It’s December, which officially means that it is time to get the holiday cheer up and running! There are many holidays in this month including Christmas and Hanukkah, but no matter what your religion is, New Years is a holiday that everyone celebrates around the globe. The New Year always starts at 12:00 AM on the first day of January, and the reason behind this is that America runs on the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the solar system. On the 1st day of January at precisely 12:00 AM, the Earth completes its revolution around the sun, and that is the reason it is called the “New Year.”

There are many different places to go to celebrate the New Year in Atlanta. Some of these fun and exciting places include Woodruff Park for the Peach Drop, Callaway Gardens for spectacular fireworks, and the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl. These locations are filled with people, fun, and a lot of cheer. Around the country, there are many other things to do and places to go. Some notable events and places that are prominent on New Year’s Eve are the Peach Drop at Times Square in New York City, Victory Park in Dallas, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, and Bourbon Street in New Orleans. All of these destinations have incredible fireworks and a great city vibe.

Although New Years in America is mostly the same in every city, some countries around the world have odd traditions. For example, it is a tradition in Spain to eat 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve.It is believed that if an individual can eat 12 grapes, one for each stroke of midnight, then that person will live their life in a year of prosperity. In Japan, the bell of the Zojoji Temple, a Buddhist temple, is rung 108 times to repel negative emotions and mentalities for the new year to come. Lastly, it is a tradition in Brazil to jump seven waves, which is believed to bring good luck in the coming year. Jumping the waves signifies putting bad luck and misfortune behind you. Many countries have unique customs that bring luck and happiness into the New Year, and some are very different and foreign to Americans!

The New Year symbolizes many personal things for an individual- a new start, new resolutions, new friends, and even new thoughts. Many find themselves trying new activities such as losing weight or spending more time with friends to get their new year started off with a bang. But most importantly, this holiday is meant to bring loved ones together for a night while they celebrate the beginning of a fresh, clean start. Traditions may vary from country to country or city to city, but one thing remains the same: enjoying spending time with family and friends as you chant “3,2,1, Happy New Years!”