6 Interesting Facts About New Year
4. People sing the traditional Auld Lang Syne song as the clock strikes 12.00 am, marking the New Year. The song was penned by Scottish poet, Robert Burns over 300 years ago. The message of the song is that “despite the pain in doing so, we must remember and toast to those we’ve loved and lost in order to keep them close to our hearts.”
5. The Japanese welcome the New Year by ringing bells in Buddhist temples for 108 times at midnight. The number 108 has a special significance in the Buddhist tradition as it stands for the 108 sinful human acts. It is believed that ringing the bells helps to expel these sins from the previous year. To witness this ceremony, most people gather at The Watch-Night bell in Tokyo.
6. It is believed that New Year’s foods influence good and bad fortune. In most of Spanish-speaking countries, it is believed that popping one grape at each stroke leading up to midnight brings good luck. Also, eating black-eyed peas, ham or cabbage is considered as good luck. However, eating lobster or chicken is not considered auspicious.
