New Year's Eve
Also called	Hogmanay (Scotland), Silvester (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine), Réveillon (Brazil)
Observed by	People around the world
Type	International
Significance	The final day of the Gregorian year
Date	December 31, climaxing at midnight
Celebrations	Reflections, Late-Night Partying, Family- Gatherings, Feasting, Present Exchanges, Fireworks
Related to	New Year's Day and Christmas Day

New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's Day. Hogmanay ( pronounced &mdash with the main stress on the last syllable is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. For other uses of similar terms see Sylvester The term silvester (alternately but uncommonly sylvester or sylwester Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Slovakia (long form Slovak Republic; Slovak:, long form, is a Landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) is a Country in southern Central Europe bordering Italy to the west Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. In France and some other French-speaking places a réveillon is a long dinner and possibly party held on the evenings preceding Christmas Day |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. New Year's Day is the first day of the Year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today New Year's Day is the first day of the Year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though

New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the observance of New Year's Day. New Year's Day is the first day of the Year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though In 21st-century Western practice, New Year's Eve is celebrated with parties and social gatherings spanning the transition of the year at midnight. Western culture (sometimes equated with Western Civilization) are terms which are used to refer to Cultures of European origin

Many cultures use fireworks and other forms of noise making in part of the celebration. A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes Some of the cities most well-known for their celebrations include Edinburgh, Sydney, Toronto, Moscow, Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and New York City. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Rio de Janeiro ("River of January" ˈhiw dʒi ʒʌˈnejɾu in Brazilian Portuguese, /ˈriːoʊ di ʒəˈnɛroʊ/ in English is the second largest city of Brazil Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The City of New York

New Year's Eve is a public non-working holiday in the following countries, among others: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Greece, the Philippines, and Venezuela. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the

Contents 1 Localized celebrations 1.1 Australia 1.2 Brazil 1.3 Canada 1.4 Denmark 1.5 Ecuador 1.6 France 1.7 Germany 1.8 Hong Kong 1.9 India 1.10 Indonesia 1.11 Japan 1.12 Lebanon 1.13 Mexico 1.14 New Zealand 1.15 Philippines 1.16 Russia and Former Soviet Union 1.17 Spain 1.18 Taiwan 1.19 Turkey 1.20 United Kingdom and Ireland 1.21 United States 1.21.1 Religious communities 1.21.2 Local celebrations 1.21.3 Random gunfire and unapproved fireworks use 1.21.4 Songs 1.22 Venezuela 2 See also 3 References

Localized celebrations

Australia

See also: Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve Fireworks

Each major city around Australia holds New Year’s Eve celebrations, usually accompanied by a fireworks display amongst other events. The Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve Fireworks are held every New Year's Eve over Sydney Harbour, centering at the Sydney Harbour Bridge. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Gloucester Park, a racecourse in central Perth, is the largest and most recognised display in Perth. Gloucester Park is a Harness racing course in Perth, Western Australia. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. In Brisbane 50,000 people annually gather at sites around the Brisbane River in the city to watch a fireworks display while events are held in the city and at Southbank. Brisbane ( is the state capital of Queensland. Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia and the most populous city of Queensland The Brisbane River is situated in southeast Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton South Bank is part of the Brisbane suburb of South Brisbane and is located on the south bank area of the Brisbane River. The two largest New Year's Eve celebrations in Australia are held in its two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 In Sydney the celebrations are usually accompanied by a theme which is displayed in light shows and effects on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 } The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a Steel arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business Over 1. 5 million people gathered around Sydney Harbour for the 2007-08 celebrations, making it the largest yet. Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney Australia The firework display was lauched from 7 barges on the water, 10 city buildings, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Bradfield Highway. } The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a Steel arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business The display streched over 6km and lasted around 14-16 minutes making it the largest New Year's Eve firework display on the planet. Melbourne's New Year's Eve waterworks are set on from the Yarra river and from city rooftops. There is an average attendance of around 500,000 people. There was a game of poker occuring in Melbourne's Crown Casino where the loser of each round received a pie in the face.

