Best wishes for New Year 2024. I hope that your life will be full of surprises and happiness in the new year that begins. Remember all the good memories you have made and know that your life will be full of surprises in the year ahead. May you get everything you want in life.
New Year is definitely one of the main events when everyone is excited to welcome the arrival of the New Year with their loved ones. Be it welcoming the New Year with a glass of champagne, a countdown party or an intimate dinner, everyone plans something special to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. There are many places to celebrate New Year in the world that organize parties and events to engage people and celebrate the arrival of the New Year. Nothing can be more special than celebrating New Year with your loved ones amidst a fancy setting.
Always stay away from the shadows of sorrow.
May you never face loneliness.
May every wish and every dream of yours be fulfilled,
This is my prayer from the bottom of my heart.
Best wishes for the New Year.
New Year’s Resolutions
The tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions began some 4,000 years ago with the ancient Babylonians, although for them the year began not in January but in mid-March on the first moon after the spring equinox. According to historians, returning that rusty rake you’d borrowed from your neighbor was top of the Babylonian resolution list, along with the timeless promise to pay off debts.
Many people take the opportunity of the new year to make resolutions. According to a survey by ComRes, the most common New Year’s resolutions included exercise more, lose weight and eat more healthily.
The tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions began some 4,000 years sgo with the ancient Babylonians, although for them the year began not in January but in mid-March on the first moon after the spring equinox. According to historians, returning that rusty rake you’d borrowed from your neighbor was top of the Babylonian resolution list, along with the timeless promise to pay off.
How is the New Year celebrated in the countries of the world
China : In China , cleaning and painting of houses starts a month in advance. Kusumbi color is important in this festival and windows and doors are often painted with this color. Paper bands and decorations are made. Some special dishes are prepared in food and special care is taken in wearing colors. Wearing red is considered auspicious, and wearing black or white is considered inauspicious. At dinner on the last night of the year, the whole family waits for the new year by playing games like cards and chaupar or watching TV. Next day, Kusumbi bag full of money is given to children and unmarried people as a symbol of happiness. Greetings are exchanged by visiting relatives and neighbours. Chinese people believe that there is a god in all the cooks who submits the accounts of the whole year of that family to God at the end of the year and returns back to the same family. So in this week. To send him off and welcome him again, fire games go on throughout the week and welcome ceremonies are organized. The purpose behind fast fire-play is also believed to be to drive away evil spirits. Here the dragon is a symbol of long life and happiness and prosperity.
Japan : the Japanese New Year Previously occurred between January 20 and February 19. But now it is celebrated for 3 days from the night of 29th December to 3rd January. This festival is known here as Yaburi. Like Diwali, cleaning the house is an important part of this festival. Cleaning and decoration of not only homes but also Buddhist and Shito temples starts in December itself with big celebrations. Pine bamboo and various parts of plum trees are used in the decoration and lights are placed outside the house. The Japanese believe that a clean home brings happiness and prosperity.
The main event of this festival is the ringing of the temple bells 108 times at 12 o’clock on the last night of the year. For the convenience of the people, it is also telecast live on radio and TV. With the sound of these bells the entire nation prays for the New Year together. People go to temples and worship Lord Buddha. It is believed that this pleases God and grants them happiness and prosperity throughout the year. For the next three days, a special type of food is eaten which necessarily includes a soup called “Ozoni”. This soup is made from soybean and fish broth. Sending cards is very popular among the Japanese. These cards are purchased from the Japanese postel service ‘Nengajo’ and are posted before January 1st. the Japanese Postal Service makes special arrangement to distribute them on January 1st. it is estimated that a Japanese person sends up to hundreds of New Year cards.
Korea : In Korea, like many other Asian countries, the New Year is celebrated twice, according to the solar year and the lunar year. Most people celebrate the solar year as the new year. It is called ‘Sol-Nal’ and it is a day when the whole family comes together to share entertainment, love and laughter. A day before, special screens woven from straw, called ‘Buk Jori’, are hung on the doors. It is believed that they protect the house from evil eyes. New clothes decorated with five colors are worn which are called ‘sol-bim’.
Early in the morning of the New Year, everyone gathers at the house of the eldest male member of the family. A tradition called ‘Cha-Rai’ is performed here. In this tradition, one’s ancestors are remembered and cups of ‘Tok-Kuk’ are served. It is a type of thin soup made from finely chopped rice and beef broth. It is considered health enhancing. ‘Tok-kuk’ means age benefit. It is believed that a bowl of soup adds one year to life. In this way everyone increases their age by one year on this day.
