New Year is observed globally, but the way it is celebrated differs across countries and belief systems. Some cultures welcome the new year on 1 January, while others follow lunar, solar or religious calendars that shift each year. Travelers often see the holiday as a practical date, but for many communities it is a moment filled with symbolism, rituals and long-held customs. This guide explores how major regions celebrate the start of a new year and what visitors can expect when traveling during these holidays.
Lunar New Year Celebrations
Lunar New Year is the largest multi-country celebration in Asia and includes several well-known festivals such as Chinese New Year, Vietnamese Tet, and Korean Seollal. All of these follow the lunisolar calendar, so the date shifts each year, usually between late January and mid-February. While each country has its own customs and symbolism, they share common themes of renewal, family gatherings, and the welcoming of good fortune.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, widely known as the Spring Festival, is the most familiar Lunar New Year celebration internationally. Families travel long distances to return home, creating one of the largest annual movements of people. Homes are cleaned before the new year to welcome good fortune. Red is used throughout the celebration because it represents happiness and protection. Fireworks are believed to drive away negative spirits. New Year’s Eve reunion dinners bring extended families together with dishes such as fish for abundance and dumplings shaped to resemble ancient currency.
For travelers, cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore offer festive parades, markets and cultural performances. Temples are crowded during the first days of the year as visitors make wishes for health and prosperity.
Vietnamese New Year (Tet)
Tet marks the arrival of spring in Vietnam and carries strong cultural meaning. It is a time to honor ancestors and strengthen family ties. Homes are decorated with peach blossoms in the north and bright yellow apricot flowers in the south. Families prepare traditional foods such as banh chung, a sticky rice cake wrapped in leaves. Many households set up altars to welcome ancestral spirits.
Public celebrations include dragon dances, flower markets and firecrackers in some regions. However, Tet is also a quiet period because many businesses close for several days. Travelers should plan ahead for transportation and accommodation, especially during the first three days of the holiday.
Korean New Year (Seollal)
Seollal is one of Korea’s most important family holidays. People wear traditional hanbok and observe respectful greetings during a ceremony called sebae. Eating tteokguk, a soup made with sliced rice cakes, is believed to bring good fortune and marks the symbolic beginning of a new year of life. Families play traditional games, visit ancestors’ graves and prepare holiday foods such as jeon and japchae.
Visitors in Seoul during Seollal will find palaces offering cultural programs, reduced traffic in major areas and smaller crowds in shopping districts. Museums often host themed exhibits or performances to introduce Lunar New Year traditions to travelers.
Cultural and Religious New Years
Many regions follow their own calendars, creating unique new year traditions shaped by history, religion and seasonal change. These celebrations can occur months apart from the international new year and often carry deeper spiritual significance.
Japanese New Year (Oshogatsu)
Japan celebrates the new year on 1 January, but the traditions differ from Western celebrations. The holiday is calm and deeply rooted in Shinto practices. Temples ring their bells 108 times on New Year’s Eve to represent the cleansing of worldly desires. Homes display kadomatsu decorations made from bamboo and pine. Many people enjoy osechi ryori, a collection of symbolic foods stored in layered boxes. Each dish represents values such as health, strength or longevity.
One of the most recognizable traditions is hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year. Travelers in Japan can join the celebrations at popular shrines in Tokyo or Kyoto, though they should expect long queues during the first two days of January.
Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah)
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days. It is both a festive celebration and a period of reflection. Families gather for meals that include symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey and pomegranates. The shofar, a horn sounded during prayer services, is a central part of the observance. Dates vary each year because the holiday follows the Hebrew lunar calendar.
Travelers visiting destinations with large Jewish communities may notice special services, cultural events and traditional meals in local restaurants. Since it is a time of introspection, celebrations are respectful and family focused.
Islamic new year (Hijri New Year)
The Islamic New Year begins on 1 Muharram and marks the start of the Hijri calendar. It is one of the quieter Islamic observances, centered on reflection and prayer rather than large public festivities. The date shifts each year because the Islamic calendar is purely lunar and shorter than the solar year.
Visitors in predominantly Muslim countries will notice changes in schedules for public events or cultural centers. Many communities hold small gatherings or religious lectures to commemorate the occasion.
Nowruz (Persian New Year)
Nowruz coincides with the arrival of spring and symbolizes renewal. Families prepare the haft-seen table with seven items that start with the Persian letter S. Each item represents a positive value, such as rebirth, patience or abundance. Fire-jumping ceremonies during the week leading up to Nowruz are believed to cleanse the spirit. The holiday is celebrated across Iran, parts of Central Asia and Kurdish regions.
Travelers visiting these regions may witness outdoor festivals, traditional dances and local markets offering sweets and dried fruits. Nowruz is often seen as a time of optimism and new beginnings.
Thai New Year (Songkran)
Songkran takes place in April and is known for water-splashing festivals in cities across Thailand. The water represents purification and the washing away of misfortune. Traditional rituals include visiting temples and pouring water over Buddha statues as a sign of respect.
Tourists can experience lively street events in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. It is one of the busiest periods in Thailand, so travelers should expect crowded streets and nationwide celebrations that last several days.
Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)
Enkutatash occurs in September according to the Ethiopian calendar. The holiday marks the end of the rainy season. Children often present hand-drawn cards or flowers as gifts. Families gather for meals and cultural songs. The atmosphere is cheerful and filled with local traditions.
Visitors will find celebratory activities in Addis Ababa, including music and community gatherings.
Matariki (Māori New Year)
Matariki is observed in New Zealand and is based on the rising of the Pleiades star cluster. It is a time of remembrance, gratitude and planning for the year ahead. Families gather for shared meals and local communities host cultural performances that highlight Māori heritage.
Travelers during Matariki will find educational programs, stargazing events and community festivals across the country.
Tibetan New Year (Losar)
Losar involves several days of rituals, prayers and cultural performances. Homes are cleaned and decorated, and families prepare traditional foods such as khapse fried pastries. Monasteries hold ceremonies featuring music and mask dances.
Visitors can witness vibrant celebrations in regions with Tibetan heritage, including parts of India and Nepal.
Unique New Year Traditions
Some countries observe customs that stand out for their symbolism and creativity. These traditions often attract travelers interested in cultural experiences.
- Spain welcomes the new year by eating twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight. Each grape symbolizes a wish for the coming months.
- In Italy, wearing red clothing is believed to bring luck.
- Denmark has a tradition of breaking plates at the doors of friends to show affection.
- Brazil welcomes the year with white clothing and floral offerings to the sea at beaches across Rio de Janeiro.
- The Philippines focuses on round shapes and foods for prosperity.
- In Colombia, people walk around the block with a suitcase to attract future travel opportunities.
The Meaning of Good Luck Across Cultures
Foods and colors hold powerful symbolic meaning during new year celebrations.
- In parts of Asia, long noodles represent long life.
- Mediterranean regions associate lentils and grapes with prosperity.
- Pomegranates are common during Middle Eastern and Greek celebrations because they symbolize fertility and abundance.
Color symbolism also varies.
- Red is a sign of happiness in East Asia.
- White is associated with peace in Brazil.
- Gold appears in many Mediterranean regions due to its link with prosperity.
Fire and water rituals appear across continents. Fireworks and bonfires are used to drive away unwanted spirits. Water ceremonies in Thailand and Indonesia symbolize cleansing and renewal.
Best Places to Celebrate New Year
Travelers seeking memorable New Year experiences have many choices.
- Tokyo offers a calm and traditional atmosphere with shrine visits and organized public events.
- Rio de Janeiro hosts large celebrations along Copacabana Beach.
- Edinburgh’s Hogmanay features concerts, processions and fireworks.
- Dubai holds citywide events with elaborate displays.
- Singapore’s Marina Bay countdown is known for its waterfront atmosphere.
- Sydney launches its fireworks over the harbor at midnight.
- Bangkok hosts both the January celebration and the April Songkran festival.
Each destination appeals to different types of travelers depending on their interests and preferred pace.
Travel Tips for Experiencing New Year Celebrations
New Year festivals often take travelers into busy streets, outdoor events and unfamiliar neighborhoods. Having steady mobile data becomes part of moving safely and comfortably through the celebrations. Many travelers turn to eSIMs because they activate instantly and work across borders.
Eskimo offers options for different travel styles. Travelers staying in one destination can choose a Japan eSIM for local connectivity. When a journey moves across several countries in Asia and nearby regions, the APAC eSIM provides a single connection that works throughout the route. For longer or multi-continent travel, a Global Plan covering more than 100 countries keeps the connection steady from one destination to the next.
A useful part of Eskimo’s system is how the data lasts. Unused data rolls over into future top-ups, and fixed data plans remain valid for two years with unlimited rollover. Data can also be shared with friends or family, which helps during group trips. For travelers who move often, the connection simply stays with them from one journey to the next. You can explore plan options through Eskimo and claim FREE500MB.
FAQs
What is the difference between Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year?
Lunar New Year is an umbrella term for celebrations based on the lunisolar calendar. It includes Chinese New Year, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Seollal and several others. Chinese New Year refers specifically to the traditions observed in China and Chinese communities worldwide.
Why do some countries celebrate New Year on different dates?
Many cultures follow religious, solar or lunar calendars that do not align with 1 January. As a result, celebrations like Rosh Hashanah, Nowruz, Songkran and Islamic New Year occur on different dates each year.
Where are the biggest New Year festivals held?
Major celebrations take place in cities such as Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Edinburgh, Dubai, Singapore and Sydney. Each destination offers its own style of events, from concerts and fireworks to temple visits and cultural rituals.
What foods are commonly eaten during New Year's celebrations?
Traditional foods vary by culture. Examples include long noodles in East Asia for long life, lentils in Italy for prosperity, pomegranates in Greece and the Middle East for abundance and rice cakes in Korea for a fresh start.
Is it a good idea to travel during major New Year holidays?
It can be a rewarding experience because travelers can witness local traditions. However, flights and hotels may fill quickly and some businesses close during certain holidays. Early planning is recommended.
