What’s New this Year

As a new year approaches and 2023 comes to an end many of us will be heading out to a party, festival or family gathering. But around the world people are also taking part in other traditions. Let's look at a few

• Over in Thailand where demons were a common belief, people were thought to fire guns at midnight to warn them off in the coming year

• Likewise in China firecrackers are used to frighten away evil spirits

• In the same vain, the Danish throw glasses and plates against each others front doors to rid people of evil

• The South American state of Ecuador, people burn dolls of famous people in the hope of destroying bad “juju” from the past year.

• Native American colonies tended to fire pistols into the air to bring in the new year.

• The famous ball drop in New York’s Times Square. Is a popular attraction these days.

• As we know most countries still have the church bells ringing or clock tower chiming. Most people will "ring" in the new year.

Whatever you're doing to ring in the new year, have fun. Stay safe and Happy New year to you all.