WELCOMING THE NEW YEAR
Around the world, the arrival of new year is celebrated in different ways.
Read about some of them below, then try these recipes to celebrate the end of
the old, and the start of the new!
Hogmanay is celebrated in Scotland. The word describes the
celebrations that happen on New Year’s Eve. Hogmanay traditions have always
included parties which today culminate in a countdown to midnight and a
rendition of the song, Auld Lang Syne. An important part of the celebrations are
a warm welcome for friends, family and strangers alike and, of course, a kiss
for everyone at the stroke of midnight.
'First Footing' is an ancient tradition which is still carried out in
Scotland today. To ensure good luck, the first person of the New Year to enter
your house must be a dark man carrying a lump of coal, a black bun, shortbread,
salt and malt whisky.
Chinese New Year usually falls in late January or early
February. On New Year’s Eve, houses are brightly lit and doors and windows are
sealed to keep in good luck. People take a long bath because washing on New
Year’s Day is thought to wash away good fortune. Fireworks and firecrackers are
set off to scare away evil spirits.
On New Year's Day, an ancient custom called Hong Bao, meaning Red Packet,
takes place. This involves married couples giving children money in red
envelopes. Doors are decorated with ‘red couplets’. These are Chinese good luck
sayings written on red paper, often with gold trimmings. They are usually made
up of Chinese characters which ask for luck, long life and wealth.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year festival which
celebrates the creation of the world and falls in September or October. It is
also a judgement day where Jews believe that God looks at each person’s actions
and behaviour, both good and bad, over the past year and decides what kind of
year they have in store for them.
As well as being a day for worship in the Synagogue, Jewish people also
celebrate Rosh Hashanah at home. The emphasis of the food served on this day is
sweetness, so many families start their meal with a traditional dish of apples
dipped in honey. A sweet carrot stew, called a tzimmes, is often served. A
traditional Hallah bread is eaten which is round, unlike the plaited loaf eaten
on the Sabbath day. The round shape symbolises the circle of life.
Diwali is an Indian celebration followed by Hindus, Sikhs
and Jains. It falls in October or November. It is a celebration of both the New
Year and the harvest, and is also known as the festival of lights. The word
Diwali comes from the Sanskrit ‘dipavali’ which means ‘row of little lights’.
Light is a big feature of the Diwali festivities. It is believed that Goddess
Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, needs light to guide her to people’s homes to
give good fortune and wealth. Oil lamps, called diwas, are lit and placed around
the open doors and windows of houses. Fireworks are also a big part of Diwali
celebrations.
