NEW YEAR MUSINGS,SOME ANNOYANCE, SOME NICE FEELINGS AND AWESOME
The decibels.......that is what annoys me. Especially in India, welcoming a new year generally means loud music, mainly movie songs blaring over huge speakers placed here and there. And partying with alcohol and loud music again.But there are house and family parties too where people intermingle with each other and wine and dine together.
In my building complex, the celebrations take place just below my home and sometimes the noise decibels are very annoying and create headache. This sort of noisy celebrations are still continuing. It is now 1 A.M .I do not know whether it will continue throughout the night. The same songs repeated again and again and various youngsters singing and dancing to the tunes and the speakers blaring. The song which is going on now,I have heard atleast 10-15 times. That is ANNOYANCE for you. I think I will continue wring tomorrow.The noise is too much for me.
New Year is one of the oldest festive occasions, which is universally celebrated. It is the time when people celebrate the arrival of the forthcoming year and bid goodbye to the year that has passed by. New Year is celebrated all over the world, though not necessarily on 1st of January. It is interesting to note that not all the countries follow the same calendar.
Countries like China, India and Israel have their own versions of lunar calendar and celebrate New Year at different periods. Some countries prefer to celebrate New Year in spring, when its time to sow new crops, while others in autumn i.e. at the time of harvest. Irrespective of the different timings, the occasion is celebrated with same zeal and enthusiasm across the globe.
Whatever are the rituals, one thing is for sure - there is hardly any part of the world that does not celebrate this festival.Like most parts of the world, New Year is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm in Australia as well. In the country, the celebrations start from December 31 and continue till the 6th of January. New Year is a public holiday in Australia and people congregate with their near and dear ones to celebrate the occasion together. People often go out for picnic, surfing, camping, water sports and other forms of outing, to spend time in the most wonderful manner. There are magnificent firework displays during the celebration as well, which form the main attraction of the festival. The pictures of beautiful pyrotechnics(fireworks) from the world famous Sydney Opera house are displayed below.
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| FIREWORKS OVER SYDNEY HARBOR BRIDGE |
In Australia, New Year celebrations are undertaken on a grand scale, especially in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne. One can see more than 80,000 fireworks lighting the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge. These fireworks can be seen within a radius of 16 km around the city. Over 1.5 million people gather to see the New Year fireworks every year. These fireworks last for 15 to 25 minutes and leave the audience with a memorable experience. Apart from that, there are several music shows organized at different beaches in Sydney.
Many other performances are conducted to grace the occasion of New Year. The Sydney Council organizes memorable vocalists and soundtracks which match the aura of celebration. Every year, there are beach parties organized in Sydney. Those who cannot go to the beach organize parties at home. Both the working and non-working section of people enjoy spending some quality time with their near and dear ones through these parties. There are also popular New Year cruises, especially for this time of the year, which many people book.
Melbourne is also particularly famous for its lavish New Year parties. One can find all the discotheques and party places in the city crowded with people, at this time of the year. There are a number of beautiful beaches in Melbourne, where one can get to see several thrilling rock bands during New Year celebration. The clubs in the city are thronged with people who dance to the beats of fast music. Some of the clubs also arrange for games and cabaret shows. People in Melbourne follow the Chinese-Australian rituals in New Year. Chinese rituals like sacrifices to the ancestors are followed with complete faith and devotion. To sum up, New Year celebration in Australia is a very happening event and attracts people from all over the world.
New Year is celebrated on a grand scale all over Canada. Generally, New Year’s Eve is a social holiday in the country. Midnight parties steal the show, where people can be seen dancing to the beats of fast music. The major metropolitan cities in Canada, like Toronto and Montreal, have several music shows and firework displays on the occasion, which attract hundreds of tourists from all over the world.
Like any other part of the world, in Germany also, New Year is celebrated with much pomp and glory. The merry-making and enjoyment starts from the very eve of New Year (the day before the New Year’s Day), which is called ‘Silvester’ in Germany. It is so called because 31st December is also the feast day of Saint Sylvester, who was a pope of the fourth century.
