What if you could spend New Year’s anywhere in the world? Which country would you choose?
After this tumultuous 2020, for many of us it will be quite a relief to ring in the New Year and hope for a more peaceful experience in the coming year. Most of us have been challenged in ways we have never been or could never have forecasted.
Due to COVID-19, many New Year’s events are being scaled down. Check with your local listings before finalizing your travel plans.
To be hopeful that things will be different and more normal for next year, we will focus on how various parts of the world have traditionally celebrated the start of the New Year and some of the various traditions. So, get ready to explore New Years Eve around the world!
When traveling overseas and especially for various adventuresome outdoor activities, it is highly recommended that tourists use Travel Insurance. Good Neighbor Insurance is the perfect company to meet your insurance needs with helpful and responsive customer service.
We here at Good Neighbor understand it’s important to take time to travel, and we’re here to help protect you. Make sure you have great travel insurance wherever you journey to in the world.
HISTORY OF NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS
Some of the earliest documented festivities to bring in the new year go back around 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. The holiday was originally observed with an enormous religious festival named Akitu.
It happened in late March when there was an equal amount of sunlight and darkness, which signaled the start of the new year. For 11 days, there was a different ritual that was carried out. These rituals involved promises to earn the approval of the gods to ensure a good start for the new year.
As increasingly sophisticated calendars were developed around the world, various dates took hold based upon agricultural or astronomical events. Eventually, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, which resembles the modern Gregorian calendar that is prevalent around the world today.
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NEW YORK – TIMES SQUARE
We will start with perhaps the most iconic tradition in the world and that is the dropping of a giant ball in New York City’s Times Square which has become an international phenomenon and the world’s symbolic welcome to the New Year.
The original celebration in Times Square started in 1904, the same year the first subway line was opened. The first big bash commemorated the opening of the New York Times new headquarters, The Times Tower.
There was an all-day street festival leading to a fireworks display that eventually turned into a 700 -pound iron and wood ball that was lowered from the tower flagpole at midnight to signal the beginning of the new year.
–TIMES SQUARE – As it is a global tradition over the years, the world still holds its breath as estimates of one million people turn out to get a glimpse of the bustling energy and the big countdown before the ball drop at Times Square.
You get treated to star-studded musical performances, a spectacular pyrotechnic display, balloons, confetti and surrounded by what seems hundreds of thousands of your closest friends. With all of the megastar performances, people are singing and dancing. At midnight there is a chorus of “New York, New York” where emotions run high and many people shed tears of joy.
For those people not wanting to deal with the immense crowds at Times Square, other popular spots to usher in the New Year include:
–WALK ACROSS BRIDGE – You can take an unforgettable walk across the Brooklyn Bridge as the clock approaches midnight and take in The Statue of Liberty, Chrysler Building, Manhattan Bridge and other landmarks. You will get to observe the fireworks in near Liberty Island in New York harbor. It is even possible to catch a glimpse of the Staten Island fireworks off in the distance.
–BOAT CRUISE – There are some wonderful boat cruise where you can get some tremendous views of the Statue of Liberty. It is surrounded by fireworks and you will get a wonderful view of the southern tip of Manhattan surrounded by a sparkling sky.
–CENTRAL PARK – Although you can observe fireworks from all over the city, Central Park has its own magnificent display as fireworks are launched at Bow Bridge in the middle of the park. People enjoy bringing hot chocolate and coffee to settle in and enjoy the night.
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
As one of the first time zone cities to bring in the New Year, the world cameras are focused on Sydney and you can join more than a million people surrounding Sydney Harbour to ring in the new year.
–HARBOUR FESTIVITIES – There are many choices at Sydney Harbour to have a magical night, including fireworks displays, celebration cruise boats, harbour picnics, dance parties and an opera performance.
Past year’s festivities have consisted of aerial displays across the sky, a fire tug water cannon presentation and a smoking ceremony conducted by traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Eucalyptus smoke is used to cleanse the harbour of all negative spirits.
—FAMILY FIREWORKS – The magnificent fireworks start at 9:00 pm and the large display show begins at midnight. The fireworks are launched from a row of barges on either side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They explode off the arches, catwalk and roadway of the bridge.
You also get to enjoy the ‘waterfall’ fireworks that cascade down from the bridge. At the stroke of midnight, another huge fireworks display begins and is even more intense than the earlier one.
–CRUISE– A favorite way to welcome in the New Year among both tourists and the locals, is a Sydney New Year Harbour Cruise. Cruise packages can include canapes, dinner, beverages, live entertainment and a party atmosphere. The cruises all dock at a great viewing area for the first show of fireworks and then take off on a full tour of the harbour before returning to the perfect viewing area for the spectacular midnight display.
