NONPAREIL CELEBRATIONS!
We flip the pages of the calendar and the world welcomes new year with the most bizarre traditions possible. To acquaint yourself with some of these, sit back and read along!
AUSTRALIA
No matter,
whether one chooses to stay at home or come out, the mood of zest and
celebrations of New Year remain on a constant high among people of Australia.
Traditionally,
people prefer to make a visit to the Church to offer their prayers to the Lord.
People along with their families make an early morning visit to the local or
main Church to pray Lord in order to get confer with His blessings for the New
Year. For the fact, the traditional customs of formally announcing the arrival
of New Year is officially considered to take place with the twelve rings of the
bell in the Church on the midnight of the New Year.
New Year in
Sydney, Australia: With the arrival of New Year, the famous
Sydney Harbour Bridge is lit up with more than 80000 fireworks, creating an
extraordinary and unforgettable experience for the spectators.
The
fireworks are perfectly string along with the soothing music, presented by a
group of vocalists of Sydney Council. Another major attraction is the Sydney
New Year beach party, along with other New Year parties thrown on the eve of
New Year, in which people pleasantly engage in with activities such as bonfires
and camping. A ride through a cruise is necessary to complete the New Year celebration
experience in Sydney.
New Year in
Melbourne, Australia : The Melbourne city of Australia is another major hub for
celebrating New Year with an experience that remains etched in mind till the
end of life. Discotheques, pubs, hotels, and restaurants saw masses of people
coming and becoming part of high energy parties, where arrangements are made
for special buffets and exceptional dinners.
The famous
rock bands performing across the Melbourne city add a complete new oomph to the
New Year vigor. Another major attraction which one can’t afford to miss is the
depiction of the Chinese-Australian rituals, as a part of which traditional
practices of ‘sacrificing to ancestors’, are performed with dedication and
enthusiasm in the China place in Melbourne.
Rtr. Pranjal
Shah
NORTH AMERICA
New Year
Celebration is all about the champagne and midnight kisses, right?
North Americans
may answer differently with their black eyed peas, first footing and 12 grapes
traditions.
Starting
with the Land of the Maple Leaf, we have some really fun traditions to talk
about.
First
Footing Tradition:
First Footer
is the first person to enter a household on New Year's Day and a bringer of
good fortune for the coming year.
In
earlier days, people would go out and gather coals from their hearth sometime
before midnight. They would then go to visit their friends in the first minutes
of the New Year.
Many
Canadians follow this tradition till date and bring with them gifts and food
along with well, good luck.
Polar Bear
Dip:
Every New
Year, the city of Vancouver sees over 2000 people participating in the ‘Polar
Bear Dip’ as Canadians believe that swimming with polar bears on the first day
of a new year is a way of ensuring a year of luck, peace and prosperity.
Times Square
Ball:
The ball is
a prominent part of a New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square commonly
referred to as the ‘ball drop’, where the ball descends 43 meters in 60 seconds
down a specially designed flagpole, beginning at 11:59:00 p.m. ET, and resting
at midnight to signal the start of the new year.
This is
accompanied by live entertainment and distribution of party favours all of
which starts hours before the ball drop.
Coloured
wishes:
Mexican families
use one of the following colours to decorate their houses depending on what
they wish the New Year brings with it.
Red, for
example, is used to decorate the house if one wishes love, courage and a better
lifestyle.
Yellow on
the other hand signifies enjoyment and blessings.White stands for good health
and green for financial upliftment.
12 Grapes:
Eating one
grape per second as the countdown for New Year begins is a greatly followed
tradition in Mexico. Each grape represents one month of the New Year and
depending on whether one gets a sweet grape or a sour one, their month will be
good or bad. Usually while eating the grapes, people make a wish for the coming
New Year.
Make a …
list!
In Mexico,
making lists before midnight is of great importance. One is required to make a
list of all the good as well as bad events that happened in the current year
and these lists are then thrown into fire to turn to ashes at midnight. This
tradition signifies biding goodbye to negative energy as well as starting afresh
with the hopes of a wonderful beginning.
Which one of
the above North American traditions are you tempted to try?
In the end,
every tradition boils down to the wishes of a brilliant year full of
prosperity, peace and luck. I wish you the same whether or not you believe in
tradition.
Rtr. Hargun Sachdev
1. First Footing
in Scotland on ‘Hogmanay’
The most
widespread custom there is the practice of first-footing, which starts
immediately after midnight. It involves a person to cross the threshold of a
friend and give symbolic gifts, such as food or whisky, intended to bring luck
to the householder.