Ever wondered where stars like Nicholas Cage, Vin Diesel, Jon Bon Jovi and Monica Belluci disappear at the time of New Year? ‘The call of nativity’, ‘the return to originality’ - whatever you may call it, but every year, on the 31st of December, you will find these stars going back to their sweet home, Italy. Indeed, celebrating the New Year in the romantic country of Italy is a treat in itself, providing you with moments that you will treasure and cherish throughout your lives
In Japan, New Year is a time of great celebration.The Japanese have been celebrating this day on the 1st of January as per the Gregorian calendar only since 1873. Before that, they used to celebrate New Year in the month of spring, as per the Chinese lunar calendar. The people of Japan welcome New Year with great zeal and enthusiasm and follow several customs and traditions on this day.
In New Zealand, if you are looking for the ultimate New Year destination, then pack your bags and head towards this amazing island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean. New Zealand, with its lush greenery and beautiful landscapes, is really a traveler’s paradise and it will be all the more better if the time of your visit coincides with the New Year.
When we talk about following customs and rituals, no one can beat the natives and citizens of Russia. And this holds true during New Year celebrations as well, which are observed with much pomp and glory in the region. It is often said that if you have not celebrated New Year in the Russian style, you have never really celebrated it at all. For Russians, the occasion is all about sharing and giving love to one another.
Home to many cultures and customs, Singapore turns into a hub of celebrations around New Year. Unlike other festivals in Singapore, New Year's Eve is celebrated in Chinese tradition. the New Year Festival in Singapore is celebrated over a period of fifteen days.
In Spain, The feeling is that that the New Year is approaching makes people see the world around them in a brighter light. The days before New Year’s Eve are the time of celebration and joy, as it takes us to the beginning of the New Year’s cycle. It is a new beginning, leaving the worries and sadness behind and welcoming the New Year with open arms.
In UK, January 1 is considered as the first day of the first month of a year, as per the Gregorian calendar. In the year 1752, this day was officially declared as New Year's Day in UK and its colonies across the world. From then onwards, it serves as a door to send old year out and bring New Year in. In UK, New Year is celebration time, when everybody seems to be in the perfect festive mood after Christmas. The land, water and hills of UK all can be seen drenched in the lights of New Year.
USA has the Gregorian calendar as a base to celebrate New Year on the 1st of January. The custom was brought into practice in year 1752. In USA, New Year's Eve is considered as a time when a lot of social meetings with friends, family members and neighbors take place. These gatherings are full of fun and laughter. Full of alcohol and lavish food, these parties are a true projection of the celebration spirit and culture of Americans.
Honouring journalism and press freedom, leading journalists, mostly from the US, rang in the New Year Monday at the iconic Times Square's popular New Year eve celebrations, watched by billions around the world.As the official special guests, the group appeared on stage with the Committee to Protect Journalists just before midnight to push the crystal button that signals the lowering of the New Year's Eve Ball.
In Goa india, the coastal Indian state is one of the most beautiful beach regions in the world and turns into a rowdy party for New Year’s Eve. Beaches are packed with locals drinking, dancing to great music and releasing fireworks as the clock strikes midnight to celebrate. Once the clock strikes midnight, the party only gets more intense as people continue dancing on the beach through until the early morning.
In Mumbai also there are rowdy parties on the beach.
In the beautiful country Guatemala, New Year’s celebrations are prepared with great joy, and customs and traditions give this year-end feast a special touch.
Switzerland: In a strange cultural twist, the Swiss don’t actually eat their New Year’s treat. Instead, they simply drop whipped cream on the floor and leave it there. Obviously, that means richness in the coming year, right?
Puerto Rico: In addition to cleaning their homes as the Japanese do, Puerto Ricans clean everything— the car, the garden, and even the streets. They also have a practice of throwing buckets of water out the window in order to do away with the bad juju of last year.
South Africa: Some South Africans—particularly those in the neighborhood of Hillbrow in Johannesburg— take cleaning house for the new year to an entirely new level. Throwing old furniture and appliances from the windows of tall buildings somehow helps to make the new year bright.