Brazil

New Year's Eve (Véspera de Ano Novo) is one of the most exuberant holidays in Brazil. In most Brazilian cities, even those of medium size, there is a massive display of fireworks after midnight, and special musical shows. The most famous celebration is at the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which has an average attendance of 2,500,000 people. Rio de Janeiro ("River of January" ˈhiw dʒi ʒʌˈnejɾu in Brazilian Portuguese, /ˈriːoʊ di ʒəˈnɛroʊ/ in English is the second largest city of Brazil The fireworks display last from 15 to 25 minutes and is followed by music shows set on several stages throughout the beach. In recent years, a display of fireworks has also been set-up in the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas district. Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, mostly known as "Lagoa" is a lagoon and district in the Lagoa, Zona Sul (South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by the districts

The city of São Paulo also has a famous worldwide event: the Saint Silvester Marathon (Corrida de São Silvestre), which traverses streets between Paulista Avenue and the downtown area. São Paulo ( is the largest city in Brazil, with its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world The Saint Silvester Road Race (official name in Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre is a long-distance running event the oldest and most prestigious street race in Brazil It is contested by athletes of many countries, including such Olympic stars as the Kenyan runner Paul Tergat, who won it five times. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Paul Kibii Tergat (born June 17, 1969) is a Kenyan professional athlete.

Canada

In Canada, New Year's traditions and celebrations vary from region to region. Generally, New Year's Eve (also known as New Year's Eve Day) in Canada is a social holiday, as in the neighbouring United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In major metropolitan areas such as Toronto, major celebrations with music and fireworks are often held at Midnight. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes In some areas, such as in rural Quebec, people ice fish and drink with their friends until the early hours of January 1st. Traditions from other countries are also common due to Canada's cultural makeup.

Denmark

The Danes usually celebrate New Year's Eve, or nytårsaften in Danish, with their families or, more commonly nowadays, with their close friends, with fireworks and champagne. The term Dane may refer to People with a Danish ancestral or ethnic identity whether living in Denmark, emigrants or the descendants of emigrants Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the The evening meal on New Year's Eve is often more exclusive, and often consists of three courses; traditional desserts include Marzipan ring cake (Danish: kransekage, lit. For the character in the animated internet cartoon see Homestar Runner. : ring cake). Danes often watch the Queen's New Year's Speech on television. The climax is when the clock on the Copenhagen City Hall reaches twelve, and the thousands of gathered people at the city square cheer and set off their fireworks. The present Copenhagen City Hall is situated on Rådhuspladsen (English City Hall Square) in central Copenhagen. As in Naziland the national television station DR1 broadcasts Dinner for One (in Danish: 90 års fødselsdagen (lit. DR1 is a Danish national Television channel, produced by the public service broadcaster, Danmarks Radio (DR Dinner for One, also known as The 90th Birthday, or by its corresponding German title Der 90 : The 90^th birthday)).

Ecuador

Ecuador celebrates a unique tradition on the last day of the year. Elaborate effigies, called Años Viejos (Old Years) are created to represent people and events from the past year. Often these include political characters or leaders that the creator of the effigy may have disagreed with. The dummies are made of straw, newspaper, and old clothes, with papier-mâché masks. Often they are also stuffed with fire crackers. At midnight the effigies are lit on fire to symbolize burning away of the past year and welcoming of the new year. The origin of the tradition is unknown, but is similar to that of the British Guy Fawkes Night. Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night, Cracker Night, Fireworks Night) is an annual celebration on the evening of the 5th of November It is possible the tradition began after a yellow fever epidemic left many dead. The corpses were then disposed of by burning.

Another well known tradition is the “Widow” who is usually a man dressed up as the widow of the Old Year effigy who has to make people laugh by pretending to cry. WIDOW is a full-length Album recorded by British rock band Ritual released in 1983 Then the people around will give this “widow” some sort of charity for her dying husband.

Other rituals are performed for the health, wealth, prosperity and protection of each member. Health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity Wealth derives from the old English word "weal" which means "well-being Wealth derives from the old English word "weal" which means "well-being These rituals are the following: Twelve grapes: Each person eats twelve grapes before midnight, making a wish with each grape. A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions

Yellow underwear: One of the most popular traditions, yellow underwear are said to attract positive energies for the New Year.

Suitcase: Walking around the block with the suitcase will bring the person the journey of their dreams.

France

The French call New Year's Eve la Saint-Sylvestre. It is usually celebrated with a feast called le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre. This feast customarily includes special dishes like foie gras and drinks like champagne. Champagne is a Sparkling wine produced by inducing the in-bottle Secondary fermentation of Wine to effect Carbonation. The celebration can be a simple, intimate dinner with friends and family or a much fancier ball (une soirée dansante).

On le Jour de l'An (New Year's Day), friends and family exchange New Year's resolutions and sometimes gifts. A New Year's Resolution is a Commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a Lifestyle change that is generally

The holiday period ends on January 6 for the Epiphany. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of On this day, they traditionally enjoy a type of cake that varies depending on where you are in France.

