The Best Places To Spend New Years Eve
New Years Eve is the perfect time to get together with friends and loved ones and to celebrate the beginning of a brand new year. There are many places around the world that have truly great parties to bring in the new year and here’s a little roundup of my favourite places to spend the holidays.
Edinburgh
Scottish people really know how to party (I should know, I’m one of them!) and Edinburgh is home to some absolutely incredible celebrations. Spend New Years Eve, which the locals call Hogmanay, at the world-famous street party where thousands of revelers brave the harsh Scottish weather to enjoy live music, entertainment and the stunning fireworks over Edinburgh Castle.
If you’re brave enough you can even take part in the Loony Dook on New Years Day in South Queensferry, not far from the city centre. This involves wearing a daft outfit and running into the freezing waters of the Forth. Are you mad enough?!
Honolulu, Hawaii
Want to be in one of the last places in the world to bring in the new year? Hawaii is the place for you. You could be still celebrating the beginning of a new year when many people are already in bed!
Sydney
If you don’t fancy the idea of braving the cold in Scotland then why not head Down Under to Sydney, Australia for New Years? Australia is enjoying lovely summer temperatures at this time and people gather in parks and open spaces all over the city in the afternoon to relax and wait for the fireworks at 9pm and at midnight.
Before the fireworks there are aerial displays on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, pylon projections and even a beautiful flotilla parade.
Denmark
The quirky Danes celebrate the beginning of a new year by throwing old plates, bowls and glasses against the doors of their friends, loved ones and relatives. They also gather in a group and stand on chairs before proceeding to jump off them simultaneously when midnight strikes. This strange tradition is purported to get rid of bad spirits and bring good luck for the new year.
New York
Surely the city that never sleeps would be a fabulous place to welcome in 2014?! The famous Times Square New Years Eve party is the place to be to witness the ball dropping and the new year beginning.
Spain
They have some pretty strange new years traditions in good old Spain. On the stroke of midnight the Spanish people eat twelve grapes(Las doce uvas de la suerte), one on each stroke of the clock, and this is said to bring good luck and prosperity for the new year.
This tradition originated in 1895 when the King of Spain gifted many people with grapes on December 31st after a particularly large harvest and is now celebrated throughout the entire country.
Where do you think the best place to celebrate the beginning of a new year is? Do you know of any unusual traditions from around the world?
I’m Emma, a twenty-something Scottish girl who’s obsessed with travel.
I’ve been to 38 countries so far and had some incredible adventures around the world.
My passion for travel and writing led me to create my person blog Emma’s Travel Tales.