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Library Exhibit December 2005
New Year Traditions Around the World
All around the world people celebrate
the coming of a new year and time with traditions from their countries.
Although the celebrations are not always held on the same day, they often
include traditions of religious celebrations, costume parties, parades
and with customs said to bring good luck and fortune 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
Bellenir, Karen. Religious holidays and calendars: an encyclopedic handbook, Detroit, MI : Omnigraphics, c2004 Ref. CE6 .K45
Cohen, Hennig and 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
Henderson, Helene and 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
Humphrey, Theodore C. and Humphrey, Lin T. We gather together: food and festival in American life, Ann Arbor : UMI Research Press, c1988
Ref. GT4803 .W4MacDonald, 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 1998
Other Books
Gaer, Joseph & Jauss, Anne Marie. Holidays around the world, Boston: Little Brown, 1953. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Rosh khashana i Iom Kipur = Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, by New York Association for New Americans, New York: NYANA, 1992. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Schlein, Miriam & Weihs, Erika. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, New York: Behrman House, 1983. 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, London: Oxford University Press, 1970. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Welch, Patricia Bjaaland. Chinese new year, Hong Kong ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1997. Available through Interlibrary Loan.
Selected Articles
Barocas, Randi. Tradition 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)
Bush, George W. Message on the observance of the Lunar New Year, 2005. Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents; 2/14/2005, 41 (6)
Bush, George W. Message on the observance of Nowruz. Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, 3/21/2005, 41 (11)
Celebrating Phagwa, Hindu new year. New York Amsterdam News, 4/1/95, 86 (13)
Jensen, Bevy Deer. Mohawk new year renewal for New York City News from Indian Country, Hayward, Wis.: Feb 28 1999, XIII (4)
Lexicon: `Seaquankeyquash.' Yankee, May93, 57 (5)
My seven. National Geographic, Jan2005, 207 (1)
Nathan, Joan. Restoring a fragile link to new year's past. New York Times, 09/24/97, 147 (50925)
New years Canada & the World Backgrounder, Jan1998, 63 (4)
The history of halloween. Skeptic, 1999, 7 (3)
The new, new year. Russian Life, Sep/Oct2005, 48(5)
Sataline, Suzanne. Unorthodox new year. Wall Street Journal - Eastern Edition, 10/7/2005, 246 (72)
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 races of Ireland's past. The Boston Irish Reporter. Dorchester, Mass.: Jan 1, 2001, 12 (1)
Wyman, L. Pilar. Happy new year! Key Words, Jan-Mar2005, Vol. 13 (1)
Websites
Chinese new year: the history and features of the Chinese new year http://www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/newyear.htm (link no longer active)Links to the Jewish Outreach Institute (JOI) home page and other resources on Rosh Hashanah http://www.joi.org/celebrate/rosh/
New year's day: details the Jewish new year, the Muslim new year, and the Hindu new year. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/7214/newyear.htm
(link inactive as of 7/5/06)New year's day: history, traditions, and customs http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm
New year around the world http://www.fathertimes.net/traditions.htm
New year's traditions, Auld Lang Syne and other new year's customs http://www.factmonster.com/spot/newyearcelebrations.html