New Year Trivias from Around the World

1) Baby New Year Tradition
The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year was started
around 600 B.C by the ancient Greeks, who, at the start of a year
would carry a baby around in a basket. The purpose of it was to honor
Dionysus, the God of Fertility and symbolize his annual rebirth.

2) Hogmanay
The New Year in Scotland is called Hogmanay. The people in Scotland
follow a ritual that appears nutty but actually has a great
significance. One can find barrels of tar set afire and gradually
rolled down the streets in the villages of Scotland. This ritual
symbolizes that the old year is burned up and New Year is going to
begin.

3) Burning "Mr. Old Year"
In Columbia, Cuba and Puerto Rico families stuff a life-size male doll
with things and then they dress it up in old clothes from each family
member. At the stroke of midnight, this 'Mr. Old Year' is set on fire.
This is done with the simple belief that a doll thus stuffed have bad
memories or sadness associated with them, and that the burning of
these will help one to do away with all past grief's and usher in
happiness in life with the coming year.

4) Eating Noodles
Late on the evening of December 3 1, people of Japan would eat a bowl
of buckwheat noodles called "toshikoshisoba" ("year-crossing noodles")
and listen for the sound of the Buddhist temple bells, which were rung
108 times at midnight. The sound of these bells is said to purify the
listeners of the 108 sins or evil passions that plague every human
being.


5) Eating 12 Grapes
In Spain people eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight (one each
time the clock chimes) on New Year's Eve. This peculiar ritual
originated in the twentieth century when freak weather conditions
resulted in an unseasonable bumper harvest of grapes. Not able to
decide what to do about so many grapes at Christmas time, the King of
Spain and the grape growers came up with the idea of the New Year
ritual.

6) Gifts in Shoes
In Greece children leave their shoes by the fireside on New Year's Day
(also the Festival of Saint Basil in Greece) with the hope that Saint
Basil, who was famous for his kindness, will come and fill their shoes
with gifts.

7) Carrying a Suitcase
In Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, and Mexico, those with hopes of
traveling in the New Year carry a suitcase around the house at
midnight. Some even carry it around the block to ensure traveling at
greater distances.

8) Burning Crackers
The people in China believe that there are evil spirits that roam the
earth. So on New Year they burn crackers to scare the evil spirits.
The doors and windows of every home in china can be seen sealed with
paper. This is to keep the evil demons out.

9) Times Square Celebrations
The first Ball Lowering celebration atop One Times Square was held on
December 31, 1907 and is now a worldwide symbol of the turn of the New
Year, seen via satellite by more than one billion people each year.
The original New Year's Eve Ball weighed 700 pounds and was 5 feet in
diameter. It was made of iron and wood and was decorated with 100
25-watt light bulbs.

10) Foods
It was thought that one could affect the luck they would have
throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of
the year. It is still held in some regions that special New Year foods
are the harbingers of luck. For that reason, the Dutch believe that
eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. The hog, and
its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity.
Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New
Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of
prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions,
rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day. The ancient
Persians gave New Year's gifts of eggs, which symbolized
productiveness.

11) Black-eyed peas
Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed
peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or
ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck
in many cultures.

12) Rings
Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good
luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's
cycle.

13) Wearing new slippers
In China, many people wear in the new year a new pair of slippers that
is bought before the new year, because it means to step on the people
who gossip about you.

14) Sealed doors & windows
During new year , the doors and windows of every home in china can be
seen sealed with paper. The Chinese think that this will succeed in
keep the evil demons out.

15) Jewish New Year
The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It is a holy time when
Jews recall the things they have done wrong in the past, and then
promise to do better in the future. Special services are held in the
synagogues, children are given new clothes and New Year loaves are
baked to remind people of harvest time.

16) Japanese New Year
On New Year's Day in Japan, everyone gets dressed in their new
clothes. Homes are decorated with pine branches and bamboo, both of
which are considered to be the symbols of long life.

17) American resolutions
40 to 45% of American adults make one or more New Year's resolutions
each year. And these range from debt reduction to giving up bad habits
to what not? But the ones that are the most common deal with weight
loss to exercise to giving up smoking.

We hope you have enjoyed these pretty little New Year trivia's. New
year is simply the perfect time to make resolutions and make for a
fun-filled day. Take in the coming year with open arms. Have a blast!