New Year in Australia
New Year’s Day is on the first of January and is the first day of a new year in the Gregorian calendar, which is used in Australia.
Due to its geographical position and close proximity to the International Date Line, Australia is one of the first countries in the world to welcome the New Year!
What Do People Do?
Known to be a fun loving people, Australians celebrate the dawn of the new year with pomp and celebration. 31st night sees family and friends unite to bid adieu to the departing year and herald the year to come.
Most Australian cities have special New Year’s Eve events that include parades, music and entertainment. Celebrities or dignitaries are often invited as guests of honor or hosts for large New Year’s Eve celebrations.
New Year’s Eve balls are popular and have various themes such as masquerade, black- tie and formal wear, glamour, or even more intriguing themes such as gangster and tropical. Prizes for most innovative or best- dressed outfits are awarded.
Keeping with their love for the outdoors and the summer weather, some Australians opt to celebrate New Year’s Eve on boat cruises or at urban parklands or beaches. Others hold parties or barbecues at their own homes.
Traditions
Traditionally, the christian people visit the Church to offer their prayers to god. Families attend late night mass or morning mass to thank god for the blessings of the old year and to pray for continuous support and guidance in the year to come. The traditional custom of formally announcing the arrival of the New Year is officially considered to take place with the twelve rings of the bell in the Church on the midnight of the New Year.
As soon as people hear the twelve rings, they celebrate by cheering with drums, trumpets, horns and other musical instruments. It is followed by sharing of hugs, kisses, and wishes to all those who are present. Beautifully crafted pyrotechnics are displayed at exactly the 00: 00 hours of January 1. This is something which people enthusiastically and eagerly wait for all year. The most famous fireworks show in the country is above the famous Sydney Opera House. It is said that every Australian should celebrate the dawn of the new year at least once in their life in this venue.
New Year in Melbourne, Australia
The Melbour ne, city of Australia is a major hub for celebrating the New Year. Melbourne is highly popular for the parties it throws on New Year’s Eve. Discotheques, pubs, hotels, and restaurants see masses of people coming and becoming part of high energy parties, where arrangements are made for special buffets and exceptional dinners.
Famous rock bands perform across the Melbourne city and add to the New Year vigor. Another major attraction which one can’t afford to miss is the depiction of the Chinese-Australian rituals, as a part of which traditional practices of ‘sacrificing to ancestors’, are performed with dedication and enthusiasm in the China town in Melbourne.
You too can Celebrate the Dawn of the New Year in Australia
Many Sri Lankan students dream of living and studying in Australia. In order to facilitate and make the Australian dream come true, the Nawaloka College of Higher Studies, which is part of the renowned Nawaloka group has partnered with the Swinburne University of Technology.
Students can commence the degree in Sri Lanka, and then transfer to Australia to complete their studies in the state of the art campus in Hawthorne, Melbourne. To find out more on how you can commence your life in Australia, call 0777 899 998
/ 011 5 899 998 or email info@nchs.edu.lk