New Year's Eve is a time of wonder and magic all over the world, but every country celebrates it in its own way. Residents of different countries talk about how they say goodbye to the old year and celebrate the new year in different parts of the world.
Brazil
In Brazil, the most important thing on New Year's Eve is family: people try to gather with relatives and spend time in warmth and comfort. On the eve of the holiday, schools and universities actively hold pre-holiday events: theatrical performances, songs, dances and the traditional appearance of the Brazilian Santa Claus - Papai Noel. One of the main Brazilian traditions is to send letters to Papai Noel with cherished wishes that adults and children want to fulfill. In Brazil, there is even a special school for Santa Claus, most of whom are elderly people with real gray beards.
Christmas dinner in Brazil is a veritable culinary fireworks. The main dishes are roast turkey or suckling pig, palmite pie, tropical fruits and, of course, feijoada , a masterpiece of local cuisine.
On New Year's Eve, Brazilian young people usually gather on the beach to admire the fireworks. In Rio de Janeiro, an impressive, often floating, 85-meter-tall, 540-tonne Christmas tree is being installed, decorated with millions of lamps and glowing tubes.
During this period, Brazil turns into a country of carnivals and parades, Latin American melodies sound everywhere, inviting everyone to an endless dance, and the tradition of jumping over three waves on the beach and making wishes makes the holiday even more magical and fun.
Israel
Unlike many countries where Christmas and New Year are the main winter holidays, in Israel these dates are not traditionally celebrated. The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, is celebrated in September. The symbols of the holiday are pomegranate, apple and honey: traditionally, to make the year sweeter, on the eve of the holiday, an apple is dipped in honey and eaten.
In kindergartens and schools, the generally accepted New Year and Christmas are not celebrated, in Israel preserve the traditions of their historical homeland: they organize New Year's performances, New Year's parties and matinees in cultural centers, despite the fact that in most cities it is forbidden to decorate a Christmas tree.
Recently, the situation regarding the official celebration of the New Year in Israel began to change, January 1 became an official day off. Many Israelis are also beginning to incorporate New Year's Eve elements into their traditions, with private shops selling New Year's symbols.
Instead of the traditional Christmas and New Year, Israel celebrates Hanukkah on December 25, a holiday that lasts until January 2. This is a time of holidays, gifts and a variety of performances, and children are given not only toys, but also money, part of which they must donate to charity. During this period, doughnuts are sold everywhere, which are rare at other times of the year. Families gather in the evenings to play dreidel , a four-sided spinning top that is a symbol of the holiday.
France
During the New Year holidays, France turns into a magical country, where every corner is filled with traditions, decorations and festive mood! The celebration here begins long before the New Year and continues throughout the month, combining both local and international traditions.
From December 6, St. Nicholas' Day, to January 6, King's Day, the French are immersed in the celebration. The streets of Paris, decorated from mid-November, turn into a real fairy tale, Christmas markets, children's attractions, ice rinks, and music create a festive atmosphere. Sweets are given to children, generous donations are given to the poor, festive masses are held in churches, and in homes, parents set up nativity scenes for their children, hang wreaths with mistletoe. The French gather in a family circle, where the hostess traditionally prepares a turkey stuffed with chestnuts and a "sweet log" (local cake) as a dessert.
Schools in France don't pay much attention to New Year's Eve celebrations. They can organize a visit to the Christmas market or invite St. Nicholas, who will delight the children with sweets, but the emphasis is still on studying.
During the New Year and Christmas periods, France demonstrates an amazing fusion of traditions and cultures of different peoples. Holidays here are not just a celebration of the New Year, but a whole month of magic, family comfort, generosity and joy: during this period, the country is filled with a special atmosphere in which everyone can feel part of a large and friendly holiday family.
New Year and Christmas in different countries of the world are completely different, but at the same time similar holidays. They are celebrated according to the culture and traditions of different peoples, but at the same time they unite people from all over the world with a common sense of joy and anticipation.
