JANUARY 1ST

The first day of the year announces a new start. After a ‘crazy’ night out with friends and family, people spend January, 1 sometimes sleeping, others having a walk and some others eating the extra food of the New Year’s Eve supper, with the family again!

However, the New Year’s Day is not the same in all corners of the world.

Thus, for example, while in the Western world, people celebrate it on the first of January (Times Square in New York, Trafalgar Square in London or Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, where they call it ‘HOGMANAY’ and practise the famous print-footing); in other places, it is hold in other periods of the year, like in March (Muslim countries and India) or September (Jewish culture). By the way, a Scottish celebrity, Robert Burns, made up an old song ‘Auld Long Syne’ which people sing along while standing in a circle and holding their hands.

Some particular ways of celebrating the New Year occur in the Fast East, in China. There, they usually carry it out in January or February and, surprisingly, every year has a different sign, which is repeated every 12 years. The animal symbol of the year is taken by people in the street processions and they are so sacred that no animal can be killed on that day. In Río de Janeiro, people go to the beach and welcome the New Year with fireworks, fires and candles. 

Curious though, especially if we contrast it to Spain, they do not eat 12 grapes before the coming of the midnight, but they rather count the last ten seconds before the New Year arrives.