Families gather to eat a large feast and reflect on the past year. They have a large celebration, make toasts, and make wishes for a happy New Year. Families give presents to their friends as well as informal acquaintances. As Ukrainians are traditionally a close-knit community, it is seen as a taboo to not give presents to those the family associates with. Children stay up until midnight, waiting for the New Year.
In Tokyo, the two most crowded celebrations are held at the Shibuya crossing in Shibuya and the Zojoji Temple in Minato. The New Year celebrations take place in all around the country mostly in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Cox’s Bazar etc. On this day, people go to the parties at club or hotels, beaches, at the crowdy roadsides and bridges where firecrackers are blast out in the sky at night. The roadsides and bridges are also lighted up by colourful lights at night.
Watch a movie and eat ice cream, or cuddle up with a pet and a good book. You could also think about the past year and what you’d like to change next year. If you want to be fancy and dress up you can do that, you can wear casual clothes, or you can wear your pajamas and have a slumber party theme to your celebration.
Best known for its popular podcast, the group has also been holding digital events throughout quarantine. Kiss the kiddos when the clock strikes 12, but make this moment especially sweet by giving them each a chocolate Hershey’s feliz año nuevo 2022 Kiss! This doesn’t have to take place at midnight; it could be noon. Put on your favorite songs, dance, eat, and be present with each other. Create a family time capsule or memorable objects to be opened on next New Year’s Eve.
Then you’ll have the night to either get to bed early yourself or stay up for the festivities. Confetti is used is many New Year’s celebrations, but have you ever made your own? First, gather materials on hand–it can be anything from glitter to flower petals to christmas tassel. Place each item in its own container with either a scoop or spoon. Next, make cones out of construction paper or decorate small ziplock bags. Fill them up with and at midnight have fun tossing them to ring in the new year.
In Japan, New Year’s Eve is used to prepare for and welcome Toshigami (年神), the New Year’s god. People clean their homes and prepare Kadomatsu or Shimenawa to welcome the god before New Year’s Eve. Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times at midnight in the traditional Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘). The rings represent the 108 elements of bonō (煩悩), mental states that lead people to take unwholesome actions.