First Footing around the World

14.02.2010

What memories would you recollect if someone were to ask you how you usually ‘first foot’ or celebrate New Years? Barbecues? Sweet snacks? Swimming in the sea? Around the world, people celebrate New Years in a unique way throughout the year. The first of these celebrations is the Gregorian New Year which occurs on 31^st December – 1^st January and usually involves a party with fireworks, food and fun times. The Gregorian New Year tends to be seen as a Western holiday globally, so is only really celebrated in Western Europe and North America. In East Asia and Africa, however, other celebrations occur which mainly focus around the family.

In Chinese communities around the world, Chinese New Year is the most prominent festival in the year and starts with feasting with the family. This has such importance that prisoners may be pardoned for one night to share in this dinner. Throughout the fifteen days of Chinese New Year, families perform a series of significant rituals which includes drinking sweet tea – to encourage the following year to be sweet, giving ‘hong bau’ - red packets of money containing notes in even numbers - to children, and visiting with relatives and friends. The third and fourth days are considered lucky, so many businesses open on these days. On the ninth day, Hokkien Chinese visit the temple and worship the Jade Emperor by burning joss sticks, laying out food in front of houses and thinking good thoughts. The festival ends with a bang as Chinese set off fireworks, fire crackers and carry lanterns through the streets, signifying bringing light and wisdom into the forthcoming year.

The Lunar New Year is celebrated in Vietnam at the same time as Chinese New Year and involves visiting friends, playing traditional games and lots of feasting, as it is considered unlucky if a family is visited and cannot provide their guest with a substantial meal.

In Laos and Thailand, April is the time for rebirth and new beginnings. In Thailand, the three day festival of Songkran is celebrated by throwing fish eggs, flour and coloured water. In Laos, they celebrate with water fights. Water throwing is believed to bring luck, purity and refreshment into the upcoming year. There are lots of parties with feasting and drinking, and visits to the local temples.

Japanese celebrate their own version of the Gregorian New Year, known locally as shiwasu - ‘the end of the old year’. This is one of the most auspicious events of the year yet it is celebrated quietly. Families gather together to reflect on the previous year and may attend the local temple at midnight to hear the temple bell run 108 times. The striking of the bell is traditionally believed to have the power to chase away the previous year’s evils. Families also share an evening meal of hot toshikoshi soba noodles – literally ‘the end of the old year and enter the new year’ noodles, made from buckwheat and mushrooms. Often, a raw egg will be dropped on top of the noodles just before serving, to symbolise watching for the first moon of the new year. Families celebrate New Year’s Day with a bowl of mocha or rice cake for breakfast then exchange cards and presents, giving money to children in special envelopes. The rest of the day is spent by playing Japanese card games, badminton or by flying traditional kites.

In the Indian subcontinent, the Pakistani New Year, Nawrooz, is celebrated over a period of six days in March. As Pakistan has a range of diverse cultures and religions, festivities vary widely but will often include religious rituals and prayers, creation of art and traditional folk music festivals. Preparations for the New Year begin days in advance with a thorough house clean, new clothes and lots of cooking. At midnight on Nawrooz, gunshots are fired into the air and everyone makes resolutions. This marks the beginning of the new year and an intention to encourage more stability and peace throughout Pakistan in the upcoming months.

In Islamic countries, the New Year is based on the Hijri calendar so occurs slightly earlier every year. In 2010, it will be celebrated on December 7^th. The festivities usually involve family reunions, barbecues, times of rest and contemplation, and prayers to Allah. There are no parades, fireworks or street concerts. As Muslims avoid alcohol, Egyptians usually celebrate with mint tea, lemon mint, barley and hibiscus drink. They will also eat stuffed vine leaves, kobeiba – a dish similar to meatballs but without the sauce, oriental rice, turkey, goulash, roast chicken and vegetables.

As next week marks the beginning of Chinese New Year, we would like to wish all readers ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’ - or in English, ‘May you become prosperous and rich’!