Today is the last day of 2014 and I felt like I have to blog about the biggest party of the year taking place on the 31st December every year. I know that traditions of celebrating New Year are different in every country and culture, and so is my way of celebrating different from the English, American and Irish way. I come from Zagreb, Croatia, and we ususally tend to celebrate by either hosting a party at our own home, going to a restaurant where we dine and drink all night for a fair price, or just go clubbing. It is also common for the Croatians to go on mini-trips, mostly to Prag. So now that I gave you a little insight in my traditional celebration of New Year, I would also like to post some ways in which our English teachers probably do! :)
Ireland
New Year is a big time for the Irish. Usually, New Year is considered to be a time in Ireland when people prefer to spend time with friends and family. People sit around a table on New Year's Eve, have a special dinner for the evening, and count for the moment of the New Year to arrive. New Year time in Ireland doesn't have huge party culture. However, there are few New Year parades across the cities, as well as villages, which draw huge crowd both from the local region as well from other places. The New Year parade which is organised in Dublin is one of the largest in the country. Artists from all over the country, including musicians, singers, dancers walk along with common people through the streets of Dublin. In villages and rural parts, New Year parades are more religiously based and they rahter celebrate Old Year than New Year. (Source)
UK
The United Kingdom welcomes the New Year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar with loud cheer, warmth of family and friends, feasting and drinking. In London, a huge crowd gathers along the Thames to enjoy the fireworks from the London Eye as the Big Ben strikes twelve and officially marks the beginning of a New Year. Thousands of people also gather to party and make joy at Trafalgar Square and the Piccadilly Circus. Another traditional custom is “First Footing”. For this, a tall, handsome dark (haired) male has to be the first visitor of a household after midnight. As a custom, he has to carry with him, a loaf of bread, a bottle of whiskey, some coal and salt. He is expected to put the coal in the fire and serve the bread and the drink to the family and wish them Happy New Year. He makes entry from the front door, and after the ritual, he has to exit from the backdoor. He is considered to bring good luck and prosperity to the household. (Source)
USA
Americans celebrate the beginning of the New Year in style with
fancy celebrations and parties. Free wine and gourmet food symbolize hope for prosperity and abundance in the New
Year. Uncorking champagne, gorging on cakes, and feasting on black-eyed
beans are considered lucky and festive. Honking vehicles, paper
blowers and impulsive kisses are all part of the fun and gaiety.
The most celebrated event is probably the “ball drop” in Times Square, New
York. Since 1907, every New Year’s Eve a specially designed ball is dropped at
11:59pm amidst cheers of millions of people. The fun is further
enhanced by numerous parties, some even hosted by
celebrities. Many
African-Americans observe "Watch Night" in their local churches as a
celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation's signing on January 1, 1863.
Americans eat certain foods either at New Year's Eve parties or on New Year's
Day to bring good luck. European-Americans often eat pork becausethe pig's
plumpness suggests wealth. (Source)
I will probably mix some of the traditions of all three countries together and try to celebrate this New Year in their way. I wish you all a happy and blessed New Year and may all of you be successful in what you try to achieve! Love you all :)
