Festivals
Chinese New Year
Beijing, China
Families reunite for a feast, give red envelopes and decorate with red lanterns. The date follows the lunar calendar.
Usually: January–February · Theme: Lunar New Year · Months: January, February
New Year, many calendars
The new year starts on different days depending on the calendar. See how it is welcomed in spring, midwinter and harvest time.
The places
Festivals
Nowruz
Persepolis, Fars, Iran
Celebrated at the spring equinox across Iran, Central Asia and beyond, with a table set with symbolic items called haft-sin. It is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Usually: Around 20–21 March · Theme: Persian New Year · Months: March
Festivals
Songkran
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thai New Year is celebrated with respectful water-pouring over Buddha images and elders' hands, which grows into citywide water fights.
Usually: 13–15 April · Theme: Thai New Year · Months: April
Festivals
Rongali Bihu
Guwahati, Assam, India
Assam's spring festival of new beginnings, with Bihu dance, drums, traditional dress and festive foods.
Usually: Mid-April · Theme: Assamese New Year · Months: April
Festivals
Losar
Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhist communities mark the new year with prayers, cleaning the home, special foods and dances.
Usually: February–March · Theme: Tibetan New Year · Months: February, March
Festivals
Nyepi
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
The Balinese New Year is a day of silence: no lights, no travel and no work. The night before, giant papier-mâché ogoh-ogoh figures are paraded through the streets.
Usually: March · Theme: Balinese Day of Silence · Months: March
Festivals
Hogmanay
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Edinburgh hosts a huge street party with a torchlight procession and fireworks. At midnight crowds sing Auld Lang Syne, a song by Robert Burns.
Usually: 31 December – 2 January · Theme: Scottish New Year · Months: December, January
Festivals
Pongal
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
A four-day Tamil harvest festival named after a dish of rice boiled in milk until it overflows, a symbol of abundance.
Usually: January · Theme: Harvest thanksgiving · Months: January
Festivals
Baisakhi
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Punjab marks the spring harvest and the founding of the Khalsa in 1699, with processions, bhangra and visits to the Golden Temple.
Usually: 13–14 April · Theme: Harvest and Khalsa foundation day · Months: April