New Year Celebrations have just taken place all over the globe, engulfing the seven billion people of our planet in the spirit of joy and pleasure, granting them hope for a better year ahead, and leaving behind bad memories and misfortune from the last one. Let us cast a glance on the New Year celebrations from the sun-kissed beaches of Brazil to the shining skies of Iceland.
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© East News / FR61802 AP
Above: Revelers are engulfed by confetti in Times Square just after midnight during New Year's Eve festivities in New York.
“May your days be as glittery as diamond, may your friends be as good as gold, may your heart stay as green as emerald, and may your soul remain as pure as pearl.”
Above: Revelers play in confetti along a street after midnight in Times Square, New York.
Above: Revelers play in confetti along a street after midnight in Times Square, New York.
The French celebrate the arrival of the New Year with a traditional feast that includes pancakes, foie gras and, of course, champagne. When the clock strikes midnight, the French exchange kisses.
Above: People gather on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris before celebrating the New Year.
Above: People gather on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris before celebrating the New Year.
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© East News / Christophe Ena
“Bonne année et bonne santé,” the French say wishing their relatives and friends a good year and good health for the coming year.
New Year is clearly the most adored festival of the Chinese lunar calendar with Hong Kong residents heading to temples to pray for kind fortune, followed by pyrotechnic shows and mythological spectacles which light up the city.
Above: An old style "Junk Boat" sails in Victoria Harbour before the New Year fireworks in Hong Kong on December 31, 2014.
Above: An old style "Junk Boat" sails in Victoria Harbour before the New Year fireworks in Hong Kong on December 31, 2014.
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© East News / Lee Jin-man
Koreans celebrate the New Year twice – on January 1, like the rest of the world world, and on the first day of the Korean lunar calendar. In both cases it is a major traditional family holiday when Koreans visit their parents and remember their ancestors.
Above: People gather to celebrate the New Year at the Imjingak Pavilion near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea.
Above: People gather to celebrate the New Year at the Imjingak Pavilion near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea.
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© East News / Ahn Young-joon
On New Year's Day, Buddhists try to recall their past lives and go to temples to pray for happiness. They also light candles which symbolize enlightened souls.
The Japanese pay special attention to the New Year food traditions. They prepare dishes of seaweed, sweet potato, soybeans, and fish cakes. Another nourished custom is giving money to children known as "otoshidama."
Men ride on a portable Shinto shrine ("mikoshi") as local people carry it into the sea during a festival to wish for calm waters in the ocean and good fortune in the New Year in Oiso, west of Tokyo.
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© East News / frank schwere
Icelanders celebrate the holiday with their families and set off fireworks at midnight, ushering in the New Year. Musical shows, bonfires and food tables are also very popular.
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© Flickr / ekot
In Russia, New Year is the happiest and most cherished family holiday. Ice skating is one of the main activities during the winter holidays.
Above: Skating rink on Palace Square, Saint Petersburg.
Above: Skating rink on Palace Square, Saint Petersburg.
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© East News / Dmitry Lovetsky
The main character of the Russian New Year is the Father Frost who visits children and gives out presents to them.
To celebrate New Year, the famous Copacabana beach holds parties and music festivals, whereas city streets are given over to oceans of people dressed in flashy and colorful clothes.
Brazilian fishermen try to entice the Mother of Waters by departing boats with gifts, rice, flowers and even jewelry into the sea.
Italians observe an interesting food custom for New Year. When midnight comes, they eat lentil stew, one spoonful for each bell. They believe it will bring good fortune.
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© East News / Kirsty
Scarcely has the New Year arrived, than the English rush to open their back doors to see the old year off. Next, they ask the first dark haired man they encounter to come in through the front door. Guests should carry salt, coal and bread symbolizing having enough food, money and warmth for the next year.