–OPERA -At the Sydney Opera House, dress up and get ready to enjoy special musical pieces that usually include the Opera Gala and La Boheme. Opera legends like Verdi, Puccini and Rossini are showcased for an unforgettable night. On top of that, you can savor the magnificent fireworks display during the interval.
–GARDEN PICNIC – Ring in the New Year at the Royal Botanical Garden and get a magnificent viewing point for the fireworks. You can take advantage of a picnic themed experience at the Lawn with the View as you get a front row area to see the fireworks.
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REYKJAVIK, ICELAND
What is New Year’s Eve in jaw-dropping Iceland like?
Icelanders love to celebrate new year’s and go all out to enjoy the holiday. Tourists can feel a tremendous sense of warmth, community and festive spirit that emanates throughout Iceland.
–FIREWORKS ALL NIGHT LONG – Be prepared to see more fireworks than you could ever imagine. Icelanders are obsessed with fireworks and shoot them off for a couple of days before New Year’s Eve until the 6th of January.
One great aspect of the fireworks in Iceland is that they start early in the evening and go on for hours late into the night. Rather than a coordinated display at midnight, Icelanders set off fireworks all evening long.
You will get a chance to be a part of the bonfires, bright lights and loud bangs going off all over the area. Thundering bands go on for hours as the locals are hugging, kissing and drinking champagne while they enjoy the wonderful extravaganza.
–BONFIRES EVERYWHERE – One of the most important rituals is to attend one of the more than a dozen neighborhood bonfires in Reykjavik, along with close to 100 across the country. They are an important event and part of the culture to reflect on the past year and spread well wishes for the coming year. It’s a great way to get to know the locals as you can mingle with families, friends and neighbors as they dance by the fire and sing many songs.
–SATIRICAL SKETCH – Most of the bonfires are lit around 8:30pm and last until 10:30 when the streets grow quiet, as it is time to go home and watch Aramotaksaupid. It is a yearly tradition to watch this satirical sketch that makes fun of various news headlines over the past year and is quite popular with the locals.
–EVEN MORE FIREWORKS – As soon as the sketch on television is finished, people rush back to the streets to shoot off more fireworks. As it reaches 1:00, most people go to house parties and some go to various bars and clubs to continue the celebration.
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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
New Years in Kuala Lumpur is one of the most important events of the year and it is a top location in Southeast Asia to spend New Year’s. You can count on some magnificent fireworks along with lively street fairs and massive parties that take you to the countdowns.
–KLCC PARK– If you want to be a part of one of the largest and well-known venues, you can celebrate New Year’s Eve at the KLCC Park, where you will be treated to a concert with a variety of live performances from artists around the world ending with some dazzling fireworks. You will enjoy the beauty of Lake Symphony and take a walk around the park or relax at restaurants and bars in the area. Enjoy the illuminated Petronas Twin Towers that dominate the skyline.
–TWIN TOWERS – While you are in the area, be sure to visit the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, where you can ascend to level 86 and observe the loft spires of the Twin Towers and view the amazing panoramic view of the area. The two skyscrapers are the largest twin towers in the world.
–AQUARIUM ADVENTURE – While enjoying all of the New Year’s festivities, a must-see marvel is Aquaria KLCC located right near the Twin Towers. You will discover an aquatic adventure unlike anything you have ever seen before. You will be amazed at the more than 5,000 exhibits of aquatic land-bound creatures spread over a huge 60,000 sq ft space.
It was designed to be a journey of water that takes you from land to sea. You will encounter misty highlands, rivers and the rainforest along with mangroves that take you to the coral reefs leading to the blue sea. It is located at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on the Concourse Level. It takes almost 2 hours to tour the aquarium. You will not be disappointed.
–STREET PARTY – If you want to experience some nonstop fun, a great choice to visit is the Changkat Bukit Bintang where the streets are filled with lights and a spirited atmosphere. Experience one gigantic party and relish the shopping, hotels, architecture and entertainment. You can enjoy the live music with house, R&B, trance and hip-hop to bring in the New Year.
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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
One of the most anticipated times of the year in Cape Town is New Year’s Eve. It offers many choices to ring in the New Year and a huge amount of attractions that are unique to this city.
–Fireworks – Enjoy one of the best New Year’s Eve parties in South Africa at the V & A Waterfront. There are a variety of outdoor entertainment zones where you will be fully entertained throughout the night.
There are several entertainment choices, including carnival characters, dancers, circus performances, roaming musicians, bands and floats. And if that is not enough fun, you can watch performances of pop and jazz, rock, roaming magicians, pop-up opera, comedians and be amazed at the belly and fire dancers. As the clock strikes 12, there are more than 80 food trucks on hand for your midnight snack.
