Each country has its own national traditions - and sometimes several lines of them, depending on the number of nationalities living on the territory.

Accordingly, holidays in each country can be held in different ways - this also applies to such a common celebration as the New Year. It is celebrated virtually all over the world, on the same dates. But are the traditions the same? Is there anything special in the culture of various countries celebrating the holiday on generally accepted dates?

The story of the New Year

The New Year was celebrated in one of the oldest civilizations - the tradition was rooted in Mesopotamia, five thousand years ago, people also celebrated the calendar transition from one year to another. But in the past, a significant day was celebrated in spring or autumn, only during the reign of Julius Caesar, the New Year began to be celebrated on January 1 - this happened in 46 BC.

The Gregorian calendar makes the transition to the New Year on January 1, today most countries celebrate it on this or the coming days. The first holiday is celebrated by the Midway Islands, which are located in the Pacific Ocean, then it spreads to the entire planet.

Entertaining Traditions: Ecuador

One of the most interesting traditions of the New Year's Eve can please the country of Ecuador. Perhaps this option is optimal for travelers who want to go around the whole new world in the new year. Here it is believed that the one who grabs the suitcase and runs around the house with it, or at least around the table, while the clock beats the set 12 hours, will be happy. If there is no suitcase, you can take a travel bag, the main thing is to run with luggage. The tradition is surprising, but other options are even more interesting.

Italian traditions for the New Year

In Italy, people have their own traditions - and their own beliefs about how to make the coming year a happy one. In their opinion, to achieve the cherished goal, it is absolutely necessary to make fierce and loud noise, even turn on car alarms. And you should throw various old things out of windows, especially chairs and irons.

To warn about this people who are on the street under the windows, in the opinion of local residents, is not necessary. And therefore, sometimes there are legislative prescriptions on how to behave during the holidays, what to throw out, and what to leave in the house. But few people are interested in legislative acts, because according to local beliefs, instead of discarded things, new ones should appear in the new year.

Italians have other New Year traditions. If Russians almost always have Olivier salad, jellied meat and other traditional snacks on the New Year's table, in the mentioned southern country preference is given to grapes, lentils and nuts, which should give family members health and long life. January 1 is also very important, according to local beliefs, you need to go to the source and take water, preferably in the early morning.

Water is considered a guaranteed source of happiness, it can also serve as a gift for loved ones. Going out on January 1, Italians pay attention to those whom they will meet among the first. A priest or other clergyman met in the morning is regarded as a very bad sign, but a hunchback or cripple is considered a good omen before the next Christmas holidays.

New Year traditions in South Africa

However, Italians are not the only ones of their kind, if we consider the New Year's atrocities. Residents of South Africa went around them and the whole planet - they decided to throw large furniture, refrigerators, shoot through the windows of any floor. Here, even stricter legislative requirements are exhibited, at the height of the holiday the police are on duty - which, however, does not solve the problem.

The capital’s quarter of Hilbrow is considered the most dangerous, they even throw leaflets here, urging them not to throw refrigerators out of windows, but measures do not help much - local residents sometimes even open fire from firearms. However, not all nations celebrate the onset of the new calendar date so violently.

What guarantees happiness in the coming year?

Christmas clothes are also important. The Chinese have an idea about each year - depending on which element and which animal it will belong to. In Ecuador and some other countries, everything is simpler - if a person wants to get a lot of money in the coming year, he only needs to wear yellow underwear. It’s also worth kissing with a loved one in order to find love - because of this, it is customary in Bulgaria to even put out the light after a clock’s fight.

In most countries, the holiday is marked by the beat of the clock, in Japan, the bell sounds - 108 times, during which it is necessary to pick up the rake and stay with them - in order to row the exorbitant happiness in the coming year. And you can wear yellow-red clothes to get “a pipe and a jug” right away: money and happiness in your personal life.

You can kiss and hug not only relatives - even strangers, if you find yourself in Germany and come to celebrate at the Brandenburg Gate, as is customary here. Toasts are made at the gates, anyone can be hugged.

What other signs are relevant for the New Year?

In the New Year it is customary to kiss, to spend the coming 365 days together, to throw out old things in order to get rid of sorrows and need. And what else will experts from around the world advise, what other traditions remain relevant for many nations?

• Swedes brightly illuminate streets and houses, counting on happiness for everyone. The light is so important for them that they even choose the queen of the ball Lucia, who must wear a crown of candles and distribute goodies to children and pets;
• In connection with the traditional ugliness of South Africa, all the streets here simply overlap;
• Staging plots of fairy tales played out in front of children and just the public are relevant for England, New Year's carnivals are held here;
• Giving each other cards was also invented in the UK, the tradition has been relevant since 1843;
• Here, they began to roast a turkey with potatoes or chestnuts, and also open the doors to release the old year and let the new one in;
• In Scotland, in the last seconds of the year, they set fire to a tar barrel and then roll it through the streets;
• Here they are waiting for the first guest of the new year - it needs to be a dark-haired man with gifts;
• The Irish have three puddings prepared for the feast and set the traditional table;
• In Australia, all New Year's characters walk in bathing suits, because this time the hottest summer period.

Not all peoples celebrate New Year at the same time - So, Korea and China are trying to postpone the holiday until the new lunar cycle, and therefore it is celebrated between January 21 and February 19, according to the situation. On the right day, they eat the most delicious traditional dishes, dress in new clothes, give and congratulate loved ones - and sometimes honor local fun traditions. So, in China, it is considered good form to pour water on yourself at a time when someone close says a congratulation.

The traditions of distant lands may seem mysterious and funny. But whoever and however celebrates the New Year - the main thing is that the holiday brings happiness to everyone!