New year is generally associated with the first of January and is widely celebrated with parties and watching and lighting parties the day before. There is also a countdown on new years eve and many begin to set their new year's resolutions.
Not every country, however, celebrates new year like this.
In Spain there is a tradition of eating a grape on the countdown to new year.
Maria,whose parents are originally from Madrid, mentioned: “Every year at midnight I eat twelve grapes and after eating each one you have to make a wish. It happens so fast and it's really hard to think of twelve wishes!!”
She also described not knowing why this was done in particular but said “it is a custom we do every year and it is like a tradition.”
The Chinese New Year is a festival celebrated at different days each year.
This year it will be on the 16th February.
At the eve of the new year, having a dinner is the most notorious part of the festivities. The food is comprised of special meats and is regarded as an offering for the new year.
Kim Lee, speaks of “eating dumplings” in the new year and “gifts in red envelopes from the older people” of his family. The dragons seen in the celebration are to ward away evil spirits, according to him.
Jewish new year is celebrated for two days and is called Rosh Hashanah. It is considered the start of the year and celebrates the day Adam and Eve were created. This is significant because they are considered the first humans in the Torah.
Festivities are comprised of sounding a horn called a shofar and eating food like apples dipped in honey, in the hopes of having a sweet new year.
The Thai New Year's is called the Songkran. It occurs on the 13 April every year. Traditions include going to temples and giving food as an offering to the Buddhist monks. water is poured on the statues and people to symbolise purity and cleansing of sins and bad luck.
Water fights are also carried out as part of the festivities of the Thai new year.
