We all know that on New Year’s in the US, everyone orders Chinese food, drinks champagne, and watches the ball drop. Ever wonder what other people are doing around the world just a few hours later…..or earlier?

• Japan- Consists of eating traditional foods such as soba or Japanese noodles. At midnight, many famous temples ring 108 sounds with their bells. On New Year’s Day, the Japanese drink three mouthfuls of sake in order of age in the family.
• Vietnam- New Year’s is referred to as Lunar New Year’s. This holiday happens every year in February and in the month before. At midnight, people travel to pagodas to pray to Buddha and then they go to see Chinese dragon dances and fireworks. Watermelon is the special fruit during the Vietnamese New Year’s.
• Australia- New Year’s in Australia is celebrated on Jan. 1 and is celebrated with parties and streamers and confetti fireworks.
• Belgium- New Year’s Eve, or Sint Sylvester Vooranvond or Saint Sylvester Eve, is celebrated with parties and champagne.
• Scotland- New Year’s, or Hogmany, is celebrated with first footing, where neighbors pay visits to one another’s homes to wish them happy New Year’s and bring gifts of shortbread. The Scottish consider it a good omen for the year if a tall, handsome man enters the home before anyone else once the New Year has begun.
• Greece- New Year’s Day is also called the festival of St. Basil. The Greeks celebrate by eating traditional foods such as Vassilopitta, or St. Basil’s cake. This cake has a silver or gold coin baked inside it and it is believed that whoever finds the coin will have good luck in the upcoming year.