New Year's traditions around the world are very different. While the differences between the countries of the Western world are quite small, New Year's Eve customs are completely different in other parts of our planet. The most interesting New Year's Eve celebrations in the world differ not only in rituals, but some are also traditionally celebrated in a different time period.
Get to know the most interesting New Year's Eve celebrations in the world:
Classic New Year's Eve
One of the interesting forms of New Year's Eve is certainly New Year's Eve as we know it. In anticipation of the new year, we stay up all night counting down the last 10 seconds before the clock strikes midnight. A very special experience is the classic New Year's Eve in London's Trafalgar Square and New York's Times Square, where every year a huge crowd of people gather to celebrate the New Year together.
![Celebration in New York](https://e7852c3a.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2d10976631-today-131230-times-square-new-years-660x371.jpg)
Chinese New Year's Eve
In China, on New Year's Eve, people gather for big festivals where they feast together with the big dragon mascots, which represent a symbol of power. Children are dressed in new clothes, and families usually bring lanterns to the festival.
![Chinese celebration](https://e7852c3a.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/image1_20150205-120707_1-660x441.jpg)
Rosh Hashanah
Jews believe that God opened the book of life for 10 days in the fall. The beginning of this event is marked by the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, which is a kind of Jewish New Year's Eve. During this time, they repent for their sins and forgive others.
![Jewish New Year's Eve](https://e7852c3a.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/01-jewish-year-5772-vor-1-660x440.jpg)
Songkran
In Thailand, New Year's Eve is celebrated between April 13 and 15, when the year turns according to the Buddhist solar calendar. In Thailand, they celebrate the end of the old era and the beginning of the new one for three days. Many people take part in water festivals, and traditionally, as a sign of goodness and gratitude, they release caught fish back into the wild.
![Elephants also take part in New Year's Eve in Thailand](https://e7852c3a.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/160412-songkran-thailand-yh-1105a_eab86e51a71619a1e0fc1b1705fa587d.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000-660x352.jpg)
New Year's Eve in Bali
In Bali, the New Year is celebrated in March. The celebration is of a slightly more subdued nature than we are familiar with. During this time, people go deeper into themselves and try to calm down in the traditional 12-hour meditation.
![Traditional meditation in Bali](https://e7852c3a.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/suki-zoe-bali-spirit-bhakti-web1-660x444.jpg)
Orthodox New Year's Eve
The Orthodox New Year is celebrated on January 14. New Year's Eve among the Orthodox takes place in an intimate family circle, with good food and interesting conversation.
READ MORE: Homemade goodies for the festive table
![Some New Year's Eve celebrations of the Orthodox](https://e7852c3a.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/russiaxmasday-660x577.jpg)