Celebrating the New Year and New Year's Day can be said to be common customs in various countries and regions around the world. Since countries around the world are located at different longitudes and have different times, the date of "New Year's Day" is also different.
1. Germany
Germans attach great importance to New Year's Day. They believe that whether New Year's Day is well spent is directly related to the luck of the next year. On New Year's Eve, people light up lights and set off fireworks and firecrackers to "suppress demons and eliminate demons" and bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. Before the New Year's bell rings, many Germans will climb on a chair. When the bell rings, they jump down and run behind the chair to throw away the disaster. There is also a custom spread in rural Germany - tree climbing competition. It is said that the higher you climb, the better your luck. The person who climbs the highest every year will be hailed as the "New Year's Hero" and will be envied by others.
Germans still have the custom of wearing new clothes on New Year's Day. They believe that if you wear new clothes on New Year's Day, everything will go well; In addition, they will also put a few fish scales in their wallets, because fish scales are the New Year's mascot and herald wealth; many people also nail horseshoes to the wall to "ward off evil spirits."
2. The United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, when midnight falls, people begin the traditional New Year greetings. Every family opens the door and takes out the New Year greetings that have been prepared. Small brown bread is served to guests. The first guest is usually considered to be a symbol of luck in the new year. If the first guest is a black-haired man, or a happy, happy and wealthy person, the host will have good luck throughout the year; if the first guest is If the guest is a woman with fair hair, or a sad, poor, or unfortunate person, the host will have bad luck and encounter difficulties and disasters in the new year.
Drawing water from wells during the New Year is a long-standing custom in rural areas of central England. It is said that the first person to draw water from a well is blessed in the new year, and the water drawn is auspicious water. So early in the morning on New Year's Day, people rushed to carry buckets and headed for the well.
3. France
New Year's Day in France was originally April 1st every year. It was not until 1564 that King Charles IX changed it to January 1st. On New Year's Eve, French families gather together and drink champagne around the table. According to tradition, every family must drink all the wine on this night to avoid bad luck in the coming year; everyone should get drunk so that the New Year's Eve There will be a new beginning in the year. Early in the morning on January 1st, parents will give "New Year's money" to their children to show their care for their children.
The French believe that the weather on New Year's Day heralds the future of the year. In the early morning of New Year's Day, they go to the streets to check the direction of the wind to predict fortunes: if the south wind blows, the weather will be good, and the year will be safe and hot; if the west wind blows, there will be a good harvest for fishing; if the east wind blows, there will be a high yield of fruits; if the north wind blows, then the year will be safe and hot. It's a bad harvest year.
4. Belgium
In Belgium, the first thing people do in the early morning of New Year’s Day is to pay New Year greetings to their livestock. Belgians will go to cows, sheep, and their pet cats and dogs. People around them greet them in a serious way: "Happy New Year!"
Italians believe that making loud noises on New Year's Eve can drive away evil spirits and bring happiness in the new year, so people keep setting off fireworks and firecrackers that night, and shoot riots wantonly. Break everything that can be broken, from dishes to jars, and throw the pieces into the street. On New Year's Day, every household must light a fire in the house, which must not be extinguished for the whole day. Italians believe that fire comes from the sun. If the fire is cut off on New Year's Day, it will not see the sun in the coming year, which will bring bad luck.
5. Thailand
Thailand’s traditional New Year’s Day is the “Songkran Festival”. "Songqian" is the transliteration of Sanskrit, also called "Water Splashing Festival". During the festival, people sprinkle water on each other and happily wish their elders health and longevity, and wish their relatives and friends good luck in the new year.
Unmarried young men and women splash water to express their love for each other. On the first day of the new year, Thai people put a basin of water on the window sill or at the door to pray for good luck and good weather in the new year.
After seeing the New Year’s Day customs in so many countries, I believe you have a deeper understanding of New Year’s Day. On New Year's Day, remember to reunite with your family and friends. Put down your phone and give them a hug. Don't neglect the people who love you the most.