Ten!      Nine!     Eight!    Seven…

Millions of eyes are fixed on a giant illuminated sphere making its way down a specially designed flagpole. Many of the revelers gathered in New York’s Times Square are freezing, but they don’t mind. The countdown-to-midnight excitement cancels out cold fingers and feet.

The New Year’s Eve ball drop is a time-honored tradition for those partying in person and tuning in on screens all over the world.

Wherever you may be, the start of a new year is a time for celebration and reflection. Customs run the gamut from food to fireworks to parties and parades, with some more somber practices in the mix. Some celebrations are secular while others are rooted in religion. At the end of the day—er, year—it’s a time for tradition.

Not Just in January

Most countries follow the Gregorian calendar, which puts New Year’s Day on January 1. But some countries and cultures use calendars that calculate the start of a new year on a different date—and that date may fluctuate from year to year.

For example, Iran and Afghanistan use the solar Hijri calendar, or Persian calendar, as their official calendar. The Persian New Year and Afghan New Year (Nowruz or Nauruz) are based on the spring equinox and are celebrated on or around March 21.

Some countries, like China, use the Gregorian calendar for civil and business purposes, but a different calendar for holidays. Chinese New Year begins on the first full moon that appears between January 21 and February 20. (It’s often referred to as Lunar New Year, but it’s actually based on the lunisolar calendar!)

The Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), which occurs in September or October, is determined by the Jewish lunisolar calendar. The Islamic New Year (Al-Hijra), which falls in July, is determined according to the Muslim lunar calendar.

In India, one might say “it’s always New Year’s somewhere,” as the country has numerous new year celebrations in different months that vary according to region and calendar. 

Popular New Year’s Traditions around the World

Champagne: Many people around the world celebrate New Year’s Eve with a bottle of bubbly or other libation. In Spain, cava (sparkling wine) fills many a new year’s glass. Otoso (spiced saki) is a popular in Japan. Many Germans enjoy an elaborate drink called feuerzangenbowle, and in parts of England, folks sip a mulled punch called wassail.

Fireworks: Fireworks are a New Year’s staple in much of the world. Millions of revelers converge on beaches in Rio de Janeiro and Sydney for a spectacular show. In England, after Big Ben strikes midnight, people gather at the London Eye for one of the most well-known fireworks displays in the world.

Polar plunges: Dipping into frigid water may not be your cup of tea, but for some hardy souls, it’s the perfect New Year’s Day activity. The US, Canada, UK, and Netherlands are among locations where such events can be found.

Auld Lang Syne: The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” (based on a poem by Robert Burns) started during Hogmanay (New Year’s festival in Scotland), where people gather in circles and link arms for the final verse, then rush into the center as a group. Today, many people in English-speaking countries sing the song at midnight—and if you’re at a concert, the band might bust out the tune.

Parties: People around the world host parties on New Year’s Eve ranging from small, family-friendly affairs to sophisticated adult-only soirees. House parties are common in France, with guests often dressed in fancy clothes or even costumes. When midnight strikes, many people wish each other “bonne année” with kisses to the cheek. 

Parades: From the Rose Parade in Pasadena to the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, New Year’s Day parades are popular in the US. Across the pond, the London’s New Year’s Day Parade is a beloved tradition. In Italy, the Rome Parade includes a New Year’s Day blessing from the pope.

Food: Many countries and cultures have specific dishes during New Year’s. Brazilians eat rice and lentils on New Year’s Day to bring prosperity and luck in the coming months, while in Italy, people enjoy a sausage and lentil stew called cotechino con lenticchie. Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah with apples dipped in honey to signify the sweetness of a new year. A popular dish during the Persian New Year is sabzi polo mahi: fried fish and rice filled with green herbs. In Mexico, many dinners feature bacalao: dried, salted codfish with tomatoes and olives.

Resolutions: The tradition of new year resolutions originated in ancient Babylon, the site of the earliest recorded new year festivities. Resolutions often revolve around health and fitness, and sometimes it’s as much of a tradition to break them as it is to make them!

And Now for Something Different

Midnight run: Grab your running shoes for an 11:59 PM run in Toronto complete with a glass of bubbly and a post-race party! If night running isn’t your speed, the city also hosts a Hair of the Dog run on New Year’s Day.

Great grapes: A popular strike-of-midnight tradition many Spanish-speaking countries involves eating 12 grapes—one with each of the 12 bell strikes. Each grape represents a month or a wish; if you eat them in 60 seconds, you will supposedly enjoy good luck and prosperity in the year ahead.

A layered practice: On New Year’s Day, parents in Greece traditionally tap an onion (symbolizing rebirth) on children’s heads to wish them good luck in the coming year.

Knock-knock: Following a tradition called nyttarsbukk, some Norwegian children go door-to-door on New Year’s Eve and sing in exchange for candy.

Good riddance: In Japan, each year is considered to be a stand-alone entity. Many people attend bonenkai (“year forgetting”) parties as a way to leave the prior year behind and embrace a truly fresh start.

Round and round: Many people in the Philippines welcome the new year by collecting, carrying, and consuming round objects, which are said to symbolize wealth and good luck. Some Filipinos to buy 12 different round fruits.

Mind your undergarments: Tradition in many countries dictates red underwear for the holiday. In Mexico and other Latin American countries, it’s associated with love and romance; in China, luck and wealth; in Italy and Spain, fertility; in Brazil, excitement and passion. However, people in Chile and Venezuela wear yellow underwear on New Year’s Eve for money and luck in love.

Get the lead out: Folks in Germany and nearby countries practice Bleigießen, or lead pouring, where molten lead droppings act like tea leaves that foretell the coming year. In Finland, some people use melted tin instead.

Pat on the back: In Bulgaria, some people hit themselves on the back with a braided and decorated cherry branch, ensuring good health and a long life.

There be dragons: The Chinese Lantern Festival marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations. Streets are decorated with elaborate colorful lanterns, often in the shape of dragons, lions, and other animals.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one way to celebrate the new year. You may enjoy a festive meal, a dazzling fireworks display, a quiet evening at home, or a religious ritual. Customs, traditions, and dates vary around the world, though there’s plenty of overlap. But no matter how you mark the occasion, the end of year is a time for reflection, gratitude, and celebration. Our journeys may be unique, but the dawn of a fresh new year is a time when we all can reflect on how we want to be a little better in the coming months.