Celebrating the New Year has long been a meaningful traditional custom for all residents of the world. In different countries, the New Year may be celebrated at different times with different characteristics, but in general the New Year is an opportunity for all families to reunite and look back on the year is over and then planning for the next year.
In Western countries like USA, Australia, Canada, England, France, the New Year is January 1 according to the solar calendar. The holidays and their activities begin from the day of Christmas (December 24), which lasts until early January of the next year, when they return to work. This is the time for them to say best wishes to friends and relatives.
View more: IN VIETNAM, HOW PEOPLE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?
On the last night of the year or New Year’s Eve, everyone gathered with relatives. They held a family party with champagne and watched TV shows to welcome the New Year.
There are others, usually young people, who enjoy attending the countdown party and often at the last 60 seconds of the old year, everyone will count down together, until the clock exactly at 24 hours o’clock, fireworks will be fired in the joy of the people.
At this moment, the wishes to be fulfilled in the New Year are also silently ringing in each person’s mind. The procession with thousands of people continuously taking place during the night, everyone wished each other good luck in the New Year. All activities are quite popular and very interesting of the Westerners that they are gathering on the beach and running quickly into the sea on the first day of the year.
According to Western tradition, what they do or eat on the first day of the New Year is related to luck throughout the year. For this reason, the meal is the most important time for an individual or a family in the early hours of the year. Parties usually end in the middle of the night after the bells signals New Year have arrived.
The dishes appearing at the party are a symbol of luck. A lot of people think that things like a ring represent this because, according to them, the circle embodies the rotation of life, the fullness and luck. The Dutch believe that eating donuts (in a circular shape) gives them a good future. And many regions in the United States consider peas (green round beans) as an indispensable dish at the New Year party. Cabbage is also a vegetable always present at this party; its leaves are a sign of prosperity…
The New Year begins with parades with heavily decorated vehicles on the streets, or by gathering thousands of people in public places, drinking champagne and waiting to welcome New Year’s Eve. Especially in the US on the first day of the New Year, people often organize football matches around the country.
In the UK, “first foot” at the beginning of the New Year is very important. They believe that if the first person to enter the house or first caller is a blond or red haired woman will bring bad luck for the whole family, so they choose a young man with black hair, unmarried bring money, a piece of charcoal or bread. They think that these things symbolize wealth, luck and happiness. New Year festivals in the UK are always full of colors; this is considered their most important festival. Parade along the streets, people gathered to sing traditional songs to welcome the New Year, and then the grand feast, the bottles of champagne and the folk music and dance, fireworks.
In France, people think that a great dinner party during this time will bring prosperity to their families next year. Party food is usually baked goods, duck or goose and champagne. Festival of New Year in France is considered as “light festival”. People take part in parades with the light of the torch and drink together to celebrate the New Year. Thousands of singers and artists perform shows on marches all the way. According to customs, the New Year is also an opportunity for French people to show their love. They hugged and kissed each other to celebrate the New Year.
In the US, Americans believe that the New Year is to “renew” them. New Year brings charm and luck. Young Americans often wear masks and organize small parties and have fun with friends and family before New Year’s Eve. When the clock ticks at New Year’s Eve, they will remove the mask and open the champagne for welcoming New Year. At the moment of transition, many couples give sweet kisses, even many boys propose to their girlfriends at this important moment.
However, in Vietnam, the New Year has been become a traditional holiday. On this day, the government allows people to relax and organize many related festivals. Flowers and banners are also decorated and hung in every street. The two big cities in Vietnam also organize fireworks, people gather and countdown to welcome New Year’s Eve. In other cities like Hue, Da Nang, and Vung Tau, people also downtown, besides there are also great music shows. On this occasion, tourist attractions are also free tickets for local people to visit, especially in Hue such as Imperial Citadel, tombs of the Kings and so on. This is also an opportunity for young people to hang out, meet their friends or families can organize travel trips to increase affection between members in the family.
Suggested new year tourist destination: HUE – THE CITY OF HERITAGES
