Top 10 Traditions Everybody Follows At The End Of The Year

People always have plans for new years and different people around the world celebrate it differently. The following are common and are carried out by those who wish to greet the New Year with a lot of noise and celebration!

1. Lavish Parties

Planning for parties for 31^st December starts roughly around the end of October. People make sure that every detail is in place and that their guests have nothing to complain about when the clock strikes twelve!

2. Prayers

Those who believe in God or follow a particular religion like to send a little prayer in God’s direction as soon as 1^st January of the new year rolls around. Many families like to come together and carry out these ceremonies with the help of soft music and dozens of candles.

3. Resolutions

We all make new year resolutions. It is always good to make a fresh start and leave all our old problems and worries behind. There is no better time to do this than 31^st December when the year is ending and a new one is starting. Even though most of us forget all about them by about 7^th January, it is fun to believe that we will stick to them at the time!

4. First Footing

This tradition is followed by Europeans all over the world. They believe that the first person that enters their house when the clock strikes twelve should not only have dark hair but should also be male. He should come bearing gifts which should be symbolic of good luck or good health.

5. Keep Smiling

Many people believe that if they enter the new year laughing or smiling, they will spend the rest of the year the same way. Therefore, even if they are not particularly happy when the clock starts chiming, they start laughing just to keep up with the tradition.

6. The Times Square Ball

A crystal time ball is dropped in Times Square in New York at the end of the year. It descends for a whole minute and stops revolving at 12:00 am. Those who cannot be at Times Square at the time, making it a point to switch on the television no matter how busy or drunk they are at that moment.

7. Fireworks

Even though it is not legal in some parts of the world, people make it a point to organize a fireworks display. The night sky literally explodes and one can see colorful sparkles for several minutes after. This tradition is very popular in London where it takes place across the River Thames.

8. Parade

A parade is organized for New Year’s Eve and it is always an extravagant affair. Several events take place and the performances are always spectacular. Color seems to seep out of every nook and cranny and people in London believe that there is no better way to greet the New Year

9. Drinks

It is customary to have a drink or two on New Year’s eve. A toast is raised as soon as the clock strikes twelve which is when people wish each other and go back to what they were doing.

10. First Baby

Most people watch the news on the first day of the year to find out which woman that year is lucky enough to have given birth to the “new year baby”. In some countries, they parade the child all over town while in others they make it wear a sash.