Germany

The Germans call the New Year's Eve Silvester. Since 1972, each New Year's Eve, German television has broadcast a short video, Dinner for One in English. Dinner for One, also known as The 90th Birthday, or by its corresponding German title Der 90 A punch line from the comedy sketch, "same procedure as every year", has become a catch phrase in Germany. ^[1] In Berlin the largest New Year's Eve celebration in all of Europe is celebrated by more than 1,000,000 people attending the festivities each year. A huge firework is started at the Brandenburg Gate. The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor is a former City gate and one of the main symbols of Berlin and Germany. The Germans spend much money on firecrackers each year.

Hong Kong

In China, although the celebrations of the Lunar New Year are not until a few months into the new year, celebrations of the Gregorian New Year are still held in some areas. The Times Square shopping mall in Hong Kong also holds their own send-off to the ball drop held at the Times Square in New York City. Times Square ( is a major shopping centre and office tower complex in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, New York City at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West The City of New York

India

Most celebrations take place in the larger cities of India like Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Bangalore ( officially Bengaluru ( Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು) is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial Events such as, live concerts and dances by bollywood stars, Families often get together to celebrate the New Year. Bollywood (बॉलीवूड بالی وڈ is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai -based Hindi-language Film industry in India

Indonesia

Indonesian people often celebrate New Year's Eve spectacularly. The Local Government of Jakarta often holds a music show, a new year's countdown, and fireworks party in New Year's Eve celebration. Jakarta (also DKI Jakarta) is the Capital and largest city of Indonesia. The events often held in Monumen Nasional, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. The Monumen Nasional (or Tugu Monas, the National Monument tower is a 450 ft (137 m tall tower in Central Jakarta, symbolizing the fight for Indonesia Taman Impian Jaya Ancol otherwise known as Ancol Dreamland is an integral part of Ancol Bay City, a popular Resort destination located along Jakarta Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII or "Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park" (literally translated is a culture-based Recreational area located in East Jakarta In Bandung, people celebrates New Year's Eve in Dago openfield and Pasupati Bridge, with their families, siblings, or their friends. Bandung (bʌndʊŋ is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's fourth largest city Trumpet and Fireworks is the most important things for Indonesian people to celebrate their new year's eve. A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes

Japan

Main article: Ōmisoka

The day is a preparation day to welcome toshigami (年神), new year's god. New Year's Eve, is the second-most important day in Japanese tradition because it is the final day of the old year and the eve of New Year's Day, likewise the most Therefore, traditionally, people clean their home and prepare Kadomatsu and/or Shimenawa to welcome the god before New Year's Eve. A is a traditional Japanese decoration of the New Year placed in pairs in front of homes supposedly to welcome ancestral spirits or Kami of the harvest are lengths of braided Rice Straw Rope used for Ritual purification in the Shinto religion

Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times ^[1] on midnight, during 31 December to 1 January. This bell rings are called as joya no kane (除夜の鐘) in Japanese which means "bell rings on new year eve's night. " Each bell rings represent 108 elements of bonnō (煩悩), defilements, or Kilesa in Sanskrit, which is said people have in their mind. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The bells are rung to repent 108 of the bonnō.

On TV, the Red and White Year-end Song Festival is an over 50-year-old tradition involving a singing contest between male and female teams of celebrity singers. more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual Music show on the New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both

Lebanon

In Lebanon, people celebrate the New Year's Eve by the use of firearms, and by watching or going to expansive celebrations where singers are present. Family meetings are also organized. People also go to clubs, restaurants and bars.

Mexico

Mexicans down a grape with each of the twelve chimes of the bell during the New Year countdown, while making a wish with each one. On New Year's Eve, those who want to find love in the new year wear red underwear and yellow if they want money. ^[1]

Other traditions include sweeping the dirt out, taking luggage outside as a symbol of future trips, hanging sheep dolls (mainly made out of wool) in the doorknob for prosperity, among others.

The celebrations are very similar to those of Spain (see below).

They make dolls out of old clothes

New Zealand

Auckland is 496. The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country 3 kilometres west of the International Date Line and thus is the first major city to see the beginning of the new year, however it is Gisborne that is the first city in the world to see the first sun rise for the year. For other uses of Gisborne see Gisborne (disambiguation. Gisborne (Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa is the name of a unitary authority in New Zealand In common with many other places it celebrates this with large street parties and fireworks displays. Elsewhere in New Zealand, local councils usually organise parties and street carnivals and fireworks displays. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island In recent years however, liquor bans have been imposed on many of the more popular areas due to disorder, vandalism and other anti-social behaviours.

