It is nearing the end of the ‘Old Year( 2019) and soon we will be welcoming the ‘New Year (2020). People all over the world will greet the ‘New Year’ in various ways and some of these traditions go back many years.
Auld lang syne
This well-loved Scottish Song is regarded by many as the Anthem of the New Year’. The Scottish auld lang syne translated into English would roughly mean ‘for old times’ sake.’ Auld lang syne is about keeping old friendships and looking back at the events of the past year. This is sung just before midnight or at midnight with people standing in a circle holding hands. The first verse is given below.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne.
And well take a cup of kindness yet
for auld lang syne.
Mexico
At New Year, Mexican people decorate their homes with colours symbolising or representing their hopes for the coming year, red stands for love, yellow for work and green for money.
China
It is a tradition among the Chinese to paint their doors red at New Year for good luck. Some Chinese people will hide all the knives in the house to prevent people from cutting themselves as this is thought to have an ill effect on the family fortunes in the coming year.
Canada
The ‘Polar Bear Swim' is a Canadian New Year tradition which was started in 1920. On New Year’s Day people jump into the English Bay where the water is virtually freezing in the Canadian winter.
Denmark
Danes celebrate New Year by smashing old crockery on the front door step of neighbours, friends and relations. "The more smashed crockery on your door step, more good luck in the New Year" is what the Danes believe.
Turkey
In Turkey, as bells ring to usher in the New Year people open their front doors and sprinkle salt on the door steps.
Turks believe that doing so will bring peace and prosperity to their homes and businesses.
Puerto Rico
The people of Puerto Rico too jump into the breaking waves at the stroke of midnight. They also throw pails of water out windows to chase away evil spirits.
Philippines
Circles and rounds are considered sacred in this country. Therefore, they play an important part in the Filipino New Year celebrations. At New Year, people dress in clothes with polka dots, eat round fruits and keep mounds of them on tables and toss coins into pans. All this is done to bring good fortune in the New Year.
Germany
In Germany, many people will greet the New Year by eating a Pfannkuchen which is a donut filled with jam or liquor. Sometimes, these donuts are filled with a different filling like mustard as a joke or prank. It is considered to be bad luck to eat a donut which does not have the traditional filling.
Singapore
Wishing spheres are released into the Singapore River each New Year. These are white spheres on which people write their hopes for the New Year. People from all over the globe come to Singapore to take part in this tradition.
Spain
As the clock chimes the twelve strokes of midnight Spaniards will eat 12 grapes timing the eating with each chime of the clock. This is done for good luck, and this custom is followed in many other Latin American countries.