New Years Eve Traditions and History

As you wait for the clock to strike midnight, create your own version of trivial pursuit with questions about the history and celebration of New Year's Eve.Q: The New Year has not always been celebrated on January 1. When did the original celebration...

While Brazil plays host to fabulous New Year's Eve parties (the famous beach of Copacabana is overcrowded with visitors), there are other traditions that Brazilians perform to welcome another year. After celebrating at midnight with concerts, fireworks and dinner, Brazilians head to the beaches where they jump over seven waves and throw flowers into the ocean. Some people also light candles in the sand. These are all ancient rituals through to bring good luck and fortune throughout the New Year.

In Greece, gifts are usually exchanged on New Year's Eve rather than Christmas. This means New Year's Eve in Greece often finds shopping plazas crowded with last-minute shoppers before everyone gathers in individual houses to ring in the New Year by cutting the vasilopita or new year cake. People in Greece often invite one special friend or family member whom they believe to be lucky to enter their homes first in the New Year. This is though to prevent bad omens from coming in.

The Japanese actually celebrate New Year's Eve all day. Starting in the morning, people begin cleaning house, a process known as Ousouji. Intended to get rid of the "dust" from the past, it prepares the home for a prosperous new year. Later on, the J...

Before you get set to prepare your Chinese New Year celebration, we have a bit of information for what you need to know about the holiday that inspires dragons to dance. When you hear the words "Gong xi fa cai" you would think it means "Happy New Yea...

Liveliness in a glass, a Champagne toast at midnight is a much-loved tradition. Probably French in origin, something bubbly be it Champagne or sparkling water is always a festive way to commemorate a special occasion.

It is customary to kiss the one you love or hope to love at midnight as if to say, "Congratulations, to us for making it through another year!"

Church bells ring and people make a lot of noise all around the world when the clock strikes 12:00. This tradition is believed to be from the ancient belief that if one was loud and made enough of a raucous they could drive evil spirits away.

Whether it is be a silent promise to one's self to stop telling white lies or a big declaration of intent to lose weight, a New Year's resolution is a must. Many find it easier to make a fresh beginning as symbolized by January 1.

The tradition of a "Baby New Year" is said to have started in Greece around 600 BC. In celebration of Dionysus, god of wine, a baby in a basket represented the annual rebirth of the god as the spirit of fertility. An obvious correlation, today Baby New Year symbolizes the young year, and old Father Time reminds us how the year has aged. However, it was the 14th century Germans who are credited with having a New Year's banner with the image of a baby as a symbol of the New Year.