New Year’s Eve is celebrated in diverse ways across the world, with each country bringing its own traditions that symbolize new beginnings, luck, and prosperity.
In India, New Year’s celebrations vary by region. For example, in Telangana and Karnataka, people celebrate Ugadi by decorating their homes with mango leaves and marigolds. Meanwhile, in Assam, the Rongali Bihu festival is a multi-day event marked by folk dances and traditional food.
In the Netherlands, a chilly dip in the sea at Scheveningen marks the New Year, part of the Nieuwjaarsduik tradition. Participants believe it brings a fresh start for the year ahead. Amsterdam also hosts lively street parties filled with music and fireworks.
In Colombia, many people walk around with suitcases to ensure a year full of travel and adventures. Meanwhile, in Iran, Nowruz, the Persian New Year, celebrates renewal with the Haft Seen, a symbolic display of seven items starting with the letter ‘S’.
In Italy, it’s customary to throw old furniture out of windows, symbolizing the removal of bad memories. Similarly, Ecuadorians burn effigies of famous figures to bid farewell to bad luck.
From good fortune rituals in the Philippines to water fights in Cambodia, the New Year is a time for renewal, joy, and celebration worldwide.
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