Ever wondered where stars like Nicholas Cage, Vin Diesel, Jon Bon Jovi and Monica Belluci disappear at the time of New Year? ‘The call of nativity’, ‘the return to originality’ - whatever you may call it, but every year, on the 31st of December, you will find these stars going back to their sweet home, Italy. Indeed, celebrating the New Year in the romantic country of Italy is a treat in itself, providing you with moments that you will treasure and cherish throughout your lives
In Japan, New Year is a time of great celebration.The Japanese have been celebrating this day on the 1st of January as per the Gregorian calendar only since 1873. Before that, they used to celebrate New Year in the month of spring, as per the Chinese lunar calendar. The people of Japan welcome New Year with great zeal and enthusiasm and follow several customs and traditions on this day.
In New Zealand, if you are looking for the ultimate New Year destination, then pack your bags and head towards this amazing island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean. New Zealand, with its lush greenery and beautiful landscapes, is really a traveler’s paradise and it will be all the more better if the time of your visit coincides with the New Year.
When we talk about following customs and rituals, no one can beat the natives and citizens of Russia. And this holds true during New Year celebrations as well, which are observed with much pomp and glory in the region. It is often said that if you have not celebrated New Year in the Russian style, you have never really celebrated it at all. For Russians, the occasion is all about sharing and giving love to one another.
Home to many cultures and customs, Singapore turns into a hub of celebrations around New Year. Unlike other festivals in Singapore, New Year's Eve is celebrated in Chinese tradition. the New Year Festival in Singapore is celebrated over a period of fifteen days.
In Spain, The feeling is that that the New Year is approaching makes people see the world around them in a brighter light. The days before New Year’s Eve are the time of celebration and joy, as it takes us to the beginning of the New Year’s cycle. It is a new beginning, leaving the worries and sadness behind and welcoming the New Year with open arms.
In UK, January 1 is considered as the first day of the first month of a year, as per the Gregorian calendar. In the year 1752, this day was officially declared as New Year's Day in UK and its colonies across the world. From then onwards, it serves as a door to send old year out and bring New Year in. In UK, New Year is celebration time, when everybody seems to be in the perfect festive mood after Christmas. The land, water and hills of UK all can be seen drenched in the lights of New Year.
USA has the Gregorian calendar as a base to celebrate New Year on the 1st of January. The custom was brought into practice in year 1752. In USA, New Year's Eve is considered as a time when a lot of social meetings with friends, family members and neighbors take place. These gatherings are full of fun and laughter. Full of alcohol and lavish food, these parties are a true projection of the celebration spirit and culture of Americans.
Honouring journalism and press freedom, leading journalists, mostly from the US, rang in the New Year Monday at the iconic Times Square's popular New Year eve celebrations, watched by billions around the world.As the official special guests, the group appeared on stage with the Committee to Protect Journalists just before midnight to push the crystal button that signals the lowering of the New Year's Eve Ball.
In Goa india, the coastal Indian state is one of the most beautiful beach regions in the world and turns into a rowdy party for New Year’s Eve. Beaches are packed with locals drinking, dancing to great music and releasing fireworks as the clock strikes midnight to celebrate. Once the clock strikes midnight, the party only gets more intense as people continue dancing on the beach through until the early morning.
In Mumbai also there are rowdy parties on the beach.
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| BEACH PARTY IN GOA |
In the beautiful country Guatemala, New Year’s celebrations are prepared with great joy, and customs and traditions give this year-end feast a special touch.
Traditionally, the people receive the New Year with a delicious Guatemalan "Tamale" on the table, prepared from corn, chicken or pork, salty or sweet with grapes and raisins, and also a hot cup of fruit punch or traditional hot chocolate.
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| GAUTEMALAN TAMALE |
At midnight, young and old enter the streets to illuminate the night sky with firecrackers and fireworks. The tremendous noise announcing the New Year is heard across the whole country.
Beside their Christmas tree and next to the nativity scene, locally called “El Nacimiento,” they say a family prayer. At midnight the throw 12 pennies on the road outside as they believe that will bring prosperity.
