New Year's Eve holds the record for most seniority. The Babylonians were celebrating the New Year 6,000 years ago, in the first nine months after the solstice. The festival lasted 11 days, with various activities taking place every day. Then people, as now, set goals for the new year, reports Agerpres.

 

 

A common custom among the Babylonians was the return of borrowed agricultural equipment. On this occasion, the king went through a ritual of repentance and was stripped of power to spend three days in isolation and in prayer. When he returned to the world, restoration ceremonies were organized to provide him with the support of nature.

 

In Ireland, single girls believe that the night between the years is an opportunity to find their true love. They place the mistletoe under the pillow dreaming of the magical moment when they will meet their chosen one. The mistletoe also drives away evil spirits. In terms of politics, it is believed in Ireland that the night wind between the years can predict the future of the country. If it blows from the west, it will bring prosperity, if it blows from the east, the British will dominate politics.

 

Polka dot clothes and round dishes seem to be the choice of Filipinos for the balance of the years. They believe that they will prosper because round points invoke coins. Also, throwing coins at midnight means plenty of revenue growth.

 

In Ecuador, midnight crow scarecrows are made. Each family has its own scarecrow filled with newspapers and pieces of wood, which it burns in front of the house. Tradition says that this destroys all the evil accumulated in the past 12 months, paving the way for happiness. In this country there is also the superstition that the yellow lingerie worn on New Year's Eve brings optimism next year.

 

The Chileans, more precisely the inhabitants of the city of Talca, celebrate their New Year with their dead relatives. The gates of the cemetery open at 11 o'clock at night, and the locals are greeted by muted classical music and dim lights, turning the cemetery into a festive place.

 

Better known is the American habit of sharing a passionate kiss with a loved one at midnight, which is believed to erase unpleasant memories of the past, paving the way for a future full of love.

 

Brazilians welcome the new year with very colorful underwear. They usually wear cheerful shades of red and yellow in hopes of attracting luck and a possible partner. Wishes for wealth and love are expressed through lingerie. Outdoor fires are lit on Paulista Boulevard at midnight. In such a celebration, fireworks are the harbingers of the new year.

 

In many parts of Europe, the tradition has been that the first person to enter one's house after midnight should bring a gift, a coin for prosperity, a loaf of bread for abundance, salt for flavor, or strength for good will. It is preferred that this "first footer" be a man with dark hair.

 

The island of Madeira in Portugal holds the record for the most glorious New Year's party. In 2007, 8,000 fireworks were launched per minute until a total of 600,000 was reached. Tourists from all over the world gather to watch the dizzying show. Here it is customary to eat 12 figs on New Year's Eve, which symbolizes 12 wishes for the coming year.

 

The tradition of prom in the Habsburg era has been preserved at the Austrian Imperial Salon. At midnight the "Blue Danube" resounds, and Strauss's "Bat" is always staged. The participants in the ceremony have pork on the table, a sign of luck. And the tables are decorated with chocolate piglets. The children pour molten lead into a tub, and a clairvoyant reads the shapes of the lead. If the metal forms a sphere, it means that the New Year brings luck and prosperity, if it takes the form of an anchor, it means that people will need help to overcome difficulties.

 

In China, the New Year is celebrated on the second new month of the solstice. Firecrackers and firecrackers are said to drive away evil spirits. Fabulous dragons and lions dance in the streets. People dress in red, the brightest of colors, and children receive red envelopes with money. Tangerines are also offered for luck, but only in even numbers. Another New Year's tradition is for people to come out and shout their wishes for the coming year. At the same time, he has to throw food as high as possible.

 

In Greece, a special bread called "Vasilopita" is served on New Year's Eve. A penny is hidden inside it when it is put in the oven. The bread is cut exactly at midnight and whoever receives the piece with the prize will be lucky next year. Here, the New Year's Day is dedicated to Saint Basil, famous for his kindness. Children leave their shoes by the fireplace on New Year's Eve to receive gifts from the good saint.

 

France celebrates the holiday called "Le Réveillon" with luxury food, champagne and gifts.

 

In Turkey, gifts are exchanged during a celebration of traditional Turkish food.

 

In Spain there is a tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve. Each represents a month of the following year. Depending on how sweet it is, so will the month: better or harder. For brides, New Year's Eve is an opportunity to slip their wedding ring into the champagne glass and collide.

 

In Venezuela, those looking for a soulmate wear red underwear.

 

The most popular New Year's Eve drink is champagne. Everywhere in Europe and America it is accompanied by toast. In Russia, a drink of vodka, lemon juice and tap water is called "dirty water" and is drunk to stop bad luck. The Russians usually open the doors and windows for the new year to enter the house.