–Picnic – For a more quiet night and Cape Town’s pride and joy, a drive-up Signal Hill near Table Mountain would be a good choice. After you reach the top of the hill, enjoy a picnic basket and sip a glass of a South African brand of bubbly as you reflect on the year and watch the Waterfront fireworks from a great view of the night time skyline of Cape Town.
–Cruise – Take a cruise on Table Bay Harbor with an extra special catamaran or schooner where you will get a wonderful view of the fireworks display at midnight.
–Concert – Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is an all-natural preserve and one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. The Kirstenbosch summer concert series is going full force in December and its peak time is on New Year’s with live music by local artists. There is some beautiful summer music which many dance to. Bring a picnic lunch and have a wonderful evening.
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LONDON, ENGLAND
Getting a chance to celebrate New Year’s Eve in London is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You will get everything from fireworks, sell-out club and bar events and plenty of action and fun out on the streets.
–FIREWORKS DISPLAY – Of all places to be in London on New Year’s Eve, a massive fireworks display takes place on the River Thames along the South Bank and Victoria Embankment.
Here you will find Big Ben – the striking clock at the Palace of Westminster and an observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames” called the London Eye. The fireworks are launched off of the London eye and from barges in the River Thames at midnight. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions.
–RIVER CRUISE – If you are looking for a special romantic way to ring in the New Year, a great option would be a luxurious river cruise to enjoy the River Thames. It’s hard to turn down dinner, dancing and champagne with your loved one. The boats typically settle in areas to get a glimpse of the London Eye fireworks.
–ARTISTIC VENUES – Treat yourself to a spectacular party of music, fireworks and many choices in dining and cocktails at Southbank Centre. It is group of artistic venues on the South Bank of the River Thames. Royal Festival Hall is converted into five floors of set-dressed entertainment, including pop up night clubs, live acts, DJs and dance lessons. Cap off the night by taking in the UK’s largest fireworks display in the outdoor viewing space at Southbank
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DISNEYWORLD – ORLANDO, FLORIDA
Enjoy fun for the whole family. With New Year’s Eve being the busiest of times at Walt Disney World , there are all kinds of ways of having fun as you count down to the New Year. There are special dining options, spectacular fireworks displays and fun-filled dance parties.
–EPCOT – If you are looking for numerous entertainment options and spectacular holiday decorations, look no further than Epcot. As one of the largest parks, there are well managed crowds and many fun-filled activities as you celebrate New Year’s Eve with examples from around the world at the World Showcase.
You can walk through the various country pavilions to a variety of live music and other entertainment choices. In the World Showcase, several nations around the world will present dance parties. To really get the energy of the crowd going, there are large DJ parties around the park.
–EPCOT FOREVER – Started in October of 2019 and celebrating the park’s 37-year history, the spectacular Epcot Forever fireworks show features fireworks, lasers, lighting music and special effect kites that are set to arrangements of music that came from some of the park’s attractions, such as Spaceship Earth, Journey Into Imagination, Soarin’, Universe of Energy and Tapestry of Nations. This show was designed to honor the past, present and future of Epcot.
–MAGIC KINGDOM – Drawing the biggest crowds to celebrate and caters to all age groups, Magic Kingdom’s Fantasy in the Sky fireworks is quite exciting and colorful and an extraordinary way to get ready to start the new year. It’s a wild and colorful extravaganza. You can also enjoy roller coasters, special characters and many family-friendly thrills.
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PARIS, FRANCE
How about spending New Year’s in one of the most beautiful cities of the world that is exciting, colorful and full of life? A most special city with all kinds of monuments, museums art galleries and bistros, Paris is a wonderful choice to spend the holiday. New Year’s is not just a one-night event in France, but the celebration lasts for an entire month!
— River Cruise – An unforgettable way to celebrate the holiday is a New Year’s cruise on the River Seine. You can catch some phenomenal views of classic Paris landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Notre Dame Cathedral. On top of that, savor a three-course French meal before watching the fireworks show while viewing the Eiffel Tower.
–Champ-Elysees – If the New Year’s Eve countdown is a must for you, The Champs-Elysees is the center attraction. Throngs of people converge on this famed avenue where you can get a great view of the Eiffel Tower and its glowing display.
–Sacre Coeur – Another great choice to spend the holiday is The Sacre Coeur plaza in Montmartre, especially if you would like a quieter more mellow space to bring in the New year. There are some spectacular views of the skyline of Paris at the knoll-top vantage point. You will have plenty of bars, clubs and cabarets to choose from.
