The year 2014 is here and here is the opportunity for the Mag de Flora to send you all his wishes of happiness! If we have for the occasion released the oysters, the foie gras, uncorked the champagne * and hung the mistletoe, how was the transition to the new year celebrated in the rest of the world? Here is a short tour of the most unusual traditions of New Year's Eve!
New Year in Spain :
In Spain, there is a tradition that can not be ignored for the Nochevieja or Fin de año , in other words, New Year's Eve. After a hearty meal with the family, the Spaniards meet shortly before midnight around the large clock of their city or their village. The famous Puerta del Sol, main square of the capital, sees especially arriving thousands of Madrilenians. At midnight, when the bell begins to sound, the Spaniards swallow a grain of grapes at each of the twelve strokes. It is said that those who manage to keep the rhythm of the carillon - an arduous thing! - will live the new year under the sign of luck. This custom is very rooted in the country, so much so that the twelve strokes of midnight are even broadcast live on television. Then it is the explosion of joy: place at the party until the early morning!
New Year in Italy
Like us, Italians take advantage of New Year's Eve to organize meals and festivities! But in the south of the country, particularly in Naples, a very strange custom takes place on 31 December. Indeed, it consists in throwing through the windows all the objects that are no longer used, symbols of the year that ends: clothes, dishes, furniture ... To the chagrin of passers-by and garbage collectors! A tradition that tends to disappear, given the obvious dangers it may entail.
On the New Year's Day, the Capodanno , the Italians gather around typical dishes that are supposed to bring plenty, such as the famous panettone or seed dishes and honey-cakes, or pork feet with lentils.
On the New Year's Day, the Capodanno , the Italians gather around typical dishes that are supposed to bring plenty, such as the famous panettone or seed dishes and honey-cakes, or pork feet with lentils.
New Year's Eve in the UK
In England, when the time is ripe, Scotland and Northern Ireland are mostly attended to the custom of First Footing : the first person to enter the house will determine the chance that the new year will bring to the whole household. This first footer must be generally a tall and well dressed man. At midnight he enters the house and places a piece of charcoal in the fire, bread on the table and fills the glass of the head of the family with whiskey. No one should talk to him until he has accomplished these three tasks and he did not wish the whole family a "happy new year". It then emerges through the back door.
In Wales, the back door is opened at the first stroke of midnight in order to start the year that has just passed. We then close it to keep the luck inside the house and then we open the front door to welcome the new year!
In Scotland there are big festivities called Hogmanay , especially in Edinburgh where a large number of Scots and tourists gather. One takes in the arms and one sings the traditional Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne".
In Wales, the back door is opened at the first stroke of midnight in order to start the year that has just passed. We then close it to keep the luck inside the house and then we open the front door to welcome the new year!
In Scotland there are big festivities called Hogmanay , especially in Edinburgh where a large number of Scots and tourists gather. One takes in the arms and one sings the traditional Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne".
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