A look at five great places in the world to count down to midnight and see in the New Year.
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Edinburgh, Scotland
The Scottish capital is famous not just for its summer arts festival, but also for its Hogmanay celebrations. Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year, and in Edinburgh crowds celebrate on the streets and in the pubs. At midnight there is a spectacular firework display from the seven hills of the city – the best place to catch it is near the Castle. Scotland is also the birthplace of the English–speaking world’s favourite New Year song, Auld Lang Syne. And if it gets too cold on the streets, there’s a sure way to get into any party you want. Just arrive straight after midnight –and bring a piece of coal with you! This Scottish tradition is called “first-footing” and the “first foot” brings luck and prosperity to the house for the rest of the year. But be careful, first-footing is not for everyone - apparently you have to be a “tall, dark stranger” to qualify.
Tallinn, Estonia
Quieter at New Year than Edinburgh, but more beautiful, the capital of Estonia is one of the lesser-known gems of Europe. The medieval Old Town is perfectly preserved, and is at its best in the snows of the Christmas season. Narrow cobbled streets lead to the Old Town Square, decorated with a huge Christmas tree. It’s a very affordable place to visit. Food and drink are cheap, and spiced ale and mulled wine will warm you in the sub-zero temperatures. New Year in Estonia is the last event in a whole month of Christmas celebrations, which begins with a “little Christmas” in early December, and peaks on Christmas Eve.
Sydney, Australia
But perhaps it’s not a winter wonderland you want? New Year in the Southern Hemisphere falls in the height of summer. There’s something about water that doubles the effect of a firework display, and Sydney’s New Year fireworks, exploding over the Opera House and reflected in the water, are often said to be the best in the world. What could be better than watching them from a boat in the harbour? And then try your hand at surfing the next morning on the world-famous beaches – if you’re feeling well enough. If not a seafood barbecue will get you back on your feet again.
A log cabin in Finland
Wild parties in big cities are one thing, but maybe you’d like a bit of peace and quiet to reflect on the passing year and plan for the new one. Lose yourself in a snowy forest, toast the occasion by a log fire, go cross-country skiing to work up an appetite. And if temperatures as low as minus 25 scare you, you can always relax in the sauna. A good hour or two in there gives you a warm glow, right in your bones, that keeps you going for the rest of the day. You come out of a sauna ready for anything the Arctic winter can throw at you. But perhaps you have to be Scandinavian yourself to enjoy doing what the Finns do – run out of the hot room and cool down in a snowdrift.
Russia
Russians do at New Year what Western Europeans do at Christmas – spend time with the family and open presents round the tree. The Old Year and the New Year are toasted in champagne and vodka. If you switch on the television, you’re sure to catch the film The Irony of Fate. Watching this classic 1970s comedy has become a national New Year ritual in Russia. The film starts improbably as a satire on Soviet urban planning. A man gets drunk in Moscow on New Year’s Eve and his friends put him on a plane to Leningrad by mistake. He wakes up at the airport and gives a taxi driver his address. The same address exists in Leningrad, the tower block is identical, his key fits the door, and inside, even the wallpaper and the furniture are the same. When the lovely Nadia, owner of the flat, comes home to find a strange man asleep in her bed – sure that he is in his own flat in Moscow – comic confusion results. But of course, love blossoms amongst the tower blocks and there’s a happy ending before the holiday season is over.
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Does your country have any New Year traditions? What are you doing this year? Send us your texts.
Sérgio Reis writes “Portugal has some quite interesting New Year’s traditions and rituals. One of the most famous is eating twelve grapes during the first strokes of the New Year (one grape for each stroke and, at the same time, you make a resolution for each). But there are also some funny traditions like jumping from a chair at the first moment of January (Believe me, this is a funny thing to watch!) or holding a banknote (it doesn’t matter how much) in order to have lots of money during the next year. But the main tradition is to celebrate this event with friends and/or relatives. They are a piece of us, so we share happiness with them. After the countdown, everyone has a glass of champagne to toast while contemplating the magnificent fireworks in the dark sky. Nowadays, technology has created new habits, like sending SMS and e-mail messages. Who knows if in 2010 these habits will join the list of traditions for the New Year...? “
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José Pedro Araújo writes “In Portugal we eat a lot and there are lots of typical meals but the best part are the desserts because they are special and typical of Christmas and New Year like "rabanadas", "papos de anjo" and "salame". The best way to spend New Year’s Eve is to spend it with our family. We stay awake until the morning comes. The next day the worst part is waking-up ... We have fun singing and dancing and at midnight we eat 12 grapes representing the twelve "bell tolls". We scream the count down and hug each other at midnight. And then the new year starts ...”
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Lisa Fernandes writes “New Year in Portugal is welcomed with a midnight party. The festivity in Portugal is marked by kissing and drinking. The custom is for people to pick and eat twelve grapes for twelve happy months in the coming year. At midnight people watch fireworks displays, make lots of noise and dance a lot. Nowadays, teens celebrate New Year with friends at discos, pubs or private parties. It is a very special night because they dance, drink and joke a lot with everyone.”
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Pedro Gustavo writes “Portugal also has New Year traditions. Many people spent their time with their family and friends. At twelve o'clock midnight there are lots of fireworks, mainly in the big cities. Madeira’s fireworks are known all over the world!!! This New Year (2006 to 2007), it entered the Guinness Book of Records because of its pretty and great firework show. It was considered the greatest firework display in the world. After midnight, some people take a bath in the cold waters of the ocean, to commemorate the New Year. I spent my evening with my family, at home. I also watched television and played some games. We commemorated New Year, by drinking champagne and by eating three grapes at midnight.”
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Annie writes “The Netherlands also has New Year traditions. Most people spent time with their family. Lots of people make some resolutions, such as losing weight or doing more sport or something like that. But mostly they just hold on to it for a short time. A typical Dutch Old and New Year food is Doughnut balls. But you don't have to eat too many of them, because a stomach ache can be the result. On New Years day and a few days after it, it is tradition to wish people a happy New Year. At twelve o'clock midnight there is a lot of fireworks everywhere. I spent the evening with my husband and children, just at home. Watching television and playing a game. And for the children we have some easy fireworks, not dangerous things.”
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Eric Ramirez Rodriguez writes “In Mexico the people celebrate by having a supper or party with relatives or friends. Another tradition is to eat 12 grapes thinking 12 New Year's resolutions (one grape for each resolution).”
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Aily Tapia writes:
2004 a New Year to think about
2004 new things to do
2004 new friends to make
2004 smiles to give
2004 moments of positive attitude to be in
2004 less lies to say
2004 kiss and hugs to give
2004 times to express yourself.
2004 prayers to say
2004 actions to do to save our world
I wish the best for you wherever you are, from Mexico.
New Year: history and traditions
Hogmanay: New Year in Scotland is different
Calendars through the ages
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