New Year’s Eve is quickly approaching! This holiday is all about confetti, champagne, and spending time with your family and friends. Check out how these cities take celebrating the new year a step further. Discover the traditions and customs of New Year’s Eve around the world.
1. Hogmanay – Edinburgh, Scotland:
Scotland celebrates one of the biggest New Year’s street parties in the world. The celebration lasts four days long, with fireworks over the Edinburgh Castle, torchlight processions, candlelit concerts, and Scottish folk dancing.
2. Sydney, Australia:
Also known as the “New Year’s Eve Capital of the World,” this city puts on the biggest fireworks display in the world. Sydney offers traditional ceremonies, aerial acrobatics, and an amazing light parade. Once it hits midnight, seven tons of fireworks are released, which lights up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and all of the buildings around it.
3. Hamps-Elysees – Paris, France:
What better city is there to spend the holidays in but Paris? Parisians celebrate the Nouvelle Année in style. They pop champagne and exchange papillotes, which are chocolates covered in sparkly paper that crackle when you open them. Visitors check out the amazing lights display from the Eiffel Tower.
4. Thames River – London, England:
Every New Year’s Eve, visitors gather around the Thames for the fireworks. Launched from the London Eye, the fireworks are beautiful and can be enjoyed by everyone. Visitors can watch from the water or from the big screens in Trafalgar and Parliament squares.
5. Party Mile – Berlin, Germany:
Berlin holds “Party Mile,” one of the world’s biggest open-air New Year’s Eve parties. The two kilometer long street contains bars, international food stalls, laser shows, and a main stage with live music and DJs. Of course, the night ends with a huge fireworks display. Visitors usually stay and party until the morning!
6. Tsim Sha Tsui – Hong Kong, China:
Every year at 11 pm, fireworks are set off over Victoria Harbour. The eight-minute display starts on the water and moves inward, illuminating the city’s buildings and skyscrapers.
7. Street Parties – Barcelona, Spain:
Barcelona is known for its amazing nightlife and parties, so you can just imagine how amazing their New Year’s Eve celebration is. The festivities begin in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. In the hours that lead up to midnight, the people of Barcelona flood the streets for champagne, singing, and a New Year’s countdown. The tradition is that visitors should wear red underwear for good luck in the next year. They should also eat 12 grapes: one for each chime of the clock at midnight.
8. Grand Ball – Vienna, Austria:
Unlike the other celebrations that take place in the streets, Vienna celebrates in the ballroom. The city’s “Grand Ball” is hosted at Hofburg Palace, featuring classical music, ballet performances, and a four-course gala dinner! Fireworks begin at midnight along with a traditional Blue Danube Waltz.
9. Red Shoe Drop – Key West, Florida:
Instead of the ball dropping like in NYC, Key West has a red shoe drop. Believe it or not, Key West brings in the New Year with a drag queen show! When the clock strikes midnight, Sushi, who is a female impersonator, is lowered from the second story of the Bourbon Street Pub in an eight-foot red shoe. Partygoers celebrate and watch from the street, and then continue to go to the bars and pubs around the area.
10. Times Square – New York City:
Last but certainly not least, NYC celebrates New Year’s with the ball drop. Millions of people from around the world gather to watch the ball drop, and visitors are treated to a spectacular light show and celebrity music acts. At midnight, fireworks light up the sky and confetti is released all over.