Interesting facts about New Year's Day around the world.

Thursday - December 31, 2015 02:51

Lobster and chicken are often believed to help you recover what you've lost because lobsters can swim backward, and chickens tend to scratch backwards when searching for food.

Những điều thú vị ngày Tết Dương lịch trên thế giới — Interesting facts about New Year's Day around the world.

- The traditional New Year's song in England is called "Auld Lang Syne," which means "Time Passes By." It was written by the poet Robert Burns in 1788. Although not many people understand all the words of the song, the general message is to remind everyone to cherish their family members, whether they are living or dead, and to keep their image in their hearts.

- Black beans, ham, and cabbage are considered lucky foods if eaten at the exact moment of New Year's Eve, as they are believed to bring money in the new year. Of these, beans are the most favored because they resemble coins.

- Lobster and chicken are said to help you recover what you lost last year because lobsters can swim backward, and chickens often scratch backwards when searching for food.

- The custom of celebrating the New Year on January 1st was first observed 4,000 years ago. Julius Caesar was the first to declare the new year to begin on January 1st. He named the first month Janus (January), after a god of doors according to Roman mythology. Janus had two faces, one looking forward and the other looking backward.

- Ancient Persians had a custom of giving eggs as New Year's gifts to symbolize fertility and growth.

According to English and German folklore, the first person to walk past you on New Year's Day greatly influences your fortune for the following year. This is quite similar to East Asian culture. Couples often kiss at midnight; otherwise, there's a "curse" that one of them will find a new partner.

The tradition of welcoming the new year by lowering the crystal ball and shooting confetti in Times Square (USA) at midnight was first held in 1907 after a fireworks ban was issued. The original ball weighed 700 pounds (over 300 kg), had 100 illuminated bulbs, and looked very different from what we see today. Now it is covered with 2,688 crystals, illuminated by 32,000 LED bulbs, weighs 11,875 pounds (over 5 tons), and has a diameter of 12 feet (approximately 3.5 meters).

- To ensure a year full of good fortune, the custom of clanging instruments to create sounds is intended to ward off evil spirits and bring about a lucky beginning.

Many people pop open champagne bottles at midnight on New Year's Eve. It's estimated that Americans have consumed 360 million glasses of wine by this time.

In Philadelphia (USA), up to 10,000 people participate in the tradition of walking through City Hall dressed in unique costumes. This parade dates back to the 17th century.

- Not only in Vietnam, but when celebrating New Year's Eve in other countries, you should also be vigilant about your belongings. According to statistics from the US National Insurance Crime Bureau, more cars are stolen on New Year's Day than during any other holiday.

Author:Nguyen Chi (According to Patch)

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