Almost every country welcomes the new year on 1st day of the month. However, some countries follow a different calendar. Here’s the list of the countries to check out.
January 1 marks the beginning of the New Year. Every year in many parts of the world, the day is celebrated with full swing and excitement. But do you know that some countries follow different calendars and cultural traditions, with alternative New Year celebrations? These diverse festivities offer a glimpse of the rich tapestry of global cultures. This shows the uniqueness of rituals, customs, and time. Below are the countries that do not celebrate the New Year on January 1.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated in Jan-Feb
The Chinese follow the lunar calendar. Therefore in China, the New Year is different from ours. according to the lunar calendar, the new year happens between January 21 and February 20. They call it the Spring Festival. During this time, families come together, performing lively parades with dragons and lions. Each year is linked to one of twelve animals from the Chinese zodiac. People use fancy decorations, lanterns, and firecrackers to keep away bad spirits and bring in good luck.
The Islamic New Year is observed on the first day of Muharram
In some countries that follow the Islamic calendar, there’s a New Year called Hijri New Year or Islamic New Year. This New Year is based on the moon’s cycles, so the date changes yearly. The celebration is about remembering when Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina. While some people mark this day with serious things like prayers and thinking, others may celebrate with cultural events and get together with their community. The Islamic New Year is a time to think and be thankful, as people remember the Hijra and why it’s important in Islamic history.
The Jewish New Year is celebrated in September-October
Rosh Hashanah is like the Jewish New Year, and it happens on the first and second days of the Jewish month of Tishrei, in September or October. During Rosh Hashanah, people think about themselves, pray, and blow a traditional ram’s horn called a shofar. This special time kicks off the High Holy Days, which end with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On these days Families gather for yummy meals with special foods, like apples dipped in honey, to wish for a sweet year ahead.
The Thai New Year falls in April
In Thailand, a special New Year celebration Songkran happens in April. It’s famous for its fun water festival, representing the cleaning away of bad things from the past year. Both locals and tourists, join in big water fights, turning the streets into exciting, water-filled battlegrounds. This celebration shows Thailand’s values of being respectful, starting fresh, and being together as a community. Apart from the water fun, Songkran is a time to show respect to older people, do good things at temples, and take part in cultural and religious activities.
Persian New Year is celebrated in spring
Nowruz, meaning “New Day” in Persian, marks the Persian New Year and the arrival of spring. It is celebrated by communities in Iran and several other countries, It usually occurs on or around March 20. People clean and decorate their homes, visit friends and family and engage in activities that symbolize renewal and rebirth.
