How People Celebrate the New Year Worldwide

Thanks to the Gregorian calendar, the 2021 new year around the world will unfold on Saturday, December 31st. While the prospects for the pandemic in 2021 don’t seem too much brighter than they were before, there are some signs that we will finally get past it. However, while most of us are dancing and laughing with friends and family, the rest of the world will be waiting their turn to say goodbye to last year. Some countries celebrate the new year around the world on a different day. 

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The Chinese and Vietnamese New Year’s Eve celebration is in early February. Anyone following the Julian calendar will be celebrating in mid-January, while the Jewish Rosh Hashanah is in autumn. Needless to say, each culture has its’ very own precious way of celebrating the new year around the world. 

Most Unique New Year Customs Around the World 

Why not continue the unconventional nature of this past year by celebrating a different new year around the world?  If you find yourself in another country at midnight on new year’s eve or you just want to celebrate in a new extraordinary way this year, we’ve prepared a review of some of the most unique customs and traditions of the new year around the world for you consider. Here’s how the new year is celebrated around the world. 

Estonia and 12 Meals to Eat - New year around the world

The first place on our list of new years around the world is in the charming northern European country of Estonia. Estonian new years traditions are delightful. Here in Estonia, we believe that to be strong and successful throughout the coming year you need to have 7 to 12 meals during the New Year’s Eve dinner.  Why, may you ask? Well, with each meal number you gain the power of the same quantity of men for the whole following year. As you may guess, each family starts New Year’s dinner preparations long before the 31st. And, thankfully, we’re not French or Italian – having some food left isn’t taken as an offense, so you don’t have to worry about overeating.

Denmark and Broken Dishes - New year around the world

This new year tradition is one of the most exciting new years around the world. In Denmark, to wish your friends luck in the coming year, you smash as many dishes as you can in front of their doors! Indeed, if you want your friends to be happy – take your dishes and throw them on their doorstep.  Sounds strange but it might turn out to be really fun. However, be careful not to use your grandma’s old precious porcelain!

Finland and Melted Tin - New year around the world

Hyvää uutta vuotta! New year around the world brings fortunes of the coming year.  Finland, you get your New Year’s fortune on the 31st of December! That’s right, to do this you need to melt “tin” (which is lead) and quickly throw it into a bucket of icy water. The shape of the thing you get afterward can be interpreted in many ways, one of which can predict your future. 

Stay in Touch This New Year

One of the most important parts of the new year is sharing it with a person or people close to you. If you’re social distancing this year or if you have loved ones around the world, you may want to call them once the bell strikes midnight.  There are many wonderful calling apps, but if you need to call a landline or a mobile that doesn’t have internet, you’ll need an app that lets you call internationally for pennies per minute. Yolla is perfect for keeping in touch with friends and family around the world over the New Year at extremely low rates and stable, HD connections. If you don’t have it yet, download it today (iOS, Android), so you’re ready to call on the new years eve celebration!

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Ireland and Mistletoe Under the Pillow - New year around the world

On the new year around the world, traditions are wide and plenty. Want to find the love of your life and get married next year? Follow the example of Irish women.  They don’t hesitate to put sprigs of mistletoe under their pillows before going to bed. They strongly believe it will bring them the perfect stranger, aka future husband, and as an extra – a bit of luck in other things in the coming year.  Another Irish new year tradition involves a superstition. People take a careful look at the very first person coming to their home after midnight: red-headed women bring a lot of troubles while handsome men – good fortune. Huh, sure.

Russia and Eating your Wishes - New year around the world

С Новым Годом! December 31st in Russia is one of the most exciting new years around the world. New Year’s Eve is the time when the Santa-like guy called Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) together with his granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) giveaway presents to children who behaved well. To get to know other Santas from all over the world – check out our other post. Russian’s make a civil celebration of New Year’s eve according to the Gregorian calendar (December 31st). However, Russians celebrate Christmas according to the Orthodox calendar, which falls on January 8. The days in between these two holidays are non-working public holidays, making for a several-day new year’s celebration in Russia.

