’s lights gradually fading into the darkness of Table Bay will be an unforgettable New Year’s beginning.

27. Australia

Australia is one of the first places in the world to celebrate New Year’s Eve. While New Year’s in other countries signifies winter, warm fires, roasted goose, cozy sweaters, and champagne, New Year’s Eve in Australia features temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius. As a result, people often picnic, camp on the beach, and celebrate outdoors in summer attire. On New Year’s Eve, the streets are filled with cheerful sounds as people revel in various outdoor activities, including picnics, boat races, horse racing, and hunting.

Of course, fireworks are an essential part of New Year’s Eve celebrations. The moment the clock strikes midnight marks the start of a dazzling light show. Sydney Harbour becomes the world’s center of New Year celebrations, with brilliant fireworks broadcasted to billions of viewers worldwide.

Sydney Harbour glows with spectacular fireworks, capturing the attention of billions around the globe. The fireworks displays here are meticulously planned, utilizing tons of pyrotechnics.

28. The Islamic New Year

Compared to countries celebrating the Gregorian New Year, Muslims celebrate in a distinctly different manner. Islamic festivals occur throughout the year, but the New Year is unique. The Islamic New Year is considered the second most sacred moment after Ramadan. It is a time for Muslims to reflect deeply.

For this reason, the Islamic New Year is celebrated quietly, with a focus on contemplating the true values of life. During the early days of the New Year, attending mosque for spiritual reflection and family reunions are essential elements.

Avoiding temptation and expanding compassion are values that Muslims emphasize and highlight during the New Year.