* ... In Ancient Egypt

The longest in the New Year holidays were walking the ancient Egyptians. New Year was celebrated during the inundation of the Nile, when ascended the sacred star Sirius (the exact date of that complex - spread somewhere between July and September), and started the first season of the ancient Egyptian year - ahet. Flood of the Nile called the arrival of Hapi - God of Upper and Lower Nile. It was a sacred time for Egypt, because the drought would endanger the very existence of this agricultural state. So with the rising of Sirius began a new period of life of the ancient Egyptians, who at that time were finishing sowing.

* ... France

French Santa Claus - Pere Noel - comes to New Year's Eve and leaves presents in children's shoes. Anyone who goes to Bob, baked in a New Year's cake, gets the title of "Bean King", and a festive night all obey his orders. Wooden or clay figurines - Santonian - placed near the tree. On New Year's night the French prefer not to kiss, and load up and get drunk. According to tradition, a good master-winemaker certainly must clink glasses with a barrel of wine to congratulate her on a holiday and have a drink for the next harvest.

* ... Sweden

In Scandinavian mythology says that the supreme god Odin in his fleet-footed horse to make daily trips across the sky, once a year - December 25, the day of the winter solstice, he, together with the goddess Freya came on a magical horse to the ground, presenting gifts to the people, and people For its part, thanked God victims, who were hung on the evergreen firs. From this tradition originates drevnegermanskoy New Year celebrations in Europe and North America. In Sweden, before the New Year children choose the queen of the world Lucius. Her dress up in a white dress, a head wearing a crown with lighted candles. Lucy brings gifts to children and treats pet: cat - cream, dog - sugar bone donkey - carrots. In the festive night in the homes are not the lights go out, brightly lit streets.

* ... Finland

In Finland, the major winter snow holiday is Christmas, which falls on 25 December. On Christmas night, breaking a long journey from Lapland, in the house comes Santa Claus, leaving the children to the joy of a big basket of gifts.
New Year's - a sort of repetition of the Nativity. Once again, the whole family gathers at bursting with a variety of dishes table. In the New Year's Eve Finns try to learn their future and fortunes, melting wax and pouring it then into cold water. Lapland - the native land of Santa Claus. Here in the New Year is a colorful spectacle: from the slopes of the mountains descend skiers with torches, fireworks everywhere and decorated with candles tree. Close to 12 hours on a deer comes Santa Claus, all the wishes and distributes gifts.

* ... In Mexico

New Year meet fire fireworks, shooting from the rockets, special Christmas jingle bells. And children at midnight handed tasty gingerbread doll.

* ... Cuba

Cuba said the New Year, as well as all other holidays, a lot of fun. Before the Lunar New Year filled with Cubans all pitchers, buckets, pots and bowls of water and when the hour hand freezes in figure 12, the water poured from the windows. This means that the old year passes and he wished light, like water, road. Meanwhile, the clock strikes 12 times, you must eat 12 vinogradinok, and then good, harmony, prosperity and peace will accompany you all the twelve months. In the light of torches and the thunder of fireworks all Cuba is participating in carnivals, dances, sings. Children's New Year's holiday in Cuba called the Day of the Kings. Kings, sorcerers, bringing gifts to children, called Valtasar, Gaspar and Melchior. Before the children write letters to them in which to talk about their deepest desires.

* ... Colombia

Main character of the New Year carnival in Colombia - The old year. He walks into the crowd at high stilts and tells funny stories for children. Papa Pasquale - Colombian Santa Claus. No one better than he can not hold fireworks.

* ... In China

During the festive procession, which passes through the streets of Chinese New Year's night, people lit many lamps. This is done in order to illuminate their way into the New Year.
Chinese New Year is impossible to imagine without the fireworks, scare away evil spirits. New Year's Day in Chinese is called yuan-tan (literally "New Year's morning"), from 11 pm on New Year's Eve and before dawn the next day. The night before the New Year's doors were shut, because at this time on the street appeared all kinds of evil spirits. For their expulsion lit fireworks, beat the gongs and blowing up firecrackers. To protect themselves from the influence of evil spirits, we had to stay awake all night.


Unlike the Europeans, the New Year with a tree, the Chinese prefer tangerines and oranges. In every house exhibited trays with these fruits. 8 mandarin (8 in ancient Chinese philosophy is considered sacred) should be laid round or octagon, symbolizing infinity or that good. In our days became fashionable to decorate artificial trees home, decorated with candied fruits. They also attached special meaning. Candied melon - a sign of health, watermelon seeds - happiness and confidence, lotus flowers - large families, and coconuts - cohesion.

* ... Nepal

In Nepal, the New Year with the sunrise. At night, when the full moon, the Nepalese are lit huge bonfires and throw into the fire truck. The next day begins a festival of colors, and then the whole country turns into a huge rainbow. People paint the their faces, arms, chest unusual pattern, and then dance and sing in the streets.

* ... The Philippines

A favorite game of local residents - cock-fights. Roosters beat fast, recklessly and always fatal. New Year celebrated on a grand scale and with a lot of fireworks. January 9, the day of ink process of Nazareth, a statue of Jesus as a man of dark wood sneaked through the streets Kviapo.