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New Year's Day is a public holiday in all countries that observe the Gregorian calendar, with the exception of Israel. This makes it the world's most widely observed public holiday.
Explore a World of Traditions
Australia
Australia
Traditional Toast
Happy New Year! Cheers, Big Ears!
Traditional Drink
Sangria
Favorite Foods
Grilled sausage, steak and lamb.
Favorite Traditions
Grab a pan or pot, a spoon and walk across the street, making as much noise as possible on New Year's Eve. people see it as a sign of good luck, and that the noise keeps evil spirits away.
How They Celebrate
Australians celebrate New Year's Eve on boat cruises, urban parklands or beaches. Others hold special parties or barbecues at their own homes. Fireworks at midnight. (Remember, it's Summer!)
Spain
Traditional Toast
Salud (health)
Traditional Drink
Gold and Cava! To bring not just good fortune, but an actual fortune in the new year, Spaniards drop a gold object into their glass of cava before the midnight toast. From golden wedding rings to gold coins, it all goes in the glass!
Favorite Foods
To end the evening, Hot chocolate and Churros! And the on New Year’s day, Lentils!
Favorite Traditions
Wear red clothes to attract money and love in the new year.
How They Celebrate
Feliz Ano or Feliz Ano Nuevo! At midnight, eat 12 grapes with family or friends, then give two kisses to everyone in the room.
Spain
Italy
Italy
Traditional Toast
Cin Cin (Cheers)
Traditional Drink
Franciacorta (fine bubbly from Lombardy) or Prosecco (from the Veneto in northeastern Italy), or local "spumanti" (sparkling wine).
Favorite Foods
On New Year's Eve dinner, Italians usually eat cotechino con lenticchie (sausages and green lentils), at the stroke of midnight. The sausages, which are high in fat content and therefore symbolize abundance, are sliced to resemble coins as well, calling for financial wealth.
Favorite Traditions
Wishing one another "Buon Anno!" and some throw old dishes out the window to symbolize “out with the old, in with the new.”
How They Celebrate
Celebrate New Year's Eve with firework displays, festivals, bonfires, concerts, and parties.
Estonia
Traditional Toast
Tervist!
Traditional Drink
Vana Tallinn is a traditional Estonia alcoholic drink that is a dark brown liqueur with a mild rum taste or beer.
Favorite Foods
Sauerkraut with Pork and Barley – Mulgikapsad
Marzipan for dessert.
Favorite Traditions
Strive to eat a lucky number of meals on New Year's Eve. Numbers 7, 9, and 12 are considered the most auspicious—eating seven times will yield the strength of seven men the following year.
How They Celebrate
Estonians borrowed some New Year traditions from their Scandinavian ancestors. On the eve of the holiday, many indigenous people wear traditional wreaths made from natural materials on their heads.
Estonia
Netherlands
Netherlands
Traditional Toast
Proost (cheers!)
Traditional Drink
Champagne or the national drink Jenever - the alcoholic beverage flavoured with juniper berries.
Favorite Foods
Herring, which symbolizes abundance and deep-fried dough balls known as oliebollen.
Favorite Traditions
Buy qn 'oudejaarslot' (a lottery ticket for a special Dutch lottery on New Years Eve).
Wake up on January first, go to the beach, dive in the (freezing cold) sea and then start the New Year in an extremely fresh way. This tradition also includes eating a Unox hotdog sandwich and beer.
How They Celebrate
Fireworks! For the 3 days leading up to the New Year fireworks abound. Stack Christmas Trees in a large pile and set them on fire to enjoy a huge bonfire.
Scotland
Traditional Toast
Slàinte Mhath (Pronounced Slanj-a-va)
Meaning “to your good health."
Traditional Drink
(Scotch) Wiskey
Favorite Foods
Eat Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. Well known for being the perfect accompaniment to haggis, neeps (Scottish for turnip) and tatties (Scottish for potato) complete the traditional Hogmanay meal.
Favorite Traditions
Participate in the tradition of "first footing" at midnight. To ensure good luck for the house the first foot should be a dark-haired male, and he should bring with him symbolic pieces of coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and a wee dram of whisky.