In El Salvador, The celebration of New Year’s Eve, or Noche Vieja (old night), is big.
Families welcome the New Year with food, cumbia, merengue or salsa music, fire crackers and fireworks, as well as unique midnight ceremonies.
They have a tradition of buying brand-new outfits to be worn at night to welcome the New Year, to attract new and positive things all year long.
Streets are full of people at night; neighbors visit neighbors, share food and dance a little.
Children and teenagers usually spend most of the night popping firecrackers or fireworks.
As midnight approaches, some people prepare unique ceremonies. One is the egg ritual, where people break an egg one minute before midnight, dump it in a glass with water and let it sit as the year changes.
The egg yolk mutates into various forms, and people try to interpret them as trips, houses, etc., a sign of things to come in the New Year.
At midnight, everybody is outside. Family members hug one another; there are tears and laughs; the phone rings with calls from relatives in other countries to wish the family a Happy New Year; and neighbors embrace, offering peace and best wishes.
One hour into the New Year, streets are empty.
In several countries there are funny traditions observed on New year eve to ring in prosperity.
In England, for good fortune in the newly arrived year, Brits believe the first guest to enter through the front door should be a young, dark-headed male bearing gifts such as bread (to be full), salt (to be wealthy) and coal (to stay warm).
In Denmark, as a sign of friendship, people save their old dishes in order to break them on each other’s front doors. Residents will allow these broken dishes to pile up in order to show who has the most friends.
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| BROKEN DISHES TO CELEBRATE FRIENDSHIP |
In China, To symbolize happiness and good luck in the New Year, Chinese paint their front doors red. In general, red colors New Years Eve in China, with red packets of money for children, red rackets for married couples, and red lanterns.
Spain: A challenge in speed-eating, Spain’s New Year’s food tradition requires that people eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve– one for each time the clock chimes. Otherwise, superstition suggests that you’ll miss out on extra good luck for the coming year!
Switzerland: In a strange cultural twist, the Swiss don’t actually eat their New Year’s treat. Instead, they simply drop whipped cream on the floor and leave it there. Obviously, that means richness in the coming year, right?
Puerto Rico: In addition to cleaning their homes as the Japanese do, Puerto Ricans clean everything— the car, the garden, and even the streets. They also have a practice of throwing buckets of water out the window in order to do away with the bad juju of last year.
South Africa: Some South Africans—particularly those in the neighborhood of Hillbrow in Johannesburg— take cleaning house for the new year to an entirely new level. Throwing old furniture and appliances from the windows of tall buildings somehow helps to make the new year bright.
British Virgin islands: This tiny island is home to one of the most raucous celebrations in the region. You can marvel your breathtaking surroundings on a beautiful beach here during the day before the real party begins in the evening. Cruising yachts anchor near the dock at West End in the days leading up to the party. New Year’s is also known as Old Year’s Night on the island, with Foxy’s Tamarind Bar being at the heart of the festivities on this Caribbean paradise, where many of the ‘Painkiller’ cocktails are enjoyed during the festival.
A Painkiller is a twist on the Piña Colada and is a rich and fruity tropical drink that’s a specialty of the British Virgin Islands. It’s a combinations of coconut cream, orange juice and pineapple juice and rum.
Many take to the streets dressed as "Vikings"!!!It is not everyday that you can be a viking!!!
(Vikings were Norse seafarers, mainly speaking the Old Norse language, who during the late 8th to late 11th centuries, raided and traded from their Northern European homelands across wide areas of Europe, and explored westwards to Iceland, and Greenland).
A swimming group in Vladivostok, Russia, sees out the old year with a very cold dip in iced waters at Yubileiny beach.
And so on and on. The traditions and customs throughout the world are varied and vast and difficult to describe in one blog.
So coming back to our complex where I live, the New year festivities ended at about 3 A.M. And what with my Insomnia and other health problems, it was very disturbing even with all the windows and doors shut!!! But now it is all over and my blog is also incompletely complete.
Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year 2019.
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