While celebrating the New Year with family and friends, other families and nations all over the world also celebrated with their own unique traditions!
Ecuador!
When the clock strikes midnight, Ecuadorians burn the “ano viejo” (meaning “Old Year” in English) represented by a homemade puppet. People burn these puppets as a way of throwing away all of the bad of the past year, symbolizing what they do not want to repeat in the new year.
Mongolia!
Mongols celebrate Tsagaan Sar (which means white moon or white month) as the lunisolar New Year festival. Around the new ear families burn candles at the altar symbolizing enlightenment. Mongols visit friends and family on this day and exchange gifts. A typical Mongol family will meet in the home of the eldest in the family. Many will be dressed in full garment of national Mongol costumes. The eldest receives greetings from each member of the family and during the greeting ceremony, family members hold long pieces of colored cloth called khadag. After, the entire family exchanges gifts.
India!
Hindu New Year is a time of festivity. This is the time to meet and greet people and share gifts and sweets. Hindus will paint their houses, decorate and light up lamps and candles in the evening. Plowing is an important part of new year celebration. In some parts of India, new years celebration is marked with the beginning of the harvest session. They do this by hosting welcoming springtime festivities as a way of adding richness to the India way of life.