It is customary for people to kiss under the mistletoe at midnight on New Year's Eve. It can be considered a romantic gesture, but it is also a greeting for the New Year among people wishing them a happy new year, health and luck.

 

In Scotland, the New Year is called "Hogmanay", and in some villages rolls of tar are lit, which are then left to roll on the streets. Thus, the old year is burned and the new one is allowed to come. The Scots believe that the first person to enter the house on New Year's Eve will bring either luck or bad luck. The new year will be lucky if this person is a brunette man who brings a gift. "Auld Lang Syne", one of the most popular New Year's songs among English speakers, also appeared in Scotland. The song was first published by the poet Robert Burns in 1796 in the Scots Musical Museum.

 

In Liege, Belgium, on January 1, it is customary to eat choucroute (a kind of sauerkraut with sausages) as a family, with a coin under the plate, in your hand or in your pocket, to have money all year round.

 

In Naples, Italy, the New Year is celebrated with a special custom, which consists of throwing old objects, symbols of the past year, out the window. Thus, furniture, dishes, clothes, etc. they end up on the street, to the chagrin of the garbage collectors, who have to cross at night to clean up. On New Year's Eve, called "Capodanno", Italians usually put special dishes on the table, which are said to bring wealth and abundance.

 

In the Netherlands, the Oudejaarsdag or "last year's day" (December 31) is celebrated with many fireworks, which start at dawn and last until late at night. In fact, this is the only day that fireworks are allowed, they are on sale only three days before the New Year

 

.

In Hebrew, the New Year means "Rosh Hashanah." It is a sacred time when people think about what they have done wrong in the past and promise to be better in the future. Special ceremonies take place in the synagogues, where the shofar is played, a special instrument. The children receive new clothes, and the meal must include fruits and flour products, to remind them of the harvest time.

 

In India, the New Year is celebrated differently depending on the region. In West Bengal, people are adorned with flowers, which they color in red, pink, purple or white. Women wear yellow clothes, the color of spring. In southern India, mothers put food, flowers and gifts in a special box for children. On New Year's Eve, children should keep their eyes closed until they are led by hand to the gift box. In Central India, orange flags adorn all buildings on New Year's Day.

 

In Vietnam, the New Year is called "Tet Nguyen Dan" or simply "Tet". The Vietnamese believe that a god lives in every house, and on New Year's Day he goes to heaven. There, he says how good or bad each family member was last year. The god travels on the back of a carp, which is why Vietnamese people usually buy a live carp on New Year's Eve, which they let go of.

 

In Japan, people spend a whole week preparing for the coming of the new year. The house must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent the appearance of any evil spirits. All debts must be paid and, above all, all disputes resolved and mistakes forgiven.

For the Japanese, the New Year, called "Oshogatsu", is one of the most important holidays and a symbol of renewal. "Forget-me-not parties" or "Bonenkai" are organized, in which people leave behind the problems and worries of the year that are about to end and prepare for a new beginning. Misunderstandings and animosities are forgotten. On December 31st, at midnight, families go to the nearest temple to share sake (traditional drink, no.) And to witness the 108 gong blows announcing the passage of the new year (this figure represents the number of sins accumulated in -a soul throughout the year, and the gong blows symbolize the banishment of sins one by one and the purification of souls). On January 1, children receive otoshidamas - small gifts with money inside. On New Year's Day, dreams and wishes are written on a piece of paper.

 

Unmarried women in Belarus are waiting for New Year's Eve to find out if they will get married. They hold a few grains of corn in their hand, with which they lure a rooster. According to tradition, the girl whose rooster crouches will get married next year.

 

In the US, the New Year is expected on the streets of cities, as in Canada. Everyone celebrates the start of the New Year at traditional parties, sometimes at masquerade balls when everyone comes in a themed costume and with masks (according to tradition, guests have to take off their masks at midnight). Also at midnight, the bells and sirens sound, the sky is flooded with fireworks and everyone shouts in a "Happy New Year!" In New York, a 100-year-old tradition has been to throw a ball into Times Square. This is also the case in Hong Kong, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, San Antonio and Sacramento, California. In other areas, various things are thrown to mark the New Year: in Easton (Maryland) - a crab, in Atlanta (Georgia) - a peach, in New Orleans - a pot.

 

A pensioner from Belgium has a less common harassment: for 9 years, pizza has been delivered to his door every day, but he does not know who orders them on his behalf.  If you find it a pleasure to receive this culinary preparation so loved by some, well, find out that the old man ended up terrified and called the police.

