We celebrate the New Year in America to bring in a new era and create new self-improvements, but have you ever wondered what it looks in other places?
The first place on our journey around the world is Italy! The most common expression during the New Years’ time is “Out with the old and in with the New.” Well, the people of Naples and southern Italy take it very seriously. Their new year’s tradition means tossing and breaking old dishes and furniture and throwing them out the window. I know this sounds kind of dangerous, but imagine chucking that old, stained dish out the window even though your mom believes it still can be cleaned. Well guess what? Now, you have a good reason.
Moving onto our next place on our tour Is Japan. One of Japan’s customs for this time of year is hatsumode. This tradition involves people flocking to Zojo-ji (a Buddhist temple in Tokyo) to do “hatsumode.” They flock to these temples to pray for good fortune, safety and prosperity. The other tradition Japan does is Joya no Kane. This is the ringing of the Kane bells in Buddhist temples. The Kane bells are massive ranging 3.3 meters tall and weighing at seventy pounds. The people of Japan celebrate the new year in style and sound. Now, to our third trip.
Our third stop is Greece. They celebrate the new year by cutting a cake right before dinner. Each slice of cake contains a charm or coin that signifies that the person who finds it will be very lucky for the rest of the year. In Greece, they also decorate the homes in bay leaves. It symbolizes good health, nutrition, safety and wealth. It is usually hung in doorways like mistletoes like we hang at Christmas, but unlike our kissing mistletoe tradition, theirs also provides protection from evil spirits. They also gather sweets called Melomakarona which are similar to our Christmas honey cookies.
Last, but not least, our final stop is Brazil. In Brazil, New Year’s is called Reveillon, which originated from the French word ‘reveiller’. Reveiller means to waken, and it talks about a big feast that is held in the morning. It is customary to offer trinkets like necklaces, combs, flowers, soaps and more to their deity: Lemanja. Lemanja protects their oceans. Another Brazilian tradition is to wear white from head to toe because the color white represents purity, peace and renewal. They also do street parades and pop fireworks.
All around the world we may celebrate differently, but it’s all the same to welcome only good things in our lives and celebrate with the people we love.
Happy New Year!
