New Year Celebrations

Billions of people across the globe anxiously wait for twelve o’clock midnight on 31 December every year. This waiting takes the form of countdowns to the New Year and involves numerous activities. As part of the New Year celebrations, some people coin new greetings to signify a break from the past while taking their time to shop for New Year cards. During New Year’s Eve, many hardly sleep opting instead to experience the last hours, minutes and seconds of the passing year. Given the global significance of the New Year celebrations, this is perhaps the busiest day of the year.

The tradition, culture or religion that one subscribes to will determine how they will usher in the New Year. Many Christians for instance prepare for the new year celebrations by holding night long vigils during which they pray, dance and generally praise their God for the year passed while praying for blessings in the new year

This is in spite of Christianity’s earlier opposition to the New Year celebrations as pagan practices. Hindus whose new year may not necessarily be marked on 1 January mark the occasion by showing some respect to their elders and parents while at the same time seeking their blessings. They also give out gifts to each other that symbolize the good wishes they have for the New Year celebrations. Many people also spend time in bars where they drink to the New Year and review the events of the past year. Others take this opportunity to swear and express love to their loved ones by kissing them at the stroke of midnight during a New Year party. This is normally done in public squares where couples volunteer to be part of an annual New Year celebrations spectacle.

Many cities in the world host spectacular New Year celebrations. Sydney, Australia is one such place where such festivities are held.  Sydney is known for its mammoth firework displays where more than one and a half million people gather to witness the coming of the New Year. The Philippines like booming sounds, loud firecrackers and bamboo canons. This loud sound helps to send away demons thus ensuring that the New Year celebrations are less troublesome and the New Year is blessed. Many countries and cities mark this fete by organizing numerous sporting activities such as Switzerland where the final game of the ice hockey tournament takes place. In England, all the football leagues have an extra New Year’s Day fixture allocated for this day. In the United States, the “Tournament of Roses” is held with partygoers watching from the streets.

New Year celebrations have come to show unity with people coming together at parties but also in meditation and prayer as well as a spirit of sharing and caring by giving New Year greetings.