New Year Party Supplies

New Year's Eve also called Old Year's Night is always on 31st of December, the final day of the Gregorian year and the day before New Year's Day. New Year's Ever is a separate occasion from the occasion of New Year's Day. In the West it is usual to celebrate New Year's Eve with large New Year parties and gatherings with a big celebration at midnight welcoming in the New Year.

Many people in different parts of the world use fireworks in part of the celebration. New Year's Eve is celebrated universally on the 31st of December according to the year numbering of the Common Era or A D. even in non Christian nations. New Year's is the 7th day of Christmas in western Christianity. Traditional and Religious celebrations for the Chinese, Muslim and Jewish New Year which occur on different dates are still celebrated separately in the cultures that observe them on the appropriate date each year.

It is thought that all countries celebrate New Year's Eve and then New Year, as this is an event that concerns everyone and so it is obvious that it is well celebrated. Most of the countries in the world celebrate in their own manner and the more spectacular it is the better it is for the eyes of other countries.

How New Year is celebrated in Different Countries:

Australia - Each major city in Australia has New Year's Eve and New Year parties and celebrations, normally accompanied by fireworks with other events as well. Gloucester Park a racecourse in Perth has the largest display in Perth. In Brisbane some 45 to 50,000 people gather at various points around the Brisbane River to watch a fireworks display, whilst other events are hosted in the city. The two largest New Year's Eve events are held in Sydney and Melbourne. In Sydney over 1.5 million people gather, they normally have a theme which is displayed in light shows and a large symbol in the middle of Sydney Harbour Bridge. The fireworks display lasts up to 25 minutes. Due to the time zone Sydney is one of the first New Celebrations each year and is broadcast throughout the world.

Austria - New Year's Eve is normally celebrated with friends and families at small parties and at midnight all radio and television programmes operated by ORF broadcast the sound of the Pummerin Bell, which is the bell of St Stephens Cathedral in Vienna, and following that the Donauwalzer the Blue Danube is played. Also people dance in the street and fireworks are set off.

Belgian - In Belgian the New Year's Eve celebrations are held in all major cities on the 1st of January and are accompanied by fireworks.

Brazil - The Portuguese word for New Year is Ano Novo is one of the country's main holidays and the beach of Copacabana is thought to be the location of the best firework displays in the world. The people of Brazil normally have a New Year party and feast with family and friends at home or restaurants and clubs. They usually dress in white to bring good luck for the New Year. Fireworks and eating grapes and lentils are also customs in Brazil at New Year.

Canada - Traditions and celebrations at New Year differ from region to region, in most cases New Year's Eve which is also know in French as Veille du Jour de I'An is a holiday. In the main metropolitan districts such as Montreal and Toronto they hold celebrations with music and fireworks at midnight. Other New Year celebrations with late night parties are also held. In Quebec people eat fish and drink with their friends through the night.

China - Celebrations for the Lunar New Year are not held until a few weeks into the New Year, however celebrations of the Gregorian New Year are still held in some parts. Celebrations with fireworks and rock concerts have been known to be held at Beijing's Solana Blue Harbour Shopping Park. The Chinese calendar is based on the combination of lunar and solar movement, with the lunar cycle being about 29 days, so as to match both lunar and solar the chinese calendar has extra months inserted that is 7 years out of the 19 year cycle, the track of new moon changes from year to year which is why the Chinese New Year can start anytime between late January and mid February. The origin of the Chinese New Year are centuries old and gains significance due to myths and traditions. The New Year party and celebrations include the traditional dragon dances performed by the people. On this day everyone forgets the grudges they hold and meet all the peoples whom they love.

Denmark - The Danish people normally celebrate New Year's Eve with a New Year party or nytarsaften in Danish with family and close friends, and they have fireworks and champagne. The evening meal on New Year's Eve is more exclusive and normally consists of three courses, traditional deserts include Marzipan ring cake. The Danish people often watch the Queens New Year Speech on television and when the clock on Copenhagen's City Hall reaches midnight, thousand of people gathered at the City Square cheer and set off fireworks. Also as in Germany people go around the town and throw old dishes at their friends and families doors.

Ecuador - Here they have a New Year party with a tradition . Elaborate effigies called Anos Viejos are created to represent people and events from the past year, often including political characters or leaders that the maker of the effigy disapproves of. They are usually made out of straw, newspaper and old clothes with masks. Quite often they are also stuffed with firecrackers. On the stroke of midnight the effigies are lit to symbolise the burning away of the past year and to welcome in the New Year. Other rituals carried out are for , health, wealth, prosperity and protection. For instance traditionally a person will eat twelve grapes before midnight making a wish with each grape, yellow underwear is meant to attract positive energies for the New Year, and walking round the block with a suitcase will help to take the person on the journey of their dreams.

France - In France New Year's Eve is called la Saint-Sylvestre and is normally celebrated with a feast called le Reveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre. The feast normally includes dishes such as foie gras, seafood such as oysters and champagne, These celebrations can be small with family and friends or a much larger Grand Ball. On le Jour de I'An, New Years day friends and family exchange New Year Resolutions, kisses and wishes.

