With the new year comes more opportunities to learn and grow. Every culture has its own way of celebrating and wishing for good luck. Read more about how the new year is celebrated around the world.
1. United States
Millions of Americans watch a ball drop in New York City’s Times Square, either in person or on television. In the past, time balls would drop at a specific time to tell people what time it was. In Times Square, it starts coming down a flagpole as the one-minute countdown to the new year begins.
2. Haiti
January 1 is also the day when Haitians became independent from the French and ended slavery. On this day, many Haitians eat a pumpkin soup called joumou. This was a fancy dish they were not allowed to have while they were enslaved. The dish is a sign of Haiti’s freedom, and on January 1, people will also visit others’ houses and share their soups.
3. Denmark
As the countdown to the new year begins, Danes climb onto chairs and jump off at the stroke of midnight. According to the tradition, jumping into the new year helps you defeat any future challenges. Fireworks are also a big part of Danish new year celebrations!
4. Philippines
Families in the Philippines serve 12 round fruits to represent prosperity in the coming year. Each fruit symbolises a month, and the round shape looks like a coin. Some of the fruits they use could include apples, grapes and plums.
5. Puerto Rico
Many countries start off the new year by cleaning their homes, Puerto Rico included. The belief is that cleaning starts the year on a positive note. Some people also throw buckets out of their windows to drive away evil spirits.
Find the words in the puzzle below to test your understanding of the vocabulary in this story.
