New Year is a time for all to come together to welcome a new year, and all that comes with it. It is a truly global experience, whether you have travelled to a foreign country or are watching from home on the television.
We are all familiar with the televised broadcasts from around the world, from New York to Europe. The sights of Times Square and the Eiffel Tower at New Year are a stable part of the festive media experience for many, and for those lucky enough to experience the real thing, it would be hard to choose a favourite from the spectacular celebrations which take place in so many different countries.
From the carnival atmosphere of Brazil to the courageous Scottish party-goers, bearing the freezing temperatures to celebrate hogmanay, New Year is celebrated with such excitement across the globe, despite the idiosyncrasies of each nation.
In Mexico, 12 grapes are eaten along with the 12 bell tolls at midnight, each one the embodiment of a wish for the coming year.
In Scotland, the collective renditions of Auld Lang Syne encapsulates the spirit of hogmanay, and the desire to forget the past and look ahead to the future.
With such an eclectic mix of traditions and celebrations, it would take a lifetime to experience them all. However, one can always have their own international new years eve celebrations of course, mixing various ingredients form different countries to form a truly multinational party experience. In fact, some edinburgh boutique hotels have organised hogmanay parties which offer a taster of a variety of new year cultures throughout the world.
So, whether you are enticed by the festivities of Russia or Brazil, Mexico or France, you don't need to be there to create the individual new year experience each country has on offer. Create your own multicultural new year party, or find out where there one is being held, this way you don't have to miss out on any of the festive fun abroad.
New Year's Eve Across the Globe