During the day of New Year's Eve, in recent years, The Black Caps have played a One Day International cricket game in Queenstown. The New Zealand cricket team, also known as the Black Caps or BLACKCAPS, played their first Test in 1929-30 against England in Christchurch Queenstown is a Resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand 's South Island.

Philippines

Filipinos usually celebrate New Year's Eve with the company of family and close friends. Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. Traditionally, most households stage a dinner party named Media Noche in their homes. Typical dishes include pancit, Hamon and if the family could afford it, Lechon, which is usually considered as the centerpiece of the dinner table. Pancit or '"Pansit"' is a Stir-fried Noodle dish common in the Philippines. Lechón ( Tagalog: Litson and Cebuano: Inasal) is the Spanish word for Suckling pig. Barbecued food is also an integral part of the menu.

Most Filipinos follow a set of traditions that are typically observed during New Year's Eve. Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. Included among these traditions is the customary habit of wearing clothes with circular patterns like polka dots, this signifies the belief that circles attract money and fortune. Traditions also include the serving of circularly-shaped fruits, shaking of coins inside a metal casserole while walking around the house, jumping high which is believed to cause an increase in physical height and making loud noises to drive away "evil" spirits among others. Households also spend money to buy firecrackers and pyrotechnics that would be ignited at the strike of midnight. A firecracker (also known as a cracker, noise maker, banger or bunger) is a small Explosive device primarily designed to produce The term "pyrotechnics" can also be used for Fireworks events

Cities in urban areas are usually host to many New Year's Eve parties and countdown celebrations which are usually hosted by the private sector with the help of the local government. Notable parties include GMA Network's party at the Plaza Sulayman of Baywalk in Manila. Global Media Arts (GMA Network Incorporated ( a Philippine multi-media conglomerate is a Television network in the Philippines. The City of Manila These parties usually display their own fireworks spectacle.

Russia and Former Soviet Union

In Russia and former Soviet Union, New Year has the same cultural significance as Christmas has in the United States, but without the religious connotations. Russian and Ukrainian families traditionally install at home spruce trees, the equivalent of a Christmas tree. Spruce refers to Trees of the genus Picea, a genus of about 35 species of Coniferous Evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae In Eastern European beliefs the parallel of Santa Claus, there is the Ded Moroz, who looks similar to Santa Claus, except he wears robes, and instead of reindeer, he is pulled by a troika (i. In the culture of the Eastern Slavs the traditional character Ded Moroz (Дед Мороз plays a role similar to that of Santa Claus. e. a three-horse drawn sled). A sled, sledge or sleigh is a Vehicle with runners for sliding instead of wheels for rolling Families gather eating a large feast and reflecting on the past year. They have a large celebration, make toasts, and make wishes for a happy New Year. Presents are given on New Year's Eve to those the family knows, even if not close to the family. This is due to Russians being a closely-knit community, and it is seen as a taboo to not give presents to those the family associates with. Children stay up until midnight, waiting for the New Year. Also, during these celebrations many Russians tune to special New Year shows, which have become a long-standing tradition for the Russian TV.

New Year is often considered a "Pre-Celebration" for the Eastern Orthodox living in Eastern Europe, primarily in Russian and Ukraine, since Christmas is celebrated on January 6 according to the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

Spain

Spanish New Year's Eve (Nochevieja, or Fin de Año) celebrations usually begin with a family dinner, traditionally including shrimp and lamb or turkey. True shrimp are swimming decapod Crustaceans classified in the Infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh Lamb, hogget, and mutton are the meat of Domestic sheep. The meat of an animal in its first year is lamb; that of an older sheep is hogget A turkey is either of two extant Species of large Birds in the Genus Meleagris native to North America. Spanish people believe that wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve brings good luck. The actual countdown is primarily followed from the clock on top of the Casa de Correos building in Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. A countdown is the backward counting to indicate the seconds days etc Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput, or Clock is a gene which encodes proteins regulating Circadian rhythm. The Puerta del Sol (Spanish for "Gate of the Sun" is one of the most well known and busiest places in Madrid. Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. It is traditional to eat twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock. The Twelve Grapes ( Sp. Las doce uvas de la suerte, "The twelve grapes of luck" is a Spanish tradition since 1909 This tradition has its origins in 1909, when grape growers in Alicante thought of it as a way to cut down on the large production surplus they had had that year. ||-||} Alicante ( Spanish language) or Alacant ( Valencian) is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the Nowadays, the tradition is followed by almost every Spaniard, and the twelve grapes have become synonymous with the New Year. After the clock has finished striking twelve, people greet each other and toast with sparkling wine such as cava or champagne, or alternatively with cider. A toast is someone or something in Honor of which people usually have a drink the drink or honor itself or the act ( Pledge) of indicating that honor Champagne is a Sparkling wine produced by inducing the in-bottle Secondary fermentation of Wine to effect Carbonation. For the non-alcoholic beverage commonly known in the US as "cider" see Apple cider.