After a heavy morning breakfast, younger people bow before the elders and seek blessings. It is called ‘Se-Bay’ or ‘Jol’. For ‘Jol’ you have to keep both your hands in front of your eyes. One has to sit in such a way that the knees touch the ground and along with the hands, the head also has to be bent and touch the ground. Small children can do this activity easily. Older people take help from others. Children make small decorated wallets called ‘Buk Ju Mo Ni’. After ‘Jol’ all the big people give money to the small ones. Children keep their money in the newly created ‘Book Ju Mo Ni’.
After Jol, the boys come out of the house and fly kites and do the Lattu dance. Girls play on see-saw. ‘Yut no Rei’ is played indoors. Four sikas and chaukhanas are used in this. As long as the family stays together, everyone from grandfather to granddaughter enjoys sports, entertainment and food and drinks throughout the day.
Spain : In Spain there is a tradition of eating a dozen fresh grapes after 12 o’clock at night. They believe that by doing this they remain healthy throughout the year. New Year is celebrated on the night of 31 December. Everyone waits for twelve o’clock with their grapes. As soon as the clock strikes twelve, this special ritual is followed with the striking of the clock.
The rule is that with each hour one grape must be placed in the mouth and as soon as the twelve hours are over, the twelve grapes must be gone. However this does not happen. Everyone’s mouths are full of grapes and they start laughing at each other.
It is said that once in ancient times there was a very good harvest of grapes. Pleased with this, the king gifted twelve grapes to every citizen of the country on the last day of the year. From then onwards this practice started.
Russia :In Russia, people write their wishes on a paper on New Year’s Eve and burn them. After this, the ashes of the burnt paper are mixed with Champagne and are drunk by the wisher. In Russia, there is a belief that their wish in this form will motivate them to achieve their goals in the coming year.
Chile :Here, on New Year’s Eve, people eat a spoon full of lentils and keep a coin at the sole of their shoes. The belief behind this is that they will receive money at every step in the New Year.
It is believed that they will receive wealth during the next twelve months of the year. Some brave people spend their New Year’s Eve in the graveyards of their beloved.
Denmark : Here, people follow a strange method of expressing love for their neighbors. They break glasses and plates on the doors in their neighborhood. Some people even stand on chairs and jump exactly at 12 ‘o’clock on New Year’s night.
Ecuador :Here, people burn the effigies of the politicians and also of the people whom they do not like. The logic behind this ritual is to get rid of the negative energies of the previous year. Similar kinds of programs are organized in Paraguay, Columbia, and Panama.
Those who do not burn the effigies of politicians, hide the money in the compound of their houses so that they can attain wealth in the coming year.
Philippines :Here, people wear clothes with dots and keep coins in their pockets. In the Philippines, it is considered that round-shaped objects symbolize prosperity. They also eat round-shaped objects such as pineapple, Orange, Guava, etc. on New Year’s Eve.
Germany : On New Year’s Eve, Germans melt the pieces of Lead and throw it into water. When it takes a shape on cooling, they interpret the future by the shapes thus attained. In this way, they interpret the events of the coming year.
Greece : Greek people sing carols on New Year’s Eve. Children receive money from their elders and neighbours after singing New Year Carols. When the countdown for the New Year begins they switch off all lights so that the New Year can be started on a fresh note.
In parts of Greece, there is a tradition of eating Vasilopita (a kind of cake). They hide coins in the cake. New Year is considered lucky for whosoever gets the coin in his piece of cake.
South Africa :On New Year’s Eve in South Africa, people throw out old furniture, clothes, and old gadgets like TV, Radio, etc. from their houses. Here, people prefer to begin the New Year with New things.
Spain :In Spain and other Spanish speaking countries, there is a tradition of eating twelve grapes on the night of New Year. Here, people like to eat one grape with each bell at midnight which signifies good luck for the coming twelve months.
Cuba :In Cuba, it is believed that if one is bitten by a travel bug, he should take the full round of his house at midnight with a suitcase in hand on New Year’s Eve. They believe that one gets ample opportunities to travel after performing this ritual. Some people clean their houses at night and throw water outside their windows.
Brazil : Brazilians wear all white clothes on New Year’s Eve to get rid of evil spirits. Some people in Brazil, follow the practice of diving in the seven waves of the sea during the first week of the New Year and also throw flowers in the sea.
