A New Beginning: How Cultures Celebrate the New Year

As one year fades into the next and the clock strikes midnight, people all around the world pause to celebrate one shared moment in time: the beginning of a new year. While the dates and traditions may differ depending on where you are, the spirit behind them remains universal: hope, connection, and a fresh start. 

In many Western cultures and countries, including Canada, the United States, and Europe, New Year’s Eve is welcomed with countdowns, fireworks, and parties. From New York’s ball drop in Times Square to upbeat gatherings around the world, the final minutes of the year are chanted aloud excitedly and followed by cheers for the year ahead. 

In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is called Hogmanay. This lively event includes street parties, fireworks, fireball parades, torchlight processions, and concerts. One unique tradition is “first-footing”, where the first person to cross the threshold of a home after midnight is believed to bring good luck for the coming year, especially with different gifts that represent a different wish: coal for warmth, shortbread for lack of hunger, whisky for good cheer and prosperity, and salt for health and a flavourful life. 

Across East Asia, however, the Lunar New Year is celebrated weeks later than the Gregorian New Year. In China, where it is known as the Spring Festival (春节), this is the most important holiday of the year. Rather than a single night, celebrations extend for around a week. Families reunite over long distances, clean their homes to sweep away bad luck, decorate with red lanterns and banners that often contain phrases of good luck, and enjoy large reunion dinners. Firecrackers and dragon dances are used to scare away evil spirits, while red envelopes filled with money are given to children by elders as a symbol of prosperity and as a blessing for the future. 

 In Japan, the New Year is called Shōgatsu (正月) or Oshōgatsu, and is a quieter holiday, happening on January 1. Although Japan originally celebrated Lunar New Year, it officially switched to the Gregorian New Year in 1873. The holiday is more peaceful and reflective, with families cleaning their homes, visiting shrines, and eating traditional foods such as osechi-ryōri (“New Year’s Dishes”) to symbolize health, happiness, and prosperity. 

In Korea, the Lunar New Year is known as Seollal (설날) and is one of the most significant holidays of the year. Families gather to honour their ancestors through traditional rituals, wear traditional clothing (hanbok), and share special foods such as tteokguk (rice cake soup) for good fortune and wisdom. 

In India, New Year celebrations vary greatly depending on region and religion. Some communities celebrate Diwali—the Hindu Festival of Lights—while others celebrate Ugadi, Baisakhi, or Gudi Padwa. Common traditions include cleaning homes, lighting oil lamps, spending time with family, oil baths, wearing new clothes, and visiting temples all of which symbolize purification and new beginnings. 

In Persian culture, the New Year is called Nowruz, meaning “new day”, and it marks the Northern Hemisphere’s spring equinox, usually around March 20 or 21. Celebrated for over 3,000 years, Nowruz is celebrated in Iran and many ethnicities worldwide. Families set up a Haft-Seen table with seven “S” items for prosperity (Sabzeh, which are sprouts; Samanu, which is a sweet pudding; Senjed, which is oleaster; Serkeh, which is vinegar; Seer, which is garlic; Seeb, which is apple; and Somāq/Somagh, which is sumac). 

Further west in Spain, people celebrate New Year’s Eve by eating twelve grapes at midnight to bring good luck for each month of the coming year. Many people watch the countdown live in Madrid on television or in person, and after midnight, celebrations continue with music, dancing, and fireworks. In Brazil, many people dress in white for peace and jump into the sea—specifically over seven waves for each Candomble deity. In countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, people wear coloured underwear (red for love, yellow for happiness) and carry empty suitcases around the block at midnight, hoping it will attract travel opportunities in the new year. 

Lastly, across Africa, New Year celebrations vary widely among countries and cultures, but the New Year is unanimously seen as a time for renewal, gratitude, and community. In West African countries including Ghana and Nigeria, New Year celebrations often combine religious traditions with modern components. Many people attend church services to focus on reflection and gratitude, and afterwards, communities come together for music and shared meals. In South Africa, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with fireworks and festivals that feature colourful costumes and parades. In North Africa, including Morocco and Egypt, Gregorian New Year’s celebrations aren’t as lively, as some families celebrate the Islamic New Year instead. 

While New Year traditions vary around the world, they all share a common purpose: reflecting on the past and looking forward to the coming year with renewal and hope. No matter where you’re from, the New Year reminds us that we are all united by the desire for a better tomorrow!