How do other cultures celebrate this time of year?

Question

I usually try and see the New Year in a different country but alas this year i would like to bring the culture here. How do they bring in the new year in other countries?? best answer to whoever can tell me the most spiritual and ritualistic ones...also for more than one

Answer 1

i am in Scotland which i believe is well known for its new year customs
new years eve to be more precise... or as we call it Hogmany
the biggest tradition we have is " first footers "
no one will leave the house until it has been visited first , traditionally this is expected to be a male
when anyone visits they would bring gifts with them
there are a few that are expected
Coal ..... to bring the new year warmth
Salt ( or food ) .... to prevent hunger in the coming year
drink ... well the Scottish do like a drink ( or a wee dram as we say )

Answer 2

I'm from Persia (iran), & our new year (No-Rooz) is the first day of spring (21st march). I think this tradition is from Zoroastrians.
We do a spring clean 1 month b4. There's also a man which I think is the eqivalent of Santa Claus I suppose who dresses in a kind red outfit & his face is covered black & he goes on the streets etc with a tambourines or trumpets & dances & sings.

On the eve of the last Wednesday of the year, families gather piles of brush or wood and bonfires are lit in public places. They then leap over the flames shouting:
"Sorkhi-e to az man, zardi-e man az to!"
"Give me your vibrant red hue, and take back my sickly yellow pallor!"
The essence of this tradition is giving thanks for the previous year's health and happiness, while exchanging any remaining paleness and evil with the warmth and vibrancy of the fire.many children wrap themselves in shrouds, symbolically re-enacting the visits. They also run through the streets banging on pots and pans with spoons and knocking on doors to ask for treats. The ritual is called qashogh-zany (spoon beating) and symbolizes the beating out of the last unlucky Wednesday of the year. This could be seen as the Iranian version of the Western Halloween night. We also make a special nuts mixture for this night to eat (ajil).
we lay a table made of 7 things " Haft-seen"
(+ a few other things)starting with S (in farsi). some of them I donot the know the name of in english but some of them are: apples,coins, wheat-grass (grown a couple of months b4), vinegar, garlic, hyacinth, plus goldfish (in water of course!) , a mirror, the Koran, & ( decorated)eggs.
We eat fish with herbed rice (a traditional food).
he exact time that the new year changes is usually broadcasted on the radio which is different every year & as here people hug & kiss & if the time is a siciable one they go & visit family (elders first) & then friends (hopefully not all of them in one day!!).
We don't give gifts but adults give new paper money to kids or gold coins (which are of value).
Another important thins is to wear completely brand new clothes at this time.
Then on the 13th day of the year which is 2nd April, everyone goes to what I can translate into getting rid of 13! (seezdah bedar). Everyone goes for a picnic to parks or somewhere in nature & they throw the wheat-grass they had grown into the river (which they believe carries all the bad luck etc & is thrown away!) also young girls make a tie/knot on this prior to throwing it in the river, symbolizing their wish to be married before the next year's Seezdah Bedar.

I miss the community spirit here as it's not the same although there are many iranians here.
Please see link for further info.

Answer 3

Say only HAPPY NEW YEAR to all ppl and ask God to protect ppl and spread peace among ppl especially poor ppl

Answer 4

In China, there are public hangings and cannabilism to bring in the new year. Hooray!!!!!

Answer 5

china dances with dragons, new yorkers party near times square, russia drinks their *** off, and europe just watches the clock