You can also join the locals and walk through the streets where they can purchase firecrackers and small fireworks, as long as you are careful.
When traveling overseas and especially for various outdoor activities and crowds, it is highly recommended that tourists use Travel Insurance. Good Neighbor Insurance is the perfect company to meet your insurance needs with helpful and responsive customer service.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
Brazilians know how to celebrate life and there is no better party than New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro. It is a massive party unlike anything you have ever seen and quite a celebration of life in a most exuberant way.
–COPACABANA REVEILLON – The biggest and best New Year’s Eve celebration in South America takes place at Copacabana beach and is called the Réveillon. Crowds of around 2 million people head to the beach for this extravaganza.
The massive fireworks display at Copacabana beach is famous around the world. The fireworks are launched from 10 platforms in the sea and there are big screens spread around the beach to follow the event. There are sevBeral stages of music shows to get the beach ‘rocking and shaking’. There is also plenty of samba dancing and parties in the streets.
To participate in this event, you will walk out on the beach amongst the massive crowd and enjoy the show. It will usually be fairly hot, possibly some rain, and you will not have much personal space. It is also advised not to have any valuables in your possession. To be safe, it is a good idea to be covered with comprehensive travel insurance from Good Neighbor Insurance.
–PARTY ON THE STREETS – If you want to stay on the streets of Copacabana, you will find numerous street celebrations and many parties and colorful street dances with samba dancing and all kinds of music. You can also enjoy open air concerts and various pubs.
BRAZILIAN TRADITIONS –
—Wearing White – You will find many people wearing white as a sign of peace and prosperity. Many of the locals also add colored accessories and swimwear to represent their New Year’s resolutions.
—Throwing flowers in the ocean for good luck and prosperity to honor an Afro-American goddess of the sea/water, Lemanja (or some say Yemanja) is an important event. Night-long music and dancing follow the offerings.
—Jump Seven Waves – When the clock gets ready to strike midnight, it is customary for Brazilians in the ocean to jump seven waves while offering seven wishes. Everyone makes a wish or is thankful for anything good that happened to them the past year.
–Special Foods -Another tradition includes eating seven grapes for abundance and chewing seven pomegranate seeds for prosperity. Eating lentils at midnight is also encouraged.
TOKYO, JAPAN
Celebrating New Year’s in Japan is much different than what takes place in the Western world. The New Year holiday, or Shogatsu, is typically a more quiet and intimate family affair. This is the time for family gatherings to have a feast and to take a visit to the local temples and shrines to pray for good fortune in the coming year.
There aren’t usually the typical noisy fireworks or countdown parties, for the most part. The always working workforce usually gets a few days off for the end of the year and beginning of the new year-called Nenmatsu Nenshi.
–Visiting Shrines – Hatsumode – is the practice of visiting a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple for the first visit of the year. These shrines open their gates throughout the night for people to make their first prayers as the clock strikes 12.
One important way to kick off the new year is by praying and wishing for good health, safety and prosperity and whatever else you desire. Once you finish the prayers, you can pick up a fortune telling paper strip called an omikuji. It is a nice souvenir that will tell you your fortune for the coming year.
This visit to a shrine or temple takes place between January 1 – 3rd. You can choose any temple or shrine. The most popular ones in Tokyo are Sensoji, Zojoji, Meiji Shrine and Kanda Myojin, which are all packed.
A few of the Japanese New Year’s traditions include:
–Special Ornaments – Kadomatsu is a special ornament that is typically hung at an entrance way. It has 3 bamboo shoots that symbolize prosperity, some pine representing longevity and some plum branches that represent steadfastness.
–Door Hanger – A Shimekarzari is hung above the doors. It is to invite and welcome gods of good fortune and ward off any evil spirits. It consists of shimenawa (a straw rope that is sacred), pine and a bitter orange (a symbol of posterity) as well as others.
–MUSICAL SHOW -A long-running tradition for many Japanese families is the Kouhaku Uta Gassen television show which has been around for over 60 years. The broadcast is a 4.5 hour long show with a musical battle between two teams that include the year’s most popular and commercially successful artists. It is quite an honor to be a part of the show and the judges and audience vote for the best team at the end.
Hopefully you have had a good taste with this sample of the many different ways of celebrating New Years Eve around the world. It is an important holiday around the globe and each country has its own unique way of celebrating this special event to invite happiness, prosperity and good will for the future.
We at Good Neighbor Insurance wish you all of the best for the New Year as well as safe and enjoyable traveling!
Please remember Good Neighbor Insurance for your insurance needs when traveling anywhere in the world. It will give you such a sense of peace to have you and your family protected for any situation that comes up on your trip.
