Following the blessing of the waters on Epiphany
Eve, church goes take home the holy water for its
protective and purifying powers. On the morning
of Sf. Ion, young people who have collected this
water splash everyone they meet as a blessing for
health and happiness throughout the year. The
splashed individuals reward them with small gifts,
candy, or money. Such water rituals also aim to
protect households from fire and animals from
beasts.
In some rural areas, married women gather and
party at a host's house, bringing food and drinks to
celebrate together until morning.
As January 7th is the day of Sf. Ion, millions of
Romanians bearing names like Ion, Ioan, Ioana, and
many derivatives celebrate their name day
(onomastica) on this date. Such events are
significant social gatherings, often as important as
birthdays, involving large family meals with
traditional dishes like sarmale (cabbage rolls) and
cozonac (sweet bread), gift-giving, and the
traditional greeting "La mulți ani!" (Many happy
returns!).
Popular tradition suggests that after Saint John's
Day, the frost "gets baptized" and begins to soften,
indicating the weather will start getting warmer.
This day also marks the end of the winter holidays.
In Spanish speaking countries, Día de los Reyes, or
Three Kings' Day, is a celebration on January 6th
that closes the Christmas season, commemorating
the arrival of the Three Wise Men to see Jesus.
Celebrations include eating Rosca de Reyes (a
sweet bread), children receiving gifts from the
Three Kings like they do from Santa Claus, and
sometimes themed public parades called
"cabalgatas". Families also leave out shoes for
gifts, milk and cookies for the kings, and food for
their camels.
Celebrations and
observances across the globe
New Year customs vary worldwide, with significant
differences in regional and cultural practices that
include, for example, smashing plates in Denmark
for luck, banging on pots and pans in Ireland to
scare away unwanted spirits and poor fortune,
cleaning houses in Japan to start fresh, wearing red
underwear for love or yellow for wealth in Latin
America, keeping money in the pockets for financial
stability, and eating black-eyed peas or long noodles
for prosperity and a long life.
Foods and Drinks
Many cultures incorporate specific foods as symbols
of good luck, abundance, and progress for the coming
year.
Bubbly beverages like champagne are a classic choice
for toasting and celebrating joyous occasions. In
Scotland, a warm, spiced drink called "hot pint”, or
Wassail is shared with neighbors for good health and
abundance.
In Spain, eating 12 grapes at midnight, with one for
each stroke of the clock, is a tradition for good
fortune, and people can make 12 wishes for the 12
months of the year. It is said that sweet grapes predict
a happy and successful year full of optimism and joy.
Very popular in Southern USA, the classic New Year's
Day meal, Hoppin' John is a traditional dish made of
black-eyed peas, rice, and smoked pork seasoned with
vegetables. Black-eyed peas symbolize coins or
pennies, collard greens (often served alongside meat)
represent paper money (greenbacks), and cornbread
symbolizes gold.
In Romania, the foods on the New Year’s dinner table
are of exceptionally good taste, expensive, even
imported luxury items and delis, from appetizers to
fine wines. Traditionally, dinner consists of pork roast,
French salad, cabbage rolls, and sometimes fish
specialties. Cheese pies with fortunes are also very
popular. Deserts include fresh fruits, fruit pies, and
elaborate cakes.
General Traditions
Visually spectacular firework displays are a common
way to celebrate the start of a new year.
Traditional songs are often sung to bid farewell to the
old year.
An ancient custom in European history, kissing a new
friend or a long-loved one at midnight, is believed to
bring luck and blessings.