As fireworks streak across the night sky and people race to eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight, New Year’s Eve bursts to life with traditions, games and celebrations around the world. These traditions, along with other celebrations, share a common purpose and meaning: to welcome the new year.
A popular way families celebrate the New Year is gathering around the TV to watch the ball drop in Times Square, New York City. The first Times Square ball drop took place Dec. 31, 1907, and has occurred every year since. This year, around one million people gathered in Times Square with an additional one billion people watching the celebration online.
According to sophomore Kate Rheinheimer, this tradition emphasizes connection and spending time with loved ones. Rheinheimer said her family spent New Year’s Eve together watching the ball drop and playing board games.
“New Year’s traditions are important because starting the year with positive energy and spending time with the people you love sets the tone for the rest of the year,” Rheinheimer said.
Many families welcome the New Year with cultural traditions connected to their heritage. For example, freshman Cate Dicus celebrates the New Year with with her family by partaking in a Korean tradition where she wore traditional clothing and bowed to her elders in exchange for money.
“Celebrating New Years is definitely important because it’s a time to come together with your family and your community,” Dicus said. “[It] serves as a way for everyone to get together.”
On New Year’s Eve, sophomore Juliet Carter ate grapes under the table with her family. Eating twelve grapes at midnight is meant to bring good luck, with each grape representing one month in a year. This tradition originated from Spain in the late 1800’s.
“My New Year’s traditions are mostly about spending time with loved ones,” Carter said. “My entire family gets under the table and eats cotton candy grapes we froze the night before because it’s supposed to bring good luck for the upcoming year.”
Across the globe, whether through fireworks, festive meals or cultural rituals, the act of celebrating together can help people start fresh and share joy. Carter echoed this sentiment.
“New Year’s traditions are important,” Carter said. “You can start off the year positively and bond with other people which just carries good energy into the next year.”
