NYE Around the World

While it may happen at different times, the celebration of the New Year is something that’s universally celebrated by all, every culture across the world has its own traditions and customs to ring in the New Year. It’s not just the time zones that are different, the build-up and the aftermath of New Year’s day differ from country to country.

Take Spain as an example, its countdown is primarily followed from the clock on top of the Casa de Correos building in Puerta Del Sol square in Madrid. They also have a tradition to eat twelve grapes, one for each chime of the clock before it strikes midnight. If the person successfully does this, it will mean good luck and fortune for the year.

For the Russians, celebrations usually begin one or two hours before midnight. One of the traditions is to listen to the Kremlin clock bell ring twelve times on the radio or on TV; the last twelve seconds are spent in silence as they make their secret wishes for the New Year. When it reaches midnight, the Russian national anthem begins and people congratulate each other and exchange presents.

In the Philippines, most natives follow a number of traditions such as how they dress. For one, they believe that wearing clothes with circular patterns will attract money and fortune. Also, throwing coins at the stroke of midnight is said to increase wealth in the upcoming year. Other traditions include making loud noises to scare away malevolent spirits. They do this by blowing plastic horns called torotot, banging on pots and pans, or by igniting firecrackers and fireworks at midnight.

In Japan, people rather at the Shubuya crossing and the Zojoji Temple in Tokyo to ring in the New Year. Here they attach notes containing their New Year wishes onto helium balloons before releasing them at midnight.

Perhaps the most iconic location for New Year’s has to be New York, where everyone gathers at Times Square for the ball drop. A tradition since 1907, the 11,875-pound crystal ball located on the roof of One Times Square begins descending at 11:59pm, as visitors count down the seconds to midnight.

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