The holiday ends on January the 6th, the twelfth night for the Jour des Rois. On this day they celebrate the Wise Men, eating a traditional flat pastry cake, la gallete des rois. This cake contains a feve, a small china character that whoever finds becomes a king or queen getting to wear a gold paper crown.

Germany - In Germany New Year's Eve is called Silvester due to the 31st of December being the feast day of Pope St Sylvester. Since 1972 every New Year's Eve several German television stations broadcast a short English theatrical performance entitled Dinner for One, a punch line from the comedy sketch " same procedure every year " is now a catch phrase in Germany. Each year Berlin has one of the largest New Year's Eve celebrations in all of Europe which is attended by over a million people, the focal point is Brandenburg Gate and the fireworks set off at midnight are in that area. At midnight the German people toast in the New Year with a glass of Sekt or champagne.

Great Britain - Britain has for many years had New Year parties and welcomed the New Year in with the chimes of Big Ben. Many of the larger cities have firework displays and street parties although these are now becoming less common. The two main events are held in London and Edinburgh. In London the firework display is usually televised and is centred around the London Eye. It is one of the worlds largest firework displays for New Year. In 2005 fireworks were actually launched from the Eye itself. The timing of New Year is always indicated by the midnight chimes on Big Ben and when the last chime has died away people start to celebrate. Other firework displays are usually held in Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Birmingham. Also known for it's New Year's Eve celebrations is Bideford in Devon where people have fancy dress and celebrate on the quayside.

Guatemala - At New Year in Antigua people gather round the Santa Catalina Clock arch to celebrate and have a New Year party, where they eat a grape with each of the twelve chimes during the New Year countdown making a wish as they eat each grape. Other traditions they have are sweeping the dirt of the old year out and taking suitcases outside as a wish for future trips.

Hong Kong - The residents get together in Central, Causeway Bay and TsimSha Tsui to celebrate and gaze at the lights in the harbour. The people of Hong Kong always get ready to indulge with celebrations and New Year parties better than the last. The fireworks and light show is planned out to the last detail and begins with a countdown at 11pm on the 31st of December. As the countdown approaches the end you get ready for a breathtaking display from the 5 minute firework displays that will enamour the entire city from 10 different landmarks

Iceland - The Icelandic name for Happy New Year is Gleoilegt nytt ar. The main New Year Parties are in Reykjavik, fireworks are very popular in Iceland and bonfires are lit in many throughout the country with shows, musical events and food stalls.

India - Goa is a good venue for having a New Year Party, tourists and backpackers from the world over go to Goa to join in the festivities at the New Year Celebrations. New Year parties and celebrations also take place in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune,Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata. Liver Concerts are organised and attended mainly by the younger generation. In India it is mainly friends and not family who get together at a New Year Party.

Indonesia - The Government of Jakarta often has a music show together with a New Year party countdown and fireworks in the New Year's Eve celebration. Trumpets and fireworks are the most important things for the Indonesian people when they celebrate the New Year.

Ireland - The Irish call New Year's Eve Oiche Chinn Bliana, Oiche na Coda Moire in the Irish language. Due to a ban on fireworks celebrations are quite low key with only the sound of church bells.

Italy - In Italy New Year's Eve is called Capodanno or Notte di San Silvestro. Things traditionally done are the wearing of red underwear and getting rid of old unwanted items by dropping them from the window, but this is an old tradition not normally carried out today. On New Year's Eve dinner is often eaten with parents and friends, then at 8-30pm the President of the Republic makes a television message of greetings to the people. At midnight firework displays are seen across the country.

Japan - Traditionally in Japan on New Year's Eve people clean their homes and prepare Kadomatsu or Shimenawa to welcome the Gods before New Year's Eve. Buddhist temples ring the bells 108 times at midnight on New Year's Eve.

Republic of Kiribati - This is the first country to receive the New Year. Kiritimati is the first place in this country to see the sun rise.

Lebanon - The Lebanese people celebrate New Year's Eve by the use of fireworks and by organising tabouli, hummus and kibbi plus other Lebanese food for family and friends and their celebrations usually carry on until sunrise.

Mexico - Mexico is yet another country where the people eat a grape for each of the 12 chimes of the bell on New Year's Eve, whilst making a wish with each one. On New Year's Eve women wishing to find love in the coming year wear red underwear, or yellow if they are seeking money. The Mexican people also make life size dolls out of old clothes, and fill them with fireworks and set them alight on the stroke of midnight.

Montenegro - New Year's Eve celebrations are held in all large cities on the 1st of January. These celebrations are normally accompanied by fireworks. Celebrations are usually held with family and friends. Restaurants and Hotels usually organise celebration parties with food and music.

Casablanca - New Year's Eve parties are celebrated in the company of friends and family. They get together to eat cake, dance and laugh. Usually people celebrate at home but some them like to go to hotels and clubs. At midnight they have a firework display accross Ain Diab in the Corniche of Casablanca.

Nederland - Oud en Niew meaning old and new is what New Year is called in the Netherlands. At midnight Gluhwein meaning bishops wine or champagne is drunk. Many people set off their own fireworks which go on sale just prior to New Year, normally cities do not organise firework display, and public transport closed completely between 20.00 and 01.00.

