11 Cultures That Don’t Celebrate New Year’s Day On January 1

New Year is considered the new beginning of a lot of things. And all these new things include new aspirations, new goals, new relationships, and a bag full of new opportunities. But do you know, not everyone celebrates their New Year’s on January 1? Yes, you read that right; come let us find out how New Year's day in different countries is celebrated! #MerryHappiness

1. Diwali (Marwari and Gujarati New Year Day)

This festival of lights is very famous among Northern Indian communities and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains as Indian New Year day. Not just in India, Indians living in any region of the world, celebrate Diwali with a full swing by decorating their house, cleaning it, and wearing new clothes and munching some sweets.

2. Chinese New Year

It is additionally recognized as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. This signifies the beginning of the harvest season in China. New Year's Day celebration in China happens with the exchange of red envelopes as a gift for New Year, filled with money. The Chinese traditional sweet dish of egg-filled moon-cakes is also eaten.

3. Ugaadhi (Telugu and Kannada New Year)

In India, states of Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, as per their lunar-calendar, these states can be seen celebrating their New Year with their rituals. The day rejoices with desserts, fireworks, and new outfits. The most famous snack is the Ugaadhi pachadi, a mango sweet, and sour chutney devoured either as a side dish or on its own.

4. Seollal (Korean New Year)

In Korea, New Year’s celebrations long for a period of 3 days. Where there is a national holiday in the nation to bid farewell to a beautiful past year, and for the New Year’s celebration, people are dressed up in colourful attires called Hanbok, and some other people can be seen serving tea to their guests; this ritual is Chayre.

5. Puthandu (Tamil New Year)

This New Year is experienced on April 14 in the region of the country, according to the solar calendar. The New Years day party is celebrated with new clothes, sweets, and decorating the house with Kolams. The same celebrations can be seen by Tamilians living in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore.

6. Nyepi (Balinese New Year)

According to lunar-based Saka Calendar, the first day of this calendar is celebrated as the New Year by the Balinese and Javanese culture. Opposite to how the entire world celebrates New Year, Nyepi’s New Year is very much self-relaxing and restful. Only on New Year’s Eve, there are fireworks around the city.

7. Nowruz (Iranian New Year)

Celebrating the beginning of the Spring season, Nowruz is celebrated by both Zoroastrian and Baha’i communities. During Nowruz, Trumpets can be heard on the streets, colourful eggs, and a pot full of grains can be seen as part of the celebrations to welcome the Spring season.

8. Raʼs as-Sanah al-Hijrīyah (Islamic New Year)

Islamic New Year signifies the first day of Muharram, which is the first month in the Muslim Calendar. It celebrates the migration of Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina, known as Hijra. The holiday is marked by the Muslims living worldwide, though not with the same excitement correlated with Eid.

9. Aluth Avurudda (Sinhalese New Year)

The people of Sri Lanka celebrate Aluth Avurudda coincidences with Tamil New Year. Most of the New Year’s mentioned in this blog signifies the beginning of spring season, whereas this New Year means the end of it. The celebration of this day can be seen by keeping the house door open, to welcome friends and family.

10. Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)

Rosh Hashanah is a two-day holiday memorializing the end of the 7th day of Creation from the Book of Genesis. The festival includes rituals that are both performed with demonstration and with quiet contemplation. Honey and apple are common in food around this time, with sweetness signifying positivity and all things good.

11. Aboriginal Murador New Year

The Western Australian Aboriginal tribe of Murador observed New Year’s Day on October 30 in the Gregorian calendar. An important day in the tribe’s calendar, it is considered as the time for friendship, reconciliation, and giving thanks to the year gone.