Christmas holidays in different countries have something in common: farewell to the old year and hopes that troubles remain in the past, and in the new year things will get better. But in spite of this each country has its own traditions .
The custom in Romania is to bake Christmas cakes with little surprises inside, such as coins, porcelain figurines, rings, pepper pods. The fact of founding of ring in sweets should bring a lot of happiness. A pod of pepper will make happy those who did not get it.
In France on the New Year a bean is put in the cake for luck. A traditional New Year's gift in the countryside is the wheel .
In Scotland on New Year's Eve ignited tar is put into a barrel and people roll it through the streets. Scots consider it to be a symbol of the burning of the old year. This event opens the way for the new year. The first man that enters the house after the New Year brings happiness or failure. Dark-haired man with a gift is for luck.
In Wales while going on the celebration of the New Year the tradition is to grab a piece of coal and throw it in the New Year's Eve fireplace. It demonstrates the friendly intention of the visitors. At midnight you need to open the door widely to release the old and let the new year.
New Year's Eve is called "Golden week" In Japan. During this period of time organizations and companies, government agencies, large department stores don’t work. On 31 of December even banks are closed at 12 and the first three days of the New Year they don’t work. A compulsory custom of seeing off of the old year includes the organization of events and visits to restaurants. At the moment when the New Year comes Japanese are beginning to laugh. They believe that laughter will bring them luck. Bells ring 108 times in the churches. Japanese believe that with each stroke, all bad things are leaving them. Japanese hang bunches of straw in front of the house to fight back the evil spirits. In the houses one puts rice cakes and tangerines on top of them, that symbolize happiness, health and longevity .
In Cuba the clock strikes only 11 times on New Year. Since the 12th stroke falls just on New Year, the clock is let have rest to celebrate this holiday with others. At midnight Cubans pour water through the open window into the street. They wish each other the New Year that is as bright and clear as water.
In Italy on New Year’s Eve it’s a custom to throw out the old stuff and buy new one instead. If there are no old things, you have to throw out the new ones; otherwise happiness will pass through the house.
In Greece citizens take a stone with them and leave it at the door of the house where they celebrate the New Year. If the stone is heavy they say: "Let the wealth of the owner be as huge as this stone". If the stone is small, they wish: "Let owner’s difficulties be as small as the stone ".
In Burma and Thailand people celebrate New Year in the most hot period of the year, so during the meeting on the street they sprinkle each other with water . It’s like wishes of happiness in the New Year .
Bulgarians turn off the light for a few minutes during the celebration. These moments are called moments of New Year's kisses and darkness keeps their mystery.
Mongolian New Year takes place near the New Year’s tree, however, Mongolian Santa Claus comes to kids dressed as shepherds. At a Christmas party people play games that test agility and courage.
The New Year's table.
Each meal on New Year's table in different countries and at different people has its special meaning and significance.
In France holiday is impossible if there is no traditional roast turkey on New Year's table. But on New Year's table of Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia there are no dishes with geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys. They believe that there shouldn’t be a bird on the New Year’s table as the happiness would fly with it.
In Poland there are exactly twelve dishes on New Year's table. And no meat! Mushroom soup or borsch, barley porridge with prunes, galushki with oil and chocolate cake for dessert. Fish is a symbol of marital happiness and prosperity in many countries. The Czech Republic and Slovakia lay the table in the same way. However, they prefer pearl porridge, and strudel, the pie with apples, which is the pride of every good housewife .
In Germany on New Year one serves brightly colored tray of apples, nuts, raisins and pies. The symbolism is the following: apple - the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, nuts with their hard shell and a delicious core symbolize the mystery and difficulty of life. In Germany people say : "God gave a nut and the man should split it".
The vine is a symbol of wealth and happy family in many countries, such as Spain, Portugal, Cuba. Therefore at midnight residents of these countries eat twelve grapes as many as strokes of the clock. With each vine they think of one wish, so there are 12 wishes for each month.
In Japan on New Year dishes are prepared with food that is considered to be lucky. Seaweed brings joy, roasted chestnuts brings success in business, peas and beans - health, boiled fish - peace and good spirits , herring roe - happy family and many kids. In Japanese families Christmas meal is quiet, with no loud conversations and drinking songs. Nothing should distract from thinking about what would happen in the coming year.
Christmas gifts
The rake to rake happiness is popular New Year's gift in Japan. Rakes of bamboo, kumade are made in size from 10 cm to 1.5 m and are decorated with various figures and talismans .
In the Italian province there is an old tradition: on the 1st of January in the morning one should bring home "new water", that is taken from source before sunrise. "If you have nothing to present to friends – give them 'new water' with olive branch". It is believed that it brings luck.
On New Year's Eve in Vietnam people give their friends a branch of almost blowing peach - Khao Tao . In Sudan a green unripe walnut is considered to be a sign of happiness in the New Year.