New Years’ Day Around the World

All around the world people celebrate the coming of All around the world people celebrate the coming of a new year and time with traditions from their a new year and time with traditions from their country. Although the celebrations are not always country. Although the celebrations are not always held on the same day, they often include traditions held on the same day, they often include traditions of religious celebrations, special prayers and of religious celebrations, special prayers and blessings, beautiful costume parties and parades of blessings, beautiful costume parties and parades of celebration. Not just a holiday of merriment many celebration. Not just a holiday of merriment many countries have customs of forgiveness, and countries have customs of forgiveness, and practices said to bring good luck and fortune in the practices said to bring good luck and fortune in the new year. Learning about the traditions practiced in new year. Learning about the traditions practiced in other cultures is a fun way to gain respect and other cultures is a fun way to gain respect and acceptance for others sometimes appear different acceptance for others sometimes appear different then we are. then we are.

ECUADOR ECUADOR

In South America "Ano Viejo" is celebrated by In South America "Ano Viejo" is celebrated by creating a fake person or dummy. The scarecrow creating a fake person or dummy. The scarecrow looking person will be completely dressed and looking person will be completely dressed and stuffed with old newspapers and firecrackers. stuffed with old newspapers and firecrackers.

The dummy is usually placed outside the home. The dummy is usually placed outside the home. He represents something that happened He represents something that happened

duringduring the last year. At midnight each family the last year. At midnight each family lights the dummy on fire. As the dummy goes lights the dummy on fire. As the dummy goes up in smoke the firecrackers also go off to add up in smoke the firecrackers also go off to add to the festivities. The old year is forgotten and to the festivities. The old year is forgotten and

the new year begins the new year begins

IRANIAN "NO RUZ IRANIAN "NO RUZ

Lasting 13 days, "No Ruz" (pronounced no ROOZ) Lasting 13 days, "No Ruz" (pronounced no ROOZ) begins in March because spring begins in March. begins in March because spring begins in March.

People plant miniature container gardens and receive People plant miniature container gardens and receive new clothing to eat a special meal of eggs and pilaf. new clothing to eat a special meal of eggs and pilaf.

This meal is believed to bring them good luck. Friends This meal is believed to bring them good luck. Friends go visiting and bring gifts of fruit, flowers and colored go visiting and bring gifts of fruit, flowers and colored eggs. They gather together to watch for special things eggs. They gather together to watch for special things to happen at midnight. For example, the eggs are put to happen at midnight. For example, the eggs are put on a mirror to see if they shake. The belief is that the on a mirror to see if they shake. The belief is that the New Year starts when the eggs begin to shake. People New Year starts when the eggs begin to shake. People kiss each other and say "May you live for a hundred kiss each other and say "May you live for a hundred years". Iranians also study from the Koran, their holy years". Iranians also study from the Koran, their holy

book and worship God. book and worship God.

On the last day of the celebrations known as "Sizbah On the last day of the celebrations known as "Sizbah Bi Dar" people take picnics to the country where they Bi Dar" people take picnics to the country where they throw the garden containers into a stream or water to throw the garden containers into a stream or water to

signify throwing away their bad lucksignify throwing away their bad luck

IndiaIndia

• The Hindus in India have a New Year celebration four The Hindus in India have a New Year celebration four times a year to welcome each of the four seasons. Diwali times a year to welcome each of the four seasons. Diwali is one of the New Year festivals held at the beginning of is one of the New Year festivals held at the beginning of autumn. They believe that the Hindu goddess of good autumn. They believe that the Hindu goddess of good luck visits homes that are brightly lit. Children make luck visits homes that are brightly lit. Children make "dipas" which are small clay lamps to light and bring the "dipas" which are small clay lamps to light and bring the good luck goddess to their home so they can receive good luck goddess to their home so they can receive new clothes and toys. One family may have many new clothes and toys. One family may have many thousand of these little lights decorating their home. thousand of these little lights decorating their home.

The first day of Diwali is also a New Year of Business" all The first day of Diwali is also a New Year of Business" all companies pay of debts and their cars are decorated companies pay of debts and their cars are decorated with flowers and palm leaves to bless the vehicles to run with flowers and palm leaves to bless the vehicles to run well in the new year. well in the new year.

JEWISH NEW YEAR JEWISH NEW YEAR • The Jews have two New Year celebrations. One for the The Jews have two New Year celebrations. One for the

country and one for the Jewish New Year known as Rosh country and one for the Jewish New Year known as Rosh Hashanah which is usually held in September. It lasts one or Hashanah which is usually held in September. It lasts one or two days beginning at sundown on one day and ending at two days beginning at sundown on one day and ending at sundown as well. People recite a blessing called "Kiddush" sundown as well. People recite a blessing called "Kiddush" over wine and egg bread called "callah". The callah is shaped over wine and egg bread called "callah". The callah is shaped like a crown to symbolize that God is in heaven, it is also like a crown to symbolize that God is in heaven, it is also smooth to bring hope for a smooth new year. smooth to bring hope for a smooth new year.

Worshipping at the synagogue a ram's horn or "shofar" is Worshipping at the synagogue a ram's horn or "shofar" is blown to remind people to think about their past year of sins blown to remind people to think about their past year of sins and pray for forgiveness. Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of and pray for forgiveness. Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of 10 days of prayer and worship that leads into Yom Kippur 10 days of prayer and worship that leads into Yom Kippur where they worship god and pray to become better people in where they worship god and pray to become better people in the new year. the new year.

