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Riff RaffNew Year's Celebrations Around the Globe
December 26th 2006 23:26
The beginning of a new year is a time of celebration, renewal, and spending quality time with family and friends. How these New Year traditions manifest themselves around the world can be quite unique.
In China, it is traditional to make paper cuttings. The older women would cut out spectacular shapes in red paper and display them in windows.
Tradition holds that the cuttings would scare off evil spirits and prevent them from entering the family home.
More recently, the cuttings are often machine-made in multi-colors.
Argentina's New Year's Eve customs include running around the house with your suitcase to bring you many travels in the next year, eating beans to keep or get a better job, and wearing something new and pink.
New Year's in Austria is called Sylvesterarend. And, in honor of Saint Sylvester, a red wine punch sweetened with sugar and cinnamon is consumed with gusto.
Austrians wish to usher in good luck for the upcoming year through the exchange of Glücksbringers which are sweets in the shapes of gold coins, chimney sweeps, pigs, four-leaf clovers and horseshoes.
On New Year's Day, molten lead is poured into a barrel of water. The cooled lead's shape is said to predict the future.
A Swaziland New Year is quite festive: the Newala festival celebrates the new fruit harvest at the end of the year. The King is considered the embodiment of Swaziland's prosperity and fertility so it is imperative that he marry many wives and sire numerous children.
The Newala can last up to one month and includes gathering foam from the tops of waves, collecting water from rivers, and having the king disappear into sacred seclusion.
The king finally is persuaded to reemerge when warriors dance around his enclosure chanting sacred songs.
Face blackened by medicines and wearing a headdress of large black plumes, the king is covered head-to-toe in green grass. He struts his stuff in front of his adoring people and eats Luselwa, a special pumpkin, and then throws the rest to his warriors. This signifies that it is time to begin eating the newly harvested crops.
A huge bonfire closes the Newala ceremony and symbolizes the burning of the old year. Tradition also holds that rain will fall from the heavens to quench its flames.
And, finally, the Polar Bear dip is a New Year's Day tradition in Vancouver, British Columbia. Fearless men and women strip down to their skivvies and jump into the oh so frigid north Pacific waters.
Even dear ole Santa jumped into the Drink to celebrate the successful end of another Christmas Season.
How is the New Year celebrated in your land?
Chinese Paper Cutting
Tradition holds that the cuttings would scare off evil spirits and prevent them from entering the family home.
More recently, the cuttings are often machine-made in multi-colors.
Flag of Argentina
New Year's in Austria is called Sylvesterarend. And, in honor of Saint Sylvester, a red wine punch sweetened with sugar and cinnamon is consumed with gusto.
On New Year's Day, molten lead is poured into a barrel of water. The cooled lead's shape is said to predict the future.
Swaziland Coat of Arms
The Newala can last up to one month and includes gathering foam from the tops of waves, collecting water from rivers, and having the king disappear into sacred seclusion.
The king finally is persuaded to reemerge when warriors dance around his enclosure chanting sacred songs.
A Swazi Dancer
A huge bonfire closes the Newala ceremony and symbolizes the burning of the old year. Tradition also holds that rain will fall from the heavens to quench its flames.
Vancouver's Polar Bear Swim 2006
Even dear ole Santa jumped into the Drink to celebrate the successful end of another Christmas Season.
How is the New Year celebrated in your land?
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Comment by LaurenD
LaurenD
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Comment by pegasus
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In researching this piece, I noticed that many cultures around the world shoot off fireworks & participate in traditions that bring luck for the upcoming year.
talk to you soon,
Peg
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I love having a reason to run around the house in pink!
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Thanks so much for dropping by, Sweetie.
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