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New Year Traditions Around the World
Traditions to bring good luck for the New Year are as old as the celebrations, and come from all corners of the world. Although the celebrations are not always held on the same day, and are as varied as the lands where they are from, the traditions all add to the New Year fervor, enjoyment and fun. They often include religious celebrations, costume parties, parades, etc. Each of these customs holds significance, and involve sharing with friends and family, and wishes for good luck, happiness, health and prosperity in the New Year.
We have compiled a bibliography of selected resources - books, articles, and websites about New Year traditions in different cultures around the world.
Reference Books
Anyike, James C. African American holidays: a historical research and resource guide to cultural celebrations, Chicago, Ill.: Popular Truth, Inc., 1991. Ref. GT4803 .A8
Bellenir, Karen. Religious holidays and calendars: an encyclopedic handbook, Detroit, MI : Omnigraphics, c2004. Ref CE6 .K45
Cohen, Hennig & Coffin, Tristram Potter. The folklore of American holidays : a compilation of more than 600 beliefs, legends, superstitions, proverbs, riddles, poems, songs, dances, games, plays, pageants, fairs, foods, and processions associated with over 140 American calendar customs and festivals, Detroit: GALE, c1999.
Ref. GT4803 .F65 DISPLAY-LIBHenderson, Helene & Thompson, Sue Ellen. Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionary: detailing more than 2,000 observances from all 50 states and more than 100 nations, Detroit, MI : Omnigraphics, 1997. Ref. GT3925 .T46 DISPLAY-LIB
MacDonald, Margaret Read. The folklore of world holidays, Detroit: Gale Research, c1992. Ref. GT3930 .F65
Myers, Robert J. Celebrations: the complete book of American holidays, Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, 1972. Ref. GT4803.A2 M84
Thompson, Sue Ellen. Holiday symbols, Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 1998.
Ref. GT3930 .T48
Brand, Oscar & Townsend, Douglas. Singing holidays: the calendar in folk song, New York, A. A. Knopf [c1957]. M1629.3.A1 B73 DISPLAY-LIB
Broussard, Antoinette. African-American holiday traditions: celebrating with passion, style, and grace, New York, NY : Citadel Press, 2000. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Gaer, Joseph & Jauss, Anne Marie. Holidays around the world, Boston: Little, Brown, 1953. Available at DeKalb County Library or through Interlibrary Loan.
Goldberg, David. Holidays for American Judaism, New York: Bookman Associates [c1954]. BM690 .G52r
Humphrey, Theodore C. & Humphrey, Lin T. We gather together: food and festival in American life, Ann Arbor: UMI Research Press, c1988. GT4803 .W4
Introduction to popular traditions and customs of Chinese New Year, Chinese Community Centre, 1986. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Knab, Sophie Hodorowicz. Polish customs, traditions and folklore, New York: Hippocrene Books, 1996. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
McClester, Cedric. Kwanzaa: everything you always wanted to know but didn't know where to ask, New York: Gumbs & Thomas, c1997.
GT4403 .M36 DISPLAY-LIBMilinaire, Caterine. Celebrations, New York: Harmony Books, c1981.
GT3932 .M47 DISPLAY-LIBNathan, Joan. The Jewish holiday kitchen, New York: Schocken Books, 1979. TX724 .N37 DISPLAY-LIB
Rosh khashana i Iom Kipur = Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, New York Association for New Americans, 1992. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Schlein, Miriam & Weihs, Erika. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, New York: Behrman House, 1983. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Stokker, Kathleen. Keeping Christmas: yuletide traditions in Norway and the new land, St. Paul, Minn.: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2000. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Traditions of the new year: Lao Family Community of Sacramento new year celebration, Sacramento, CA: Lao Family Community, 1985. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Underhill, Muriel Marion. The Hindu religious year, Calcutta, Association Press, 1921. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Welch, Patricia Bjaaland. Chinese new year, Hong Kong ; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Weusi-Puryear, Muata. The Kwanzaa handbook: a guide for African-American celebrants, Cupertino, CA : Woman in the Moon, [1996]. GT4403 .K93
Journal and Popular Press Articles
Baker, Mark. A Czech Christmas. National Geographic Traveler, Nov/Dec2005, 22 (8)
Barocas, Randi. Traditions ushers in renewal: sights and sounds of high holidays signal time for joy and introspection. Jewish News of Greater Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz.: Sep 26, 1997 50 (1)
Biederman, Patricia Ward. Los Angeles; war anxiety's not enough to stop Persian new year, celebrants say. Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Mar 20, 2003
Jensen, Bevy Deer. Mohawk new year renewal for New York City. News from Indian Country, Hayward, Wis.: Feb 28, 1999 XIII (4)
Johnson, Erinn R. No more excuses. Black Enterprise, Jan2006, 36 (6)
Kohl, Fawn. A new year brings a clean house and a fresh beginning. The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Mass: Jan 3, 2006
Komlosy, Anouska. Procession and water splashing: expressions of locality and nationality during Dai New Year in Xishuangbanna. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Jun2004, 10 (2)
A Korean new year's. The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: Nov 25, 2004
Levi-Strauss, Claude. How the gift idea started. UNESCO Courier, Jan96, 49 (1)
Li Weibao. When the new year comes twice. Natural History, Jul94, 103 (7)
New years. Canada & the World Backgrounder, Jan1998, 63 (4)
The new, new year. Russian Life, Sep/Oct2005, 48 (5)
Peng, T.C. What is `Chinese new year'? Chinese American Forum, Jan2000, 15 (3)
Sataline, Suzanne. Unorthodox new year; some celebrate Judaism's high holy days with yoga, hiking, mountain retreats. Wall Street Journal (Eastern edition), New York, N.Y.: Oct 7, 2005
Starting the new year with thanks. National Catholic Reporter, 1/6/2006, 42 (10)
Stevens, Peter F. What's new is old; when it comes to January customs, the Irish New Year features those from bygone eras. The Boston Irish Reporter, Dorchester, Mass.: Jan 2005 16 (1)
Stevens, Peter F. Towards a happy Celtic new year: January's traces of Ireland's past. The Boston Irish Reporter, Dorchester, Mass.: Jan 1, 2001. 12 (1)
Thao, Elizabeth. Happy Pimai! (happy Lao new year!). Hmong Times, Saint Paul: May 16, 2006. 9 (10)
Thoughts. Forbes, 1/9/2006, 177 (1)
Trimble, Susan. Tibetan new year celebration at Labrang Monastery. China Today, Feb2002, 51 (2)
Waters, Irene. New year in St Petersburg. Contemporary Review, Dec2004, 285 (1667)
Wetzsteon, Rachel. Poem for a new year (Poem). New Republic, 11/14/94, 211 (20)
Williams, Laura. Bringing in the new year. Russian Life, Nov/Dec2004, 47 (6)
Yardley, Jim. For the Year of the Dog, Beijing's big bang will be perfectly legal. New York Times, (Late Edition (East Coast)). New York: Jan 27, 2006.
Yeh, Chiou-Ling. "In the traditions of China and in the freedom of America": the making of San Francisco's Chinese new year festivals. American Quarterly, College Park: Jun 2004. 56, (2)
New year's traditions - http://www.infoplease.com/spot/newyearcelebrations.html
New year traditions - http://www.english-zone.com/holidays/newyear-trads.html
New Year Traditions Around the World - http://www.fathertimes.net/traditions.htm
New year traditions & superstitions around the world - http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/new-year-traditions.htm