New Year Parade in Britain

New Year and Christmas in UK ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

New Year in Britain is celebrated on January 1, the first day of the first month as per the Gregorian Calendar. This day was officially declared as New Year’s Day in 1752.

New Year is the much awaited celebration for the people of Britain. Many people hold or attend parties in the evening to say goodbye to the old year and to welcome the new year. The past year is also thoroughly reviewed in the media, including television and newspapers.

The custom of exchanging gifts on New Year has become widely popular in Britain. Although this custom of exchanging gifts was originally done at New Year it is now transferred to Christmas. In England the children rise early on New Year so that they can make rounds to neighbors and singing songs. The children are given sweets, coins, apples and mince pies for singing.

On New Year's Eve (December 31), just before midnight, many people turn on a television to show pictures of one of the four clocks on the Clock Tower on the Palace of Westminster, or Houses of Parliament, in London counting down the last minutes of the old year. At midnight, as the New Year begins, the chimes of Big Ben, the bell inside the Clock Tower, are broadcast to mark the start of the New Year. Champagne or other sparkling wines are often served at this point.

Many people make New Year's resolutions. These are promises to themselves that they will lead a better life in some way in the coming year. Common New Year's resolutions include stopping smoking, losing weight, eating more healthily, getting more exercise or spending less money. Some types of resolution that would lead to a healthier lifestyle are supported by government advertising campaigns.

In some areas, there are a number of customs associated with New Year's Day. In Scotland many people sing the song 'Auld Lang Syne' at midnight as New Year's Day begins. In Scotland and northern England, it is customary to go first footing. This is the first person to enter a house on January 1. There are many traditions and superstitions associated with first footing. A male first-footer brings good luck, but a female bad luck. In different areas there are different traditions about whether the first footer should have fair or dark hair, whether the person should bring coal, salt or other things and what food or drink that person should be served after arrival.

New Year Celebrations in Britain

New Year Parade in Britain

New Year celebrations in Britain is a colorful affair and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Midnight parties, lavish meals, champagnes, music, dance and fireworks are the important parts of New Year in Britain. It is the biggest night-out of the year.

Another important part of New Year celebrations in Britain is the biggest New Year parade. The parade starts at noon walking down the streets via Whitehall, Pall Mall and finishing in Berkley square. Musicians, dancers, acrobats, drums and other entertainers do a splendid job to make the event most distinguished one. Everyone present at the Berkley is openly invited to join the carnival and enjoy the festive occasion.

New Year Symbols

One of the most widely known symbols of New Year’s Eve is the image of the Clock Tower at the Palace of Westminster, in London, counting down the last minutes of the old year. The first chimes of Big Ben, the bell housed in the Clock Tower, in the new year are broadcast live on radio and television. This is followed by a spectacular fireworks performance, often centered on the London Eye, which is claimed to be the largest Ferris wheel in Europe.

New Year Celebrations in Four Countries
United Kingdom is divided in four parts- England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Island. Among these, the initial four celebrate New Year. The major part of these celebrations is mostly similar.

New Year in England- England hosts prolific New Year parties which began on the evening of December 31 and go on till the dawn of New Year's Day. Other than this, there is a tradition of organizing parades, and firecrackers show at midnight of the arrival of New Year.
There is a tradition according to which people keep the back door of their houses open to symbolize for their farewell to the old year. On the same lines, they expect a dark haired and young man to arrive at their threshold on New Year's Day, as it is considered to symbolize for good luck in the coming year. They are made to carry salt, coal, and bread, which respectively symbolizes for abundance of money, warmth, and food in the coming year. However, arrival of a blonde, or a red haired, or a woman is considered to be the source of bad luck in the coming year. There is also a tradition of burning bush, which symbolizes for tearing down of all evils and bad lucks of the past.
New Year in Scotland- The New Year celebrations as hosted by Scotland can be undoubtedly called as one of the best and grandest celebrations of the world. In Scotland, New Year celebration is referred as 'Hogmanay', which is also the name of an oatmeal cake given to small children on New Year's Eve. People in Scotland also follow the first footing tradition, similar to the way it is followed by the people of England.
New Year in Wales- In Wales, New Year's Eve is referred as 'Nos Galan', and New Year Day is referred as 'Dydd Calan'. There is a tradition of clearing all past debts before the arrival of New Year. On New Year's Day, small children wake up early, gather as one, and make a visit to all the houses in neighborhood while singing New Year special songs. In turn, people confer them with sweets, cookies, pies, apples, and coins.

Christmas in UK

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1411