Friday, December 27, 2013

4 Amazing New Year's Traditions From Around The World!

Another year in the books! As this fun-filled holiday season comes to a close, we celebrate the end of 2013 while welcoming in the beginning of 2014. During this special time of year, we gather with family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to eat, drink, laugh and cheer as we share in one of the many New Year's traditions.

As a person who loves learning about different countries and cultures, I stumbled across a few interesting and  fun New Year's traditions from around the world. Also, at Pacifica Companies, we not only want to provide our readers with information about local events surrounding our communities, but with things going on across the globe as well!


While having been born and raised in the United States, I must admit that I've not experienced, in person, the first excited New Year's tradition on my list; the New York City Ball Drop. Streets packed with tens of thousands of people, the Ball Drop in Times Square overflows with excitement as the crowd waits for the flashing ball to drop exactly at midnight. This hugely popular, and globally broadcasted event claims to be the party of the year, and by the look of the crowd, that claim must be true!



EMMANUEL DUNLAND / Getty Images / AFP
If you can't make it to the ball drop in the Big Apple, perhaps you can make it to the Big Peach Drop in Atlanta. While this tradition has only been around since 1989, the Peach Drop of Atlanta has grown into a exciting experience all its own!


Photo from RollingOut.com's "New Year's Eve 2013 Events in Atlanta"
Heading south to Columbia, I found a slightly difference tradition that is no less fun. "The Twelve Grapes of Luck", introduced by the Spanish in 1895, requires that at the stroke of midnight you have exactly one minute to eat twelve grapes. As you eat each grape, you should make a wish about for the upcoming year. If you are able to finish all twelve grapes within the minute, your wishes are said to come true!


JACILLUCH / Flickr
If stuffing your face with grapes isn't quite your thing, then you could always follow The Netherlands' lead. After a night of fun and festivities, these Hollanders strip down to swimming shorts, put on a Where's Waldo red hat, and then run into the frigid ocean. Called the Scheveningen, this tradition will wake anyone up from a crazy New Year's Eve night!


JASPER JUINEN / Getty Images Europe
Moving to a much warmer tradition, but no less wet, I present the New Year's Water Fight of Thailand! While New Years in Thailand doesn't take place until April 13th, this wet and wild tradition needed to be my list. For the three days surrounding New Years, the entire nation breaks out into a huge water fight. With everyone carrying water guns, buckets and bottles of water, not a single person is safe from this rowdy tradition. Even still, this water fight is not confined to designated sections of towns and cities; anybody anywhere is free game to receive a good drenching!


JACK KURTZ / Getty Images
My hope for this short list is to show the readers something new and fun. Maybe even, in the future take part in one of the traditions. Whatever the case, I, we at Pacifica Companies wish you happy traditions, and a very Happy New Year!




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