New Year 2025: Countries that don’t celebrate January 1, here’s what they do

Though, according to the Gregorian calendar that we follow worldwide, January 1 marks the first day of the year, making it New Year’s Day, many countries do not follow this and instead celebrate the day at different times of the year. Their celebrations hold significance in their rituals, customs, and traditions pertaining to their rich cultures. These countries do not celebrate the New Year on January 1. 

Jewish New Year- Rosh Hashanah  

One important occasion on the Jewish calendar is the Jewish New Year. It usually occurs in September or October, which is when Judaism's High Holy Days begin.  

The sounding of the shofar, a ram's horn trumpet, is one of the most famous customs of Rosh Hashanah. Families get together for joyful dinners that include symbolic foods like pomegranates, which symbolize the hope for a year full of good actions, and apples soaked in honey, which symbolize the want for a lovely year. 

Thai New Year- Songkran  

The Thai New Year, Songkran, is observed around the middle of April. It is also known for its water festival, where participants splatter water on one another as a cleaning and cleansing ritual. During Songkran, people visit temples, show respect to elders, and take part in customary rituals.  
 
People build sand pagodas at the temple, take part in parades, and eat traditional Thai food with their family in addition to the water celebrations. Songkran is a celebration of rebirth and solidarity. 

India-Hindu New Year-Diwali 

The cultural and religious variety of India causes significant regional variations in New Year's celebrations. For instance, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh celebrate Ugadi as the beginning of the Hindu lunar calendar. In Maharashtra, the New Year is celebrated on Gudi Padwa. According to the lunar calendar, Gujarati communities celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, as the New Year.  

Persian New Year- Nowruz 

Iranians and many other people in the Middle East, Central Asia, and beyond celebrate Nowruz, also known as "New Day," as the Persian New Year. It usually occurs on March 20th or 21st, the vernal equinox, and signifies the start of spring.  

Families start cleaning and decorating their homes weeks before Nowruz to get ready. One of the main components of the festivities is the Haft-Seen table, which has seven symbolic objects that begin with the Persian letter "S." Along with visiting friends and family, people also exchange gifts and take part in other festive activities. 

Chinese New Year- Lunar New Year 

Chinese communities around the world celebrate what is commonly referred to as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year. The Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and takes place between January 21 and February 20. This is in contrast to the Gregorian calendar, which has a set date.  

One of the twelve zodiac animals is linked to each year, and this association rotates in a cycle. Bright parades, dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and the distribution of red envelopes (hongbao) containing cash—a sign of good fortune and wealth—are all part of the celebrations. 

Hijri – Islamic New Year 

Muslims around the world celebrate the Islamic New Year, also called the Hijri New Year. It usually takes place in the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram, and signifies the start of the Islamic lunar calendar year. It falls on multiple days in the Gregorian calendar because the precise date changes every year according to the lunar calendar.  
 
Despite the lack of elaborate celebrations, Muslims frequently spend time with their loved ones, attend mosques, and read the Quran during the Islamic New Year.  

New Zealand- Maori New Year-Matariki 

The Maori people of New Zealand celebrate Matariki, often known as the Maori New Year. Though it usually occurs in late May or early June, the precise date changes from year to year. The Matariki star cluster, also referred to as the Pleiades, emerges in the pre-dawn sky during Matariki.  

Storytelling, traditional dances, and the sharing of Maori stories and tales are all part of the celebration. It's a time to recognize the interdependencies among the environment, the land, and people. Families frequently gather for meals and cultural events.