December 31 - New Year's Eve: pre-holiday traditions in different countries

New Year's Eve is an important day when preparations for the main holiday of the year are finalized. In some countries, it has its own traditions and customs. In 2024, the celebration falls on Tuesday. Izvestia tells about how they see off the passing year.

How New Year's Eve is spent in different countries - 2024

New Year's Eve in many countries is known as New Year's Eve Day. It is also often called Old Year's Day. It is an occasion to say goodbye to the past year and welcome the new one. Every year at this time there are many big parties and festivities around the world.

The celebrations are accompanied by fireworks, concerts and countdown clocks. In Spain and other countries, for example, there is a tradition of eating 12 grapes before midnight - one for each hour left before the New Year. This custom symbolizes hope for positive changes in the new year. Sometimes instead of grapes, something in the shape of a circle or ring is eaten, which symbolizes the passing of the full annual cycle and promises good luck.

Since in the countries of Europe on December 31 remember Pope Sylvester I, there is also a tradition to call the last day of the passing year "Sylvester". On New Year's Eve, one can often hear the question, "Where will you go on Sylvester?" which means "Where will you celebrate the New Year?"

For believers, New Year's Eve is a good occasion to analyze the past year and all the lessons it has taught. However, for everyone the holiday can be an important turning point in life, especially if the year was difficult and brought many difficulties. Then you can breathe a sigh of relief that it is finally over.

In addition, New Year's Eve is the time when the last preparations for the celebration are completed. In the evening, the whole family gathers around the table, opens champagne and sees off the old year, waiting for a New Year's greeting from the head of state. The tradition of congratulating the nation on the New Year was born in the first half of the twentieth century in connection with the rapid development of radio and then television. Its ancestor is considered to be Great Britain.

Every year on the eve of the holiday millions of citizens of Russia, CIS countries, some European and Asian countries are waiting for the New Year address of the head of state. Then under the beat of the clock, everyone congratulates each other on the New Year, wishing new successes and victories in the coming year.

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Customs and omens on New Year's Eve on December 31st

With New Year's Eve and the day preceding it, there are many superstitions. For example, many believe that you can not show and give gifts to loved ones in advance. According to the beliefs that exist in different nations, this promises misfortune, illness, tears and poverty.

It is also a bad omen to meet the New Year with empty pockets. Therefore, some put a coin or a money bill in the pocket of a festive outfit. Or keep a purse with money in the favorite colors of the symbol of the year. In the year of the Green Wood Snake - it is all shades of green: from olive to emerald. It is believed that this is the way to get rid of financial problems.

To attract luck into your life, interior decorated with small statuettes, paintings or bas-reliefs depicting the symbol of the year. At the same time on New Year's Eve and the holiday itself, it is important not to say words with negative energy and do not complain about fate, then luck will accompany the whole year.

Earlier "Izvestia" named the top 5 most harmful products on the New Year's table.