In India also, New Year is celebrated with a big bang. Here, youngsters organize parties in which everything from cake to liquor is served throughout. In India, some people take pledges in the form of New Year resolutions like quitting smoke/drinking, taking care of their health, or abstaining from immoral activities.
Celebrate New Year by visiting these places in India, which will make your New Year memorable
Goa – What could be more interesting than celebrating New Year in Goa? People come here just to enjoy the nightlife. If you are also looking for some such fun and open places to have fun, where you and your friends will not be disappointed at all after seeing the place, then you should plan Goa for New Year.
Kasol, Himachal Pradesh – Are you also looking for the best New Year party? So quickly make a plan today itself to visit this paradise of India, because the chance to see such a place, that too on such a special occasion, comes very rarely. The hippie cafes here win the hearts of the people, and the beauty of the mountains outside compels people to stay there for a few more days. Here you can go for Kheerganga track, visit Malana village.
Pondicherry – From biking on the beaches to hanging out at rooftop cafes, the many things to do in Pondicherry make it a dream destination. The French colonial style buildings here attract people to visit, especially during New Year and Christmas. Pondicherry is one of the best places to celebrate New Year in India because of its peaceful atmosphere.
Jaipur, Rajasthan – Jaipur is the best New Year party destination in India. You can say goodbye to 2024 with this colorful and bustling city. Jaipur is most famous for its majestic palaces and forts, some of the best celebration venues here include Lohagarh Fort Resort, and Nahargarh Fort. Amber Palace, Hawa Mahal and City Palace are some of the spectacular places in Jaipur that you must explore during New Year.
Manali, Himachal Pradesh – When it comes to celebrating New Year, how can it be that Manali is not mentioned? Tibetan Monastery, Van Vihar, Vashishtha Temple, etc. add to the beauty of Manali. The DJ night present on the mountains here looks very spectacular. Enjoying DJ with cool breeze is a different experience in itself. You can have fun in Manali by going parachuting, paragliding and skating and to find peace and tranquility in this New Year, visit the beautiful Gurudwara of Manikaran Sahib.
Udaipur, Rajasthan – If you plan New Year in Udaipur, the city of lakes, then understand that your New Year celebration will become memorable. The beautiful view of the sparkling lake and sunset, along with the pleasant weather makes people’s day. Being a popular tourist destination in India, Udaipur is one of the cities to visit on all budgets. Apart from this, you can also have a lot of fun in pubs and clubs here.
History of New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day is a happy occasion, which is celebrated annually on January 1 in accordance with the modern Gregorian calendar. Across the world, people commemorate the occasion with their family members and friends, wishing them good luck and best wishes for another year; in many places there are massive gatherings. People decorate their houses, have get-togethers, cook for their loved ones and even plan outings on this day. But, the question arises as to why we celebrate this day and consider it to be special.
The first time January 1 came to be considered as the beginning of the new year was back in 45 BCE. Before that, the Roman calendar began in March and consisted of 355 days. It was Roman dictator Julius Caesar who reformed the Calendar after coming to power. He instituted January 1 as the first day of the year, partly to honour the month’s namesake: Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, whose two faces allowed him to look back into the past and forward into the future.
The first time January 1 came to be considered as the beginning of the new year was back in 45 BCE. Before that, the Roman calendar began in March and consisted of 355 days. It was Roman dictator Julius Caesar who reformed the Calendar after coming to power. He instituted January 1 as the first day of the year, partly to honour the month’s namesake: Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, whose two faces allowed him to look back into the past and forward into the future.
However, large parts of Europe did not accept it till well into the mid-16th century CE. With the advent of Christianity, January 1 as the beginning of a new year was seen as pagan and December 25, as the day of the birth of Jesus, was considered acceptable. It was only after Pope Gregory reformed the Julian calendar and standardized January 1 as the first day of a new year that it slowly became acceptable.
Additionally, it is believed that the new year originated in ancient Babylon some 4,000 years ago, in the year 2,000BC. The Babylonians celebrated the new year with an 11-day celebration called Akitu, which included a different rite on each of the days, on the forst new moon after the vernal equinox (typically around late March).
Many nations start their New Year’s celebrations on December 31, often known as New Year’s Eve, and continue through the early hours of January 1. Revelers consume meals and snaks that are said to bring them luck. Traditions like singing songs and watching fireworks are followed all around the world. Many people make resolutions for the upcoming year because January 1 is a great opportunity to start making positive improvements.
Every year something is given away,
Every new year brings something,
Let’s do something good this year.
Happy New Year 2024
Best wishes to all of you for the New Year 2024 from the DIGI HUB SOLUTION family.