How They Celebrate
Sing Auld Lang Syne at midnight. (The song was written as a poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns and is beloved by the country and its people.) Festivities begin on the day before New Year's Eve, with traditional torchlight processions and outdoor entertainment. On New Year's Eve itself, enjoy the huge street parties, fireworks displays and traditional Scottish dances taking place across the country.
Scotland
Japan
Japan
Traditional Toast
Kanpai! (cheers)
Traditional Drink
Toso (spiced sake)
Favorite Foods
Eat toshikoshi soba ('year-crossing' buckwheat noodles) in the belief that our lives will be as long as the noodles. Mochi is said to help you achieve good fortune Kuri kinton, which means “chestnut gold mash,” is a dish made from candied chestnuts called kuri and mashed Japanese sweet potatoes known as satsumaimo. The beautiful, yellow-gold color of this dish represents wealth and success.
Kuromame (くろまめ, 黒豆) are sweetened black soybeans. They symbolize health and therefore the ability to work hard in the coming year.
Favorite Traditions
Enjoy 3 days of feasts! Osechi ryori refers to the special meaning-laden dishes served in elaborate multi-tiered lacquered boxes and eaten over the first three days of the New Year.
How They Celebrate
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu (Happy New Year). The celebration is spread over 3 days and includes both parties and relaxing family time, reading, playing games and setting up the first shrine of the year.
Turkey
Traditional Toast
Mutlu yillar (Happy years)
Traditional Drink
Raki
Favorite Foods
Roasted Turkey stuffed with spiced rice and chestnuts. Dolma (stuffed grape leaves), vegetable stew. Baklava for dessert.
Favorite Traditions
Wear red underwear for good luck and abundance in the new year.
Buy a lottery ticket. When the bells chime at midnight, open the front door and sprinkle salt on the doorstep. This is said to bring abundance to the home.
How They Celebrate
Christmas is not celebrated in Turkey, but at New Year’s trees are decorated, hang lights and celebrate with family and friends. Spectacular fireworks displays, especially in large cities and many parties.
Turkey
Senegal
Senegal
Traditional Drink
Palm Wine
Favorite Foods
Chicken Yassa (grilled with onions and lime)
Bassi Salte (couscous with mutton meatballs and vegetables)
Pastels (deep-fried, hand-held stuffed pastry pockets)
Favorite Traditions
Eat with friends and family, then go to the beach or to a party. Disco dance the night away.
How They Celebrate
Ring in the New Year by drumming and celebrating at the Abéné Festivalo and wind down each year with the Les Blues du Fleuve acoustic blues concert series.
Greece
Traditional Toast
Yama Mas (to our health)
Traditional Drink
Ouzo
Favorite Foods
Eat stuffed grapes leaves and spanakopita.
Favorite Traditions
At midnight, smash a pomegranate (a symbol of happiness and prosperity) against the door of the house. The more seeds and mess, the luckier. After church on New Year’s Day, hang an onion inside the house for good luck.
How They Celebrate
Vasilopita is the most anticipated New Year food in Greece. Vasilopita is New Year’s cake or bread. That has a small coin or medallion baked into the cake. The person who finds the coin will have extra good luck in the new year. Cutting of this cake is a tradition that has been held for hundreds of years. Family members and friends gather around the table as pieces of the cake are distributed to everyone who is there. The head of the family, such as the father, is the one who cuts the cake. The first piece of the cake is dedicated to Christ. The second one is for the household. The rest of the pieces are for everyone present.
Greece
Colombia
Colombia
Traditional Toast
Salud or Chin Chin
Traditional Drink
Aguardiente
Favorite Foods
Feast on home-cooked favorites such as: Roasted pork, tamales, cabbage salad.
Favorite Traditions
Clean the house and bath in a river if possible. Wear yellow underwear to bring a year of love and happiness. Take a piece of luggage and walk around the block with it; this will bring travel opportunities.
How They Celebrate
Like in Spain, eat 12 grapes (one for each month) and make a wish with each grape. It is also common to burn large effigies to symbolize “out with the old, in with the new.” And be sure your first step at midnight is on your right foot.
