Digital News Report- On January 1st countries governed by the Gregorian calendar celebrate the New Year with fireworks, parades, and many other traditions all around the world. The first major celebration occurs in Sydney, which launches over 80,000 fireworks. Sydney is the first densely populated area to see the New Year and the event is watched on television all around the world.
However, the small island nation of Kirabalti is the easternmost populated landmass, though with a population of just over 105,000 people spread across 32 atolls, it gains very little worldwide attention. The uninhabited Caroline Island is the first landmass to bring in the New Year, but few are around to celebrate it.
New Year’s traditions around the world vary and many seem bizarre to outsiders. In South America, the color of your underwear is said to determine what the New Year will bring you. Red underwear brings passion, pink brings love, white brings peace, and yellow brings money. With the shaky world economy, yellow underwear has been selling extremely well.
Scotland celebrates Hogmanay, which includes the giving of gifts such as salt, coal, shortbread, and whisky after crossing the threshold of a friend or neighbor’s door as well as linking arms and singing Auld Lang Syne. The last one has become world famous, but most of the others stick mostly to Scotland. Different regions of Scotland have adapted their own customs, such as fireball swinging in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, or the saining (protecting blessing) of livestock in the Highlands.
In Talca, Chile, people head to the cemetery to be with their dead relatives. The tradition began in 1995 with one family, but now consists of over 5,000 people participating in the event. The small town is located about 250km south of Santiago.
Our traditions may seem bizarre to outsiders as well. When you are wrapping that brightly colored boa around your neck and affixing the “Happy New Year” hat to your head, perhaps you may consider throwing on some colored underwear to complete the ensemble.