VIETNAM VIETNAM

• Known as "Tet" for short, the Vietnam New Year also Known as "Tet" for short, the Vietnam New Year also changes the date that it is celebrated. The Vietnamese changes the date that it is celebrated. The Vietnamese people believe that they live with different gods in their people believe that they live with different gods in their homes that keep track of their deeds as well as protecting homes that keep track of their deeds as well as protecting the family. Before Tet begins they give presents to their the family. Before Tet begins they give presents to their gods so that when they leave for heaven to give their gods so that when they leave for heaven to give their report on the people the gods will look favorable upon report on the people the gods will look favorable upon them. They send off their gods with a fireworks display. them. They send off their gods with a fireworks display.

The celebrations last for 3 days in which time the The celebrations last for 3 days in which time the Vietnamese people light candles to honor their deceased Vietnamese people light candles to honor their deceased relatives which they believe return during Tet. Everyone relatives which they believe return during Tet. Everyone must remain happy during Tet to ward off bad luck in the must remain happy during Tet to ward off bad luck in the upcoming new year. upcoming new year.

CHINESE NEW YEAR CHINESE NEW YEAR

• The Chinese new year and the Vietnamese "Tet" traditions are very similar. In The Chinese new year and the Vietnamese "Tet" traditions are very similar. In Chinese culture, Tsao-Chun is the name of their Kitchen God who also travels Chinese culture, Tsao-Chun is the name of their Kitchen God who also travels to heaven to report of their deeds. Homes are cleaned spotless and to heaven to report of their deeds. Homes are cleaned spotless and decorated appease the Kitchen God. On New Years Day gifts are exchanged decorated appease the Kitchen God. On New Years Day gifts are exchanged and some homes make a "money tree" which is decorated with old coins and and some homes make a "money tree" which is decorated with old coins and paper flowers. The third day of celebrations, the Lion Dance begins and paper flowers. The third day of celebrations, the Lion Dance begins and continues until the fifth day. Men dress in lion costumes and dance in a continues until the fifth day. Men dress in lion costumes and dance in a parade. Dancers climb on top of each other to form a human ladder to reach parade. Dancers climb on top of each other to form a human ladder to reach "lucky money" that is tied in high places. "lucky money" that is tied in high places.

The Dragon Dance is also held on the third day of the New Year. Paper-mache The Dragon Dance is also held on the third day of the New Year. Paper-mache dragon heads are made with long fabric bodies. It takes several men to dragon heads are made with long fabric bodies. It takes several men to maneuver the dragon through the streets. Families open their doors to let the maneuver the dragon through the streets. Families open their doors to let the dragon bring luck into their homes. The color red is a lucky color and can be dragon bring luck into their homes. The color red is a lucky color and can be found prominently throughout the celebrations. Firecrackers are thought to found prominently throughout the celebrations. Firecrackers are thought to scare away the evil spirit Shan-sau so the celebrations are very noisy with scare away the evil spirit Shan-sau so the celebrations are very noisy with people shouting and drums beating too. people shouting and drums beating too.

The Chinese also believe that each year was named after one of twelve The Chinese also believe that each year was named after one of twelve animals. Each animal has different habits, strengths and weaknesses. The animals. Each animal has different habits, strengths and weaknesses. The year you were born tells you which animal you resemble according to year you were born tells you which animal you resemble according to Buddha. Buddha.

JAPANESE NEW YEARJAPANESE NEW YEAR

People in Japan spend weeks planning for their New Year People in Japan spend weeks planning for their New Year celebrations. They buy special food and make decorations for celebrations. They buy special food and make decorations for their front door out of pine branches, bamboo and ropes that their front door out of pine branches, bamboo and ropes that are believed to bring health and long life. Fan ropes are also are believed to bring health and long life. Fan ropes are also hung over the doors and roofs with seaweed or ferns to bring hung over the doors and roofs with seaweed or ferns to bring them happiness and good luck. Children receive "otoshidamas" them happiness and good luck. Children receive "otoshidamas" which are small gifts with money inside. They also send New which are small gifts with money inside. They also send New Year cards to their friends and hold forgetting-year parties to Year cards to their friends and hold forgetting-year parties to say goodbye to the old year. They also forgive friends and say goodbye to the old year. They also forgive friends and family for any misunderstandings and disagreements they may family for any misunderstandings and disagreements they may have had that year so they can make a clean start of the new have had that year so they can make a clean start of the new year. On December 31st bells are rung 108 times to chase year. On December 31st bells are rung 108 times to chase away 108 troubles. They people all laugh after the gongs away 108 troubles. They people all laugh after the gongs because laughter will drive away the bad spirits. With all the because laughter will drive away the bad spirits. With all the bad spirits gone and troubles and enemies forgiven, they enjoy bad spirits gone and troubles and enemies forgiven, they enjoy a day of celebration. a day of celebration.

• As you can see people all around the As you can see people all around the world have traditions that they world have traditions that they believe will bring them good luck for believe will bring them good luck for the New Year.the New Year.

Everyone hopes for the year that is Everyone hopes for the year that is coming to be better than the one coming to be better than the one that is leavingthat is leaving