For almost a decade, Jean van Landeghem has received tons of pizza.  He is horrified only when he utters this word, and when he hears the delivery man's car and the doorbell coming, he is already beginning to tremble.  "One is delivered to me every day, sometimes even at 2 at night.  The peak was last year when one day I received no less than 10 deliveries.  At one of them, the courier was holding 14 boxes ", said the pensioner.

 The vendors, who work with dozens of restaurants, began to know the pensioner's address.  "When I got here, I realized that I had at least five more delivery orders from different restaurants," said the pizza boy.  Because he always refuses orders, the man does not have to pay for them, but the bill is charged to the delivery services.

 The 65-year-old retiree, a former construction worker, does not know who and why he orders pizza and has made several complaints to the police.  The Belgian journalists asked the law enforcement officers why they are not investigating the IP address from which the order is placed, but they only stated that they have started an investigation.

How many times have you heard that if you're on a diet, you don't have to eat anything after 6:00? So be it? The most deceptive rules of diets, written by Bemorepanda.

 

So give up the harmful tricks and follow some golden rules that will surely be beneficial for your body.

 

1. High-fat foods add extra pounds to the scales

 

Fake! It depends on the type of fat consumed. Fats in chips, cookies and oily foods increase cholesterol levels and, with it, the risk of more diseases. Good fats, however, those taken from nuts, avocado or salmon, for example, protect your heart and greatly improve your health. Consumed in a healthy lifestyle, these fats prevent you from gaining weight.

 

2. Avoid snacks between meals

 

Fake! Small portions, consumed between meals, are the best way to overcome hunger. All you have to do is reduce your portions and opt for healthy foods. Walnuts, fruits and natural yogurts will provide you with energy for a whole day.

 

3. All calories are the same

 

Fake! The type of calories and their quality can influence the effect on the body. Food gives rise to various reactions in our bodies, so the type of food is an extremely important factor in the diet. For example, the 50 calories in an apple can give rise to completely different reactions from those in a cake. Nutrient-free calories - empty calories - are found, for example, in french fries.

 

4. Give up carbs

 

Fake! Carbohydrate studies are often misinterpreted. Indeed, if consumed in excess, refined carbohydrates (white bread and white rice) can cause weight gain over time and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. But there is no evidence that those healthy carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits and vegetables would affect health or influence weight gain.

 

5. Consume as much protein as possible

Fake! A diet based on high protein intake will not have spectacular results. In addition, she is not healthy. The body needs three macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates and fats. Focusing exclusively on protein is pointless. Not only will you drain your body of fiber and other antioxidants found in healthy carbohydrates - whole grains, fruits and vegetables - but there is also the risk of including too much fat in your diet, thus raising your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

 

6. Remove gluten from the diet

 

Fake! There is no evidence that gluten is a fattening ingredient. The danger is excessive consumption of refined grains - foods made from white flour or other refined grains. Moreover, removing gluten from the diet means a deficiency of fiber, iron, vitamin B12 and magnesium.

 

7. You burn more calories if you exercise on an empty stomach

 

Fake! Skipping the table before exercise can cause massive loss of muscle mass. Before you start exercising, eat a sweet fruit - banana, peach, mango. Contrary to appearances, a square of dark chocolate is recommended before going to the gym. It will increase your energy considerably!

 

8. Skip breakfast to be able to consume more calories for lunch and dinner

 

Fake! The tendency is to increase calorie intake at lunch and in the evening, when the body's activity begins to decrease. In most cases, excessive consumption is installed in the late hours, due to the low calories in the morning portion. In fact, the most spectacular weight loss was recorded in subjects who ate a hearty but healthy breakfast.

 

9. Eat the egg white, throw the yolk

 

Fake! According to recent studies, egg yolk ensures the increase of good cholesterol. Compared to egg white, which provides only protein, egg yolk contains carotenoids, essential fatty acids, vitamins A, E, D, K. In other words, eggs are the perfect food. However, limit consumption to a maximum of 4 per week.

 

10. You burn more calories if you eat raw food

 

Fake! Although many foods are healthier when eaten raw, this does not have to be the rule in all cases. Many studies show that when cooked, food changes its nutritional values.

 

Copyright © 2020 Bemorepanda Limited. All Rights Reserved.

The content available on the Bemorepanda.com website can be copied and republished in the limit of 200 characters and in the limit of 10 pictures and must include the URL of the article. It is forbidden to completely copy the material and place it anywhere else without indicating the link and the full name of the page.