More than half of the world’s population celebrates the New Year on a different date than us. New Year’s parties are celebrated throughout the year. When are these festivals celebrated? We’ll explain it here.
Christian New Year on January 1
We celebrate the Western New Year on January 1. The most famous tradition associated with this is lighting fireworks. This is a remnant of the time when it was believed that the gods and spirits who appeared on earth could only be driven away with a lot of noise. Nowadays we mainly light fireworks because they are such a beautiful, festive sight. Appropriate treats are also included. These differ per country: in the Netherlands we eat oliebollen, in Italy we serve cake (panetonne) and in France people prefer oysters and fruits de mer. Drinking champagne is something universal. Almost every country has its own customs, such as the New Year’s dive in the Netherlands. In some Scottish villages, barrels are filled with tar, lit and rolled through the streets to symbolize the burning out of the old year. Spain has the tradition of Las Uvas de la Suerte (Grapes for Good Luck). Everyone receives a bowl with twelve grapes. When the clock strikes midnight, everyone bites a grape per chime, for luck and prosperity in the new year. Finally, the Greeks also celebrate the feast of Saint Basil on New Year’s Day. You could consider this saint as the Greek Saint Nicholas: on New Year’s Day, Greek children put their shoe by the stove, hoping that Saint Basil will fill it with presents.
The Islamic New Year on November 26
The Islamic New Year is celebrated on November 26. This day is called Muharram, which is also the name of the first month of the Islamic year, which begins on this day. Exactly when Muharram takes place and how long the month lasts depends on moon phases, therefore the exact date varies from year to year. Muharram marks 1,443 years since Muhammad moved from the city of Mecca to the city of Medina. Muslims regard this as the beginning of their era. The name Muharram is derived from haraam, which means forbidden. During this month it is forbidden to compete. Rather than being a festive occasion, the Islamic New Year is a period of mourning and prayer. A special prayer service is held in the mosque, after which everyone wishes each other a happy New Year. On the tenth of the month, called ,Ashura,, the commemorations culminate with speeches, parades and a lament. It is a day of contrasts: on the one hand there is deep sorrow, on the other hand there is joy about the arrival of a new year. People fast during the day, but it is still a pleasant day, because many people seek each other’s company. At home, in the mosque and on the street. If you are walking on the street on the morning of Ashura, don’t be surprised if someone tries to pour water on you or hit you with a water spray. Today everyone has to take a bath. According to Muslims, water flows from the holy spring Zamzam near Mecca from all taps in the world.
The Chinese New Year on January 23
The Chinese New Year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The next one is on January 23, 2012. But it doesn’t stop at just one day: the Chinese celebrate the new year for two weeks! It is the most important festival of the year for them. They go all out with spectacular fireworks, presents, eating and drinking together, singing, dancing and parades. According to the Chinese calendar, each year is dedicated to a different zodiac sign. In 2012 this is the Dragon. Chinese New Year is a festival to celebrate with the family, just like Christmas is with us. On New Year’s Eve, Chinese people all over the world return home en masse to spend dinner with their families. Chinese state television broadcasts a festival every year with singing, dancing, circus acts and cabaret. You often see the color red in Chinese New Year decorations. The packages and fireworks are all wrapped in red paper. The origin of this lies in an old legend about a man-eating beast. Nian (pronounced njen), which only came out of the sea during New Year and then tried to enter houses unnoticed. Nian could be driven away with noise and the color red. There are still plenty of fireworks going off during New Year’s Eve and the houses and streets turn red. The New Year’s celebration ends on the fifteenth day of the new year with the lantern festival, where everyone hangs lanterns in front of the door.
Hindu New Year on March 8
The Hindus divide old and new into Holika Dahan (old) and Holi Pagua (new). Holika Dahan is celebrated on the evening of the full moon in March. On this evening, Hindus celebrate the victory of good over evil. This is accompanied by large pyres and singing. On Holi Pangua, the arrival of the new year is celebrated. In the Northern Hemisphere, this coincides with the beginning of spring. In the morning, the Hindus smear each other with the ashes left over from Holika Dahan and in the afternoon they celebrate exuberantly with friends, family and acquaintances. There is eating, drinking and a lot of singing. The partygoers also sprinkle each other with scented water or colored water and sprinkle colored powder. Green and red dyes are used as a sign of friendship, hope, love and nature in bloom. Everyone wishes each other happiness and prosperity.
Buddhist New Year between April 20 and 22
The Buddhist New Year begins on the last day of the Hindu month of Chaitra. This is usually the first full moon in April. This New Year lasts for three days and is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world, such as in Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos. Water plays an important role in the celebration. People take to the streets en masse and throw water at each other as a symbolic blessing. In the morning the monks wash the Buddha statues to beg for enough rain for the rice fields. City dwellers return to the places in the province where they came from to celebrate the festival with their families. There, the younger generations honor their grandparents, older relatives and teachers by pouring perfumed water over their hands. In return, they receive wishes for good health, longevity and prosperity.
Jewish New Year on September 17 and 18
The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah and falls on the first two days of Tishrei, the first month of the Jewish calendar. On both days, the ram’s horn (shofar) is blown one hundred times in the synagogue. As a symbol of a good year, sweet things are eaten, such as pieces of apple with honey. Those present wish each other shana tova (good year) and shana tova umetukah (a good and sweet year). Another tradition is to go to running water, preferably with fish in it, on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah and throw breadcrumbs into it while saying a prayer. This custom is called tashlich (throwing away) and symbolizes getting rid of bad things and thoughts. The period concludes with Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).