Everyone in one form or another celebrates the New Year, some in January, others in February (Chinese New Year) or March (Persian New Year). Most Global New Years traditions involve some kind of typical feast. This year Language Connections, a Boston-based interpretation and translation services company, shares their families’ New Year’s Eve traditions.
Global New Years Traditions Around the World
Global New Years Traditions of Northern England/Scotland:
English: Happy New Year – In Northern England, on the border with Scotland, we have a few unique traditions, for example, First Foot. The “First Foot” refers to the first person of a household to enter the house on New Year’s Day, and thus the carrier of good fortune for the coming year. The unlucky person must wait outside during the countdown to the New Year. Traditionally, it is supposed to be a young male. As for food, in Scotland New Year’s Eve is called Hogmanay, named for the oat cake that was usually given to kids on New Year’s.
Global New Years Traditions of Austria
German Translation: Prosit Neujahr –There are a lot of very regional New Year’s traditions in Austria – celebrating it in Styria is very different from celebrating it in Vienna. But one tradition, which happens nearly everywhere, is to eat a “lucky fish” just after midnight. That is, a biscuit in the shape of a fish, usually provided by the host. It is important which end to start eating the fish from! Only if you eat it from the tail “upwards” you can make sure that the luck for next year doesn’t swim away. If you start eating it from the head, you don’t curse yourself for the following year –- but you still should get another fish to do it again.
Global New Years Traditions of Spain
Spanish Translation: Feliz año nuevo – The most widespread New Year’s Eve food tradition is eating twelve grapes. Shortly before midnight, every Spaniard gathers silently at the main square, or in front of the TV —or near the clock at Puerta del Sol, in Madrid— with twelve grapes. In the last twelve seconds of the departing year, we eat a grape for each of the clock’s chimes. Not doing it on time, or not doing it at all, may result in a very unlucky year! That is why they’re called “the twelve grapes of luck”, symbolizing the 12 months ahead. The tradition originated at the end of the XIX century. Grapes and champagne were a typical dessert at the New Year’s Eve dinner among the Spanish aristocracy. In 1909, some Alicantese farmers popularized the tradition in order to get rid of surplus after a very abundant harvest. Those who don’t like grapes —or just don’t want to take the risk of choking— may replace them with candy, nuts or olives. The superstitious often say that the result is not the same.
Global New Years Traditions of Russia
Russian Translation: с новым годом – Eating caviar and drinking champagne are considered a very traditional way to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Russia. Another popular tradition involves writing down a wish on a small piece of paper, then burning it and sprinkling the ashes in one’s glass of champagne. Russians often drink it while the Kremlin clock strikes 12:00 midnight and ushers in the New Year.
Global New Years Traditions of Greece
Greek Translation: ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος – Vasilopita, or King’s Cake, is a cake made especially for New Year’s Eve in which a coin is hidden inside for good luck. As Greek tradition dictates, the cake is cut by the head of the familly on New Year’s Eve to bless the house and bring good luck for the coming year. This is usually done at midnight of New Year’s Eve in Greece. Every person gets one slice, usually from oldest to youngest, and there are also slices cut for those who are absent because they are far away or deceased. The person to whom the slice with the coin goes is the chosen lucky person for the upcoming year. Greeks usually break the piece apart with their hands to find the coin before consuming the delicious treat.
Global New Years Traditions of Puerto Rico
Spanish Translation : Feliz año nuevo – The celebration of New Year’s Eve in Puerto Rico includes fireworks, estrillatas (sparklers), music, dancing, and eating lots of food. Among the foods typically served for the occasion are bacalaitos (fried codfish fritters) which is a common Puerto Rican party food. After midnight, Puerto Ricans clink glasses of cidra (hard apple cider) and recite the poem ‘el Brindis Bohemio,’ a poem about the bittersweet progression of time.
Global New Years Traditions of Italy
Italian Translation: Felice anno nuovo – A New Years tradition in Italy is the game called Tombola. This is similar to Bingo. Italians also drink Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine. In many towns and cities there are displays of fireworks and lots of music and dancing. Traditionally Italians eat lentils, symbolizing good fortune and cotechino, a large spiced sausage, or a zampone, made of pork. The pork symbolizes the richness of life in the coming year.
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