After the family dinner and the grapes, many young people attend New Year parties at pubs, discotheques and similar places (these parties are called cotillones de nochevieja, after the Spanish word cotillón, which refers to party supplies like confetti, party blowers, party hats, etc. A party is a Social gathering for Celebration and Recreation. A discothèque, diskoˈtɛk̚ compare the Spanish "discoteca" is an Entertainment venue or Club with recorded music played by "Discaires" Confetti (the singular form is confetto) is a multitude of pieces of Paper or metallic material which is A party hat is generally a playful Conical hat made with a rolled up piece of thin Cardboard, usually with designs printed on the outside and a long string of elastic ). Parties usually last until the next morning and range from small, personal celebrations at local bars to huge parties with guests numbering the thousands at hotel convention rooms. A bar (also called a Pub or Tavern) is a business that serves drinks especially Alcoholic beverages such as beer liquor and mixed drinks for consumption A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging usually on a short-term basis Early next morning, party attendees usually gather to have the traditional winter breakfast of ‘’chocolate con churros’’ (hot chocolate and fried pastry). Breakfast is the first meal of the day The word derives from the idea of break ing the '''fast''' of sleep Churros are fried-dough Pastry -based snacks, sometimes made from potato dough originated in Spain, and is popular in Latin America Hot chocolate (also known as hot cocoa, drinking chocolate or just cocoa) is a heated Beverage that typically consists of Frying is the Cooking of food in Oil or Fat, a technique that originated in ancient Egypt around 2500BC This article describes Pastry in food For the Distributed Hash Table system see Pastry_(DHT.

Taiwan

Many people in Taiwan celebrate the end of the year with concerts in most of the cities and recently using a big screen on the stage to communicate with cities around the island by shouting Happy New Year to each other. The most crowded city is the capital Taipei where most people gather around Taipei 101 located in the shopping and financial area. Taipei ( Taiwanese Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-pak-chhī Jhuyin Fuhao: ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄕˋ Hakka: Thòi-pet-sṳ has been the capital of Taipei 101 ( POJ: Tai-pak yat-leng-yat is a 101-floor Landmark Skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan People gather around the roads around Taipei 101 and together they shout from 10 to zero. Taipei 101 ( POJ: Tai-pak yat-leng-yat is a 101-floor Landmark Skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan With each number they count, one of the layers of Taipei 101 (eight floors per layer) lights up until zero, the fireworks shoot out from the top of each layer (8 layers excluding a layer under the antenna) in different directions.

Turkey

Numerous decorations and customs traditionally associated with Christmas and Bayrams find a secular translation in Turkish New Year's Eve celebrations, where homes and streets are lit up in glittering lights, ornamented trees, and garlands as well as various traditional Turkish aesthetic practices. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Small gifts are exchanged, and large family dinners are organized with family and friends, featuring roast turkey, a special Zante currant-pimento-dill iç pilav dish, dolma, hot börek, hummus, musakka and various other eggplant dishes, topped with warm pide, salep and boza. A turkey is either of two extant Species of large Birds in the Genus Meleagris native to North America. The Zante currant ( Vitis vinifera) or currant is a variety of Small, Sweet, seedless Grape named after Corinth (currant and Pimento is sometimes a synonym for Allspice. The Pimento, Pimiento, or Cherry Pepper is a variety of large red heart-shaped Dill ( Anethum graveolens) is a short-lived perennial herb. It is the sole species of the genus Anethum, though classified by some botanists Pilaf, also called polao, pilau or pulao, is a dish in which a grain such as Rice or cracked wheat is browned in oil and then cooked in a Dolma ( Greek:ντολμάς is a family of stuffed vegetable dishes in the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire and surrounding regions including Turkey Börek (also burek, boereg, and other variants on the name is a type of Pie popular throughout the former Ottoman Empire. For the biological matter in soil see Humus; for the band see Humus (band. Moussaka ( μουσακάς South Slavic: мусака /​ musaka, from musakka ultimately from مسقعة musaqqaʿa "chilled" is a traditional Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Pita (also called and less commonly known as pitta or pide (Turkish pitka (Bulgarian and pronounced "pitta" in Greek is an often round Salep (salep - sahlep from سحلب saḥlab referring to both orchid as well as the salep drink Boza is a popular Fermented beverage in Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, The Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia

Television and radio channels are known to continuously broadcast a variety of special New Year's Eve programs, while Municipalities all around the country organize fundraising events for the poor, in addition to celebratory public shows such as concerts and family-friendly events, as well as more traditional forms of entertainment such as the Karagöz and Hacivat shadow-theater and even performances by the Mehter - the Janissary Band that was founded during the days of the Ottoman Empire. A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a City, Town, or Village, or Karagöz (meaning blackeye in Turkish) and Hacivat (also written Hacivad) are the lead characters of the traditional Turkish Karagöz (meaning blackeye in Turkish) and Hacivat (also written Hacivad) are the lead characters of the traditional Turkish Shadow play (Chinese 皮影戏 pi ying xi or shadow puppetry is an ancient form of Storytelling and Entertainment using opaque often articulated figures Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military Marching band in the world The Janissaries (derived from Ottoman Turkish ينيچرى ( yeniçeri) meaning "new soldier" comprised Infantry units that formed The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish

Public and private parties with large public attendances are organized in a number of cities and towns, particularly in the largest metropolitan areas such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana and Antalya, with the biggest celebrations taking place in Istanbul's Taksim, Beyoğlu, Nişantaşı and Kadıköy districts and Ankara's Kızılay Square, which generally feature dancing, concerts, laser and lightshows as well as the traditional countdown and fireworks display. A party is a Social gathering for Celebration and Recreation. Istanbul (historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see the other Names of Istanbul) is the largest city of Turkey Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after İstanbul. İzmir, historically Smyrna, is the third most populous city of Turkey and the country's largest port after İstanbul. Adana (the ancient Antioch in Cilicia or Antioch on the Sarus) is the capital of Adana Province in Turkey. Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Taksim ( Turkish for "division" was the objective of Turkish Cypriots who supported a partition of the island of Cyprus into Turkish and Greek Beyoğlu is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople) by the Nişantaşı is a quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, comprising neighbourhoods like Teşvikiye Osmanbey Maçka and Pangaltı See Kadikoi for the village on the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine.

United Kingdom and Ireland

In Scotland it is customary to wait until the cannon is fired at Edinburgh Castle, this is a sign that the new year has begun.

There are also major celebrations across Scotland where it is known as Hogmanay. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Hogmanay ( pronounced &mdash with the main stress on the last syllable is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the The traditional song Auld Lang Syne was written by Robert Burns, a Scottish poet. "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish Poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song ( Roud # 6294 Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796 (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire There are large street parties held in the major cities and Edinburgh and Glasgow are particularly renowned for their celebrations. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom The Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party is attended by people from all over the world.

London's celebrations are the world's most covered, claimed by many to be the greatest public display of all the world's new year celebrations, with a £10 million firework display and pyrotechnics event, seen across the entire city. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Since the construction of the London Eye, it has been the centre-point of a huge ten-minute fireworks display each year, illuminated with coloured lasers. The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, is the tallest (its height is) Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist At the start of 2005, fireworks were launched from the wheel itself for the first time.

Other large cities in Britain such as Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham all have large celebrations. Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Leeds ( is located on the River Aire in West Yorkshire, England Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um

Dublin has a big New Year's celebration. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. The display is along the River Liffey. The Liffey ( An Life in Irish) is a River in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Fireworks are launched from boats in the Liffey or alongside the river.

Other major cities in Ireland such as Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford have large New Year's celebrations. Cork (Corcaigh is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland 's third most populous city after Dublin and Belfast Limerick (pronounced /ˈlɪmrɪk/ Luimneach in Irish) is a city and the county seat of County Limerick in the Province of Munster Galway (Gaillimh is the only city in the province of Connacht in Ireland. Waterford ( or Windy fjord;) is a city in Ireland. It is the primary city of the South East region and the fifth largest in the country

Tallaght has a major un-organised display for New Year's Eve. Tallaght (pronounced /'tælæ/ Tamhlacht is the largest town and county seat, of South Dublin County, Ireland.

United States

In the United States, New Year's Eve is a major social holiday. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of One of the top destination cities for New Year's Eve from 2003 to 2006 has been New York, according to hotwire. com. [1] Las Vegas is also attracting a large number of New Year's Eve party goers with the famous Las Vegas strip being closed to vehicles and buses.