New Zealand - Auckland is 496.3 kilometres west of the International Date Line, and therefore is the first city to see the beginning of the New Year. which is is celebrated with large New Year street parties and firework displays, however in recent years liquor has been banned in many parts of New Zealand due to disorder, vandalism and anti social behaviour.

Philippines - They usually celebrate New Year's Eve parties with family and close friends. In Tradition many households have a New Year's Eve dinner party named Media Noche. Food includes Pancit, Hamon, Lechon which is a roasted pig and usually the table centrepice together with barbecued food. Traditions include are wearing clothes with circular patterns signifying the belief that they attract money and good fortune. Throwing coins at the stroke of midnight is said to increase wealth that year, they also make loud noises by blowing on trumpets, banging pans and igniting fireworks to scare away the bad spirits and forces.

Pakistan - New Year's Eve is normally celebrated with joy, however being an Islamic country they also celebrate the New Year on the first of Muharram, it is celebrated as a religious occasion with special prayers.

Poland - In Poland New Year's Eve is full of vibrance. December the 31st is named after St Sylvester and the day is known as Sylvester. They celebrate both indoors and outdoors with the main celebration being in Main Square in Krakow, thousands celebrate with live music and fireworks over St Mary's Basilica.

Romania - New Year's Eve is a traditional one with customs, rituals and conventions that have been around thousands of years. The children as well as the adults take part and small school children sing good luck songs.

Russia - New Year's Eve is celebrated with family and friends, Celebrations normall start around 10.00. At 11.55 people watch the President speaking on the television, and also listen to the Kremlin Clock Bell. During the last 12 seconds people keep silent and make wishes for the following year. They also have a tradition that if the first unexpected visitor is a man they will have good fortune.

Serbia - New Year is traditionally well celebrated with an abundance of food , drink and decorated xmas trees. In Belgrade and other large cities, they are extensively decorated and festooned with lights, the decorations remain until mid January due to the Julian calendar. Midnight on New Year's Eve is marked with large firework displays fired from buildings within the cities.

Scotland - In Scotland New Year is called Hogmanay and is a major celebration accross the country with different customs such as in Edinburgh and Glasgow they have first footing where friends or family go to each others houses with a bottle of whisky and a lump of coal. Other cities across Scotland have parties with fireworks at midnight. Edinburgh has one of the world's most famous New Year's party along Princess Street and a cannon is fired at Edinburgh Castle at midnight followed by a large firework display

Singapore - In Singapore the main celebration is at the Marina Bay where you can get up to a quarter of a million people around the bay area. The people are entertained by a host of variety shows and concerts, which is also broadcast on the local television channel. Following this at the stroke of midnight a spectacular firework display is set off on the waters of the bay which lights up the whole area with the lights of Singapore's skyline behind them.

Spain - In Spain celebrations usually begin with a family dinner which would usually consist of shrimps, capon and lamb. In Spain it is said that wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve brings luck for the following year. The countdown is done from the clock at the top of the Casa de Correos in Madrid. Tradition says that you eat 12 grapes 1 on each chime of the clock. When the clock has finished striking, people greet each other and toast the New Year in with cava or champagne. Many young people then attend parties at pubs and discos with confetti, party blowers, party hats, streamers and party cannons.

Switzerland - New Year's Eve is usually celebrated at home with friends, as Christmas is when you celebrate with family. Each area has it's own arranged countdown to New Year in a public park which in the larger cities includes a firework display.

Sweden - New Year's Eve is normally celebrated with family and friends, prior to midnight and carrying on after midnight people usually party and have a special dinner. They also have large firework displays all over the country, whilst lighting the fireworks at midnight the spectators normally drink champagne.

Taiwan - The capital city of Taiwan is Taipei and people gather in the streets as they count down to midnight and with each counted number one of the layers of Taipei 101 Tower which has eight floors per layer lights up, until they reach midnight when fireworks shoot out of the top of each layer in different directions.

Turkey - The Turkish New Year's Eve celebrations include the houses and streets being lit up with glittering lights. Small gifts are exchanged and large dinners for the family and friends are held, the typical menu includes a pilav dish, dolma, hot borek, baklava and various egg plant dishes. In the large cities the celebrations feature dancing, concerts, laser light shows together with the countdown leading to the fireworks display.

United States - New Year's Eve is a major holiday with both New York and Las Vegas attracting large numbers of New Year partygoers. Over the past 100 years the ball dropping is a big part of the New Year celebrations with the 11,875 pound Waterford crystal ball located in Times Square is lowered starting at 11.59pm and reaching the base of the tower at midnight. Most of the major television channels have special shows and coverage for New Year and the song Auld Lang Syne is the most popular song to be sung at midnight.

Wales - The New Year celebrations are known as Calennih, they have a tradition of giving money and gifts on New Year's Day a tradition that still survives today although these days some people give bread and cheese. Many thousands of people descend on Cardiff City Centre on New Year's Eve to enjoy live music, ice skating, fun fairs, burger vans and fireworks.