New Year traditions vary from state to state and country to country. Many of the customs are for pure enjoyment, while others are meant to bring luck in the coming year or prevent evil from occurring.
Parades
The Tournament of Roses parade takes place every New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. This parade preceeds the traditional Rose Bowl college football tournament. The Junkanoo parade, with a walking band, is held in the Bahamas, while in Napal, the parade is a four day celebration. In Thailand, the parade includes costumes of dragons and other large animals.
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
New Year's Day is January 1
-
Fact:
In 2008, the New Year falls on a Thursday
-
Fact:
The advent of New Year's resolutions is attributed to the Babylonians, when gave back any items that they had borrowed during the previous yearHEB.com: New Year's Traditions
-
Fact:
The southern U.S. folk believe in eating black-eyes peas so that they will have financial success
-
Fact:
Other potential luck-bringing foods are pork, sauerkraut and lentil beans
-
Fact:
Parades are common and elaborate
-
Fact:
College football tournaments, such as the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl and Gator Bowl, are traditionally held on New Year's Day
-
Fact:
A baby is used to symbolize rebirthEnglish-Zone.com: New Year Traditions
-
Fact:
Auld Lang Syne is a traditional New Year song made popular in the U.S. by band leader Guy Lombardo
-
Fact:
The televised countdown to midnight is a tradition that started with Guy Lombardo and was continued by Dick Clark on his New Year's Rockin Eve telecast