In the past 100 years the "ball dropping" on top of One Times Square in New York City, broadcast to all of America (and rebroadcast in many other countries), is a major component of the New Year celebration. Each year on New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square in Manhattan, New York City, a Time ball made of crystal and electric lights is raised For other New York Times Buildings see New York Times Building (disambiguation One Times Square (also known as' 1475 Broadway', The City of New York The 1,070-pound, 6-foot-diameter Waterford crystal ball located high above Times Square is lowered, starting at 23:59:00 and reaching the bottom of its tower at the stroke of midnight (00:00:00). Waterford Crystal is a Trademark brand of crystal Glassware produced in Waterford, Ireland, and in recent years (largely as sub-brands Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, New York City at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West This is repeated for all four time zones in the continental US. It is sometimes referred to as "the big apple" like the city itself; the custom derives from the time signal that used to be given at noon in harbors. The Big Apple is a nickname or Moniker for New York City. It was first popularized in the 1920s by John J

From 1981 to 1988, New York City dropped an enlarged apple in recognition of its nickname. Since 1972, Dick Clark has hosted televised coverage of the event called Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, shown on ABC. Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark (born November 30, 1929) is an American Television, Radio personality, Game show host Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve is a Television program that airs every New Year's Eve on ABC. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. From 1956 to 1976 on CBS, Guy Lombardo (who died in 1977) and his Royal Canadians serenaded the United States from the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue in New York City. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (born June 19, 1902 in London Ontario; died November 5, 1977) was a Canadian The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel is a famously luxurious hotel in New York Park Avenue (formerly Fourth Avenue) is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City Borough of Manhattan The City of New York The Royal Canadians continued on CBS until 1978, and Happy New Year, America replaced it in 1979, continuing until 1995. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. The song Auld Lang Syne has become a popular song to sing at midnight on New Year's Eve. "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish Poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song ( Roud # 6294

Religious communities

Many religious communities have a tradition of New Year's Eve being known as "Watch Night. " The faithful of the community congregate in worship services commencing New Year's Eve night and continuing past midnight into the new year. The Watch Night is a time for giving thanks for the blessings of the outgoing year and praying for divine favor during the upcoming year. Though held by some to have begun in the African American community, watch night can actually be traced back to a sect of Christians known as the Moravians who held the first Watchnight Service in Herrnhut, Saxony, in 1732. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings This page is about the Moravian Church globally For information about the church in a particular geographic area use the links at Organisation below Herrnhut ( Sorbian: Ochranow; Czech: Ochranov) is a municipality in the district of Görlitz in the Free State of Saxony, The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany. The practice was later adopted by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. John Wesley (ˈwɛslɪ ( – March 2, 1791) was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian who was the founder of the (Evangelical Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Watch Night did take on special significance to African Americans on New Year's Eve 1862, however, as slaves eagerly awaited the arrival of January 1, 1863 -- the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Emancipation Proclamation consists of two executive orders issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. This particular New Year's Eve became known as "Freedom's Eve. "^[2]

Local celebrations

Many cities in the United States of America have their own local version of the celebration, even while keeping an eye on New York, and the New York-centric aspect of the holiday is diminishing. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Many cities, echoing the New York tradition of ball drop, also descend or lower an object (or an enlarged representation of an object), usually one of local significance. On New Year's Eve in the USA it has become tradition to drop a Time ball to commemorate the New Year For examples, Orange County, California, and Orange County, New York, both drop large oranges (Orange County, Florida, tried it briefly, but has since ceased doing so). Orange County is a county in Southern California, United States. Orange County is a County located in the US state of New York. An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn Orange County is a County located in the US state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA. There are also examples of things going up. In Seattle the countdown is done by raising the Space Needle's elevator and launching fireworks up the side of the tower until both reach the top at midnight. The Space Needle (often called just "the Needle" by locals is a Tower in Seattle Washington, and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest

Further information: List of objects dropped on New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is a major event in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the Las Vegas Strip is shut down as several hundred thousand people party. On New Year's Eve in the USA it has become tradition to drop a Time ball to commemorate the New Year The Las Vegas metropolitan area includes the Las Vegas Valley a 600-square-mile (1600 km² basin and surrounding areas that is part of Clark County in southern The Las Vegas Strip (also known as The Strip) is an approximately 4 mile (6 New Year's Eve is traditionally the busiest day of the year at Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California, where the parks stay open late and the usual nightly fireworks are supplemented by an additional New-Year's-Eve-specific show at midnight. Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited and largest recreational resort in the world containing four Theme parks two Water parks twenty-three themed hotels In New Orleans, Louisiana, another of the most popular New Year celebration venues in North America, similar crowds of hundreds of thousands gather in the French Quarter, particularly on Bourbon and Canal Street, to celebrate the New Year. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest and most famous neighborhood in the city of New Orleans Louisiana. Bourbon Street (Rue Bourbon is a famous and historic street that runs the length of the French Quarter in New Orleans Louisiana. Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans Louisiana.