Greece and New Beginnings - New year around the world

The next stop on our new year around the world list is Greece. In Greece, they take the New Year as the new beginning quite seriously.  Firstly, they hang onions on their doors as a symbol of rebirth. On the first morning of the new year, parents tap their children on their heads with these onions to wake them up and go to church. Moreover, at midnight they turn off all the lights to meet the New Year with fresh eyes.

Spain and 12 Grapes - New year around the world

There seems to be one thing in common with all new years around the world - enjoying fruits and elaborate foods. In Spain and many other Spanish-speaking countries, it’s common to accept a challenge of eating 12 grapes at midnight to have all the luck in the next year. Sounds easy, but don’t be naive – you have to eat one grape each time the bell tolls.  While eating them, you have to think over your wishes and dreams – and if you’re fast enough, they may come true!

The Philippines and Polka Dots - New year around the world

Polka dots, oranges and grapefruit! More fruits on new year around the world. Filipinos don’t only look fashionable on New Year’s Eve wearing polka dots, they also carry coins in their pockets, eat round food, and display oranges and grapefruit all around as they strongly believe that round objects bring prosperity.  That’s a good reason to decide on polka dots if you’re still struggling with what to wear on New Year’s Eve!

Japan and Toshigami - New year around the world

In Japan, on new year’s eve, Buddhist temples ring their bell 108 times, which is a way of welcoming New Year’s God Toshigami. To start their lives almost from scratch with the first day of the year they also clean houses, give thanks for everything to their friends and relatives and try to resolve conflicts from the past. 

Turkey and Salt

The people of Turkey have one of the most unique new years around the world, with a special way of welcoming in the beginning of the new year. Of the many traditions, one of them is to sprinkle the doorstep of your home with salt right at midnight. The superstition is that it will bring fortune and good luck in the coming year. 

What Are the Best New Year Celebrations Around the World?

What are the best new year celebrations around the world? Finding the best celebration for your tastes depends entirely on what suits your fancy. However, if you are interested in unique historic traditions and superstitions, I can recommend any of the places on this list of new years around the world.  If you’re thinking about changing up your new year’s celebrations this year and celebrating the new year in an unfamiliar way, you may be in for a real treat. And if you’ve already celebrated the new year around the world in any of the countries on this list, let us know how it was in the comments.

When is the New Year in Different Countries? Do Tribes Celebrate the New Year?

When is the new year in different countries? We are, after all, a diverse species. Let’s look at a few more details about some lesser-known new years celebrations around the world.  The most interesting part of new years around the world isn’t only a matter of how new years is celebrated around the world. It’s also interesting to learn about when new years eve celebrations take place. The many calendars of the world make for interesting holidays.   Here is a list of when new years celebrations take place in different countries and among different groups of people around the world. In some of these places, a new year’s eve celebration on December 31st is also celebrated. Two new years celebrations a year! Sri Lankan New Year

• Sri Lanka
• Aluth Avurudda
• mid-April

Aboriginal Murador

• Western Australia
• Name N/A
• October 30

Cambodian New Year

• Cambodia
• Chol Chnam Thmey
• mid-April

Chinese New Year

• China
• Chūn jié
• Sometime between January 21 and February 20

Eastern Orthodox Church New Year

• Russia, Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, other Orthodox groups and regions
• Name N/A
• mid-January

Ethiopian New Year

• Ethiopia
• Enkutatash
• September

Marwari and Gujarati New Year

• India
• Diwali
• Some time from mid-October to mid-November

Islamic New Year

• Muslim groups worldwide
• Hijri
• September

Did you know the range of new year celebrations around the world was so diverse? 

Don’t Lose Touch Over the Holidays

No matter which new year customs around the world you’re joining this year, the main thing is to celebrate it with people you love. And if there’s still someone far away, remember you can easily call them abroad to their cell phone or landline via Yolla at some of the lowest prices out there!  The person you call doesn’t need to have an internet connection – with Yolla, it’s easy to call anywhere in the world, anytime. Download Yolla (iOS, Android) now so you're ready to call your friends and loved ones over the holidays!

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We promise to carry the best connection for you, even at midnight on New Year’s Eve!