2. Smashing
plates in Denmark on ‘Nytårsaften’
In Denmark,
you can smash plates at your friend’s doorsteps to show how much you value
them. This way you can get rid of all your old china and not even worry about
anyone getting mad! On New Year’s Eve they also stand on chairs and then jump
off at midnight as it’s considered to banish bad spirits and bring good-luck.
3. Wearing
Red Underwear in Turkey on ‘Yılbaşı Gecesi’
What better
way to bring luck to your loved ones than by wearing red underneath your New
Year’s party outfit. The practice is especially popular in Turkey, where stalls
selling red lingerie appear over the festive period and sell out fast. Due to
consumer demand and those who want to relieve themselves of the stress of the
crisis and hope for better luck, the sales of red underwear increase by 10 to
20 percent in the days before New Year’s Eve.
4. Casting
Molten Tin into Water in Finland on ‘Uudenvuodenaatto’
It’s a
longtime Finnish tradition to predict the coming year by casting molten tin
into a container of water, and then interpreting the shape the metal takes
after hardening. The random shapes are interpreted to predict a person’s future
health, wealth or happiness. A heart or ring shape means a wedding in the New
Year; a ship forecasts travel; and a pig shape signifies plenty of food.
5. Throwing
Pots and Clothes out of the Window during ‘San Silvestro'
There are a
number of funny superstitions in Italy to accomplish on New Year’s Eve, such as
wearing red underwear to attract good luck or throwing pots, pans, and clothes
out of the window to let go of the past and move toward the future.
6. Whispering
to Animals on ‘Anul Nou’
Romania may
win the contest of the weirdest tradition for New Year’s Day. In the morning of
New Year’s Day, Romanian farmers actually try to hear their animals talk in a
ritual which, if successful, signifies good luck for the coming year. It is
indeed believed that animals get the power of speech that one day.
Rtr. Vishwa Mehta
While
celebrating new years in Africa, don’t be startled if a heavy fridge lands right
next to you and drives the life out of you. Traditionally Africans in their
excitement of a new beginning throw out their electrical appliances or
furniture out of the window. This ranges from toaster, to full sized couches and
even fridges. That’s right, a sofa can be
flung right out of the balcony in Africa! The ecstatic crowds even fire
gunshots in mere happiness.
In Africa ,
2nd January signifies the “Second New Year” and has a historical background
.Slavery was common in the 17th century slaves were given off only once a year
which was on 2nd January. They protested against the oppression by singing ,
dancing and parading on the streets. Now, it has been modernized by band
performances , vibrant carnivals and parties where faces are painted.
Some bizarre
folks fire gunshots and throw out half of their furniture, families who believe
in simplicity consume their traditional black eyed peas and collard greens. But
the Africans too like people all over the world believe that new years is a
fresh , new blank page of their life , all ready for them to write on. So I take this opportunity
to end and wish you all a happy new year or as they say in Swahili “Heri ya
mwaka mpya”
Rtr. Aditi
Dayal
Jumping in the pool of alcohol and going crazy in the blazing pop music with jazzy clothes on- An ideal new year for some. But, ever wondered what it would be like to welcome a new year with penguins, elephant seals and first landing buzz?
Well,
Antarctica celebrates the arrival of a new year in the most unconventional way
possible. Instead of shots of tequila, you find melting glaciers and the
ear splitting music is replaced with the echoing roar of glaciers shedding ice. With
summer in full swing, this land of serenity witnesses a near midnight sun that
leaves the people befuddled. Along with polar animals, some of the traditions
followed here on new years eve include:
1. RACE AROUND THE WORLD:
The runners race around the south pole in a circle and pass through every
time zone in the world! To make the race interesting, a mile long course is
laid which makes it a challenge for the
participants.
2. MOVE THE POLE:
Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? But for Antarctica, it seems to be an
annual tradition. The marker for the south pole slightly moves every year and
in order to relocate it, a ceremony is held every year on January 1st .
3. 300 CLUB:
If you think you can pour all your craziness and insanity coupled with a
good health, then this is the kind of new year celebration you are waiting for!
The club gets its name from enduring an atmospheric difference of 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the temperature falls below 100 degrees, you warm up in a 200 degree sauna
and then run around the south pole wearing nothing but shoes. (Challenging enough.
Isn’t it?)
4. SCOTT’S HUT RACE AND MCMURDO
MARATHON:
It’s a 5.2 mile long race held around McMurdo, also one of the every few
warm weather races held In the continent.
So, already started planning the next new year in Antarctica?
Rtr. Anushka Mittal
Comments
Post a Comment