Many cities also celebrate First Night, a non-alcoholic family-friendly New Year's Celebration, generally featuring performing artists, community events, parades, and fireworks displays. For "the law of the first night" see Droit de seigneur First Night is an outdoor artistic and cultural celebration on New Year's First Night began in Boston in 1976 and is now found in over 60 cities nationwide. A similar celebration is Providence, Rhode Island's Bright Night Providence,and an artist run arts celebration that started when Providence's First Night went bankrupt in 2003.

Random gunfire and unapproved fireworks use

In several areas of the U. S. , particularly major urban areas, New Year celebrations are punctuated by random celebratory gunfire which could potentially cause injuries and/or deaths. Celebratory gunfire is the shooting of a Firearm into the air in celebration Police departments in many cities, aided by gun safety organizations, have attempted to crack down on this practice through technology [2] [3] and stiffer penalties Archive copy at the Internet Archive [4]. Police are agents or agencies usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimatized use of force (For discussions on politics concerning firearms and gun safety see Gun politics. The Internet Archive ( IA) is a Nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining an on-line Library and archive of Web and

A New Year's Eve tradition in Hawaii and other areas is the un-condoned use of fireworks by local residents. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes Local governments have begun to severely limit this practice in recent years for numerous reasons, including its effect on people with breathing problems, thrill-seeking but dangerous twists on fireworks use (e. g. hanging fireworks from power lines), and unintended fires. Legislation approved by the Hawaii State Legislature has implemented a system of permits for fireworks use, yet this system is still frequently circumvented by locals. Legislation (or " Statutory law " is law which has been promulgated (or " Enacted quot by a Legislature or other Governing The Hawaii State Legislature is the state legislature of the U

Songs

There are a few popular songs associated with New Year's Eve and it is common to hear them on the radio on, or shortly before, December 31.

• "Auld Lang Syne" by Guy Lombardo. "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish Poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song ( Roud # 6294 Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (born June 19, 1902 in London Ontario; died November 5, 1977) was a Canadian
• "It Was A Very Good Year" by Frank Sinatra.
• "It's Just Another New Year's Eve" by Barry Manilow. Barry Manilow (born June 17, 1943) is an American Singer-songwriter, Musician, arranger, producer and conductor
• "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" recorded by various singers, most of them female.
• "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg
• "Happy New Year" by ABBA
• "The New Year" by Death Cab For Cutie
• "A Long December" by Counting Crows

Venezuela

In Venezuela, many of the traditions are very similar to the ones from Spain, with an over-emphasis in traditions who supposedly will bring good luck in the year forthcoming. " Happy New Year " is a popular song by Swedish pop group ABBA from their 1980 album Super Trouper. Death Cab for Cutie is an American Indie rock band formed in Bellingham, Counting Crows is a Rock band originating from Berkeley California. Those who want to find love in the New Year are supposed to wear yellow underwear on New Year's Eve; those who want money must have a bill of high value when toast, those who want to travel must go out home while carrying some luggage, and so on.

Usually, people listen to radio specials, which give a countdown and announce the New Year according to the legal hour in Venezuela, and, in Caracas, following the twelve bells from the Cathedral of Caracas. Caracas (kaˈɾakas is the Capital and largest city of Venezuela. During these special programs is a tradition to broadcast songs about the sadness on the end of the year, being popular favorites "Viejo año" ("Old year") by Gaita group Maracaibo 15 and "Cinco pa' las 12" ("Five minutes before twelve") who was versioned by several popular singers like Nestor Zavarce, Nancy Ramos and José Luis Rodríguez El Puma. Maracaibo 15 is a Venezuelan gaita group Founded in 1974 by singer Betulio Medina in Caracas, the name of this group reflects that it was formed José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma" (born January 14, 1943 in Caracas) is a Venezuelan singer and actor who has recorded many international The unofficial hymn for the first minutes of the New Year is "Año Nuevo, Vida Nueva" ("New Year, New Life"), by the band Billo's Caracas Boys.

See also

• New Year
• New Year's Day
• Chinese New Year
• Persian New Year
• Ōmisoka (Japan)
• Áramótaskaupið (Iceland)
• First Night
• Hogmanay
• Malanka (Ukraine)
• New Year Timelapse from Denmark
• New Year's Eve Countdown Clock

References

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