In cultures which traditionally or currently use calendars other than the Gregorian, New Year’s Day is often also an important celebration. Some countries concurrently use the Gregorian and another calendar. New Year’s Day in the alternative calendar often attracts more elaborate celebrations than the Gregorian New year.

Some churches celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ on January 1, based on the belief that Jesus was born on December 25, and that, according to Jewish tradition, his circumcision would have taken place on the eighth day of his life (which would be January 1). The Catholic Church has also given the name Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God to their holy day on January 1.

Specific, high-profile or common celebrations
• On New Year’s Day, people in certain countries gather on beaches and run into the water to celebrate the New Year. Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States and Australia are the most popular countries for this. These events are sometimes known as polar bear plunges, and are sometimes organized by groups to raise money for charity. Polar Bear Clubs in many northern hemisphere cities near bodies of water, have a tradition of holding organized plunges on New Year’s Day.

• In Britain an extra round of football fixtures is played (unless New Year’s Day falls on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday).

• In Pasadena, California, United States, the Tournament of Roses is held, with revellers viewing the parade from the streets and watching on television, followed by the Rose Bowl college football game. The game is one of several post-season bowl games played in college football in the United States (though in 2004 and 2006, due to its involvement in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), the Rose Bowl game was not held on New Year’s Day).

• Vienna New Year Concert in Austria.

• In Philadelphia, the Mummers Parade is held on Broad Street.

• Hindu New Year, which falls at the time and date Sun enters Mesha.

• Hindus celebrate the New Year by paying respects to their parents and other elders and seek their blessings. They also exchange tokens of good wishes for a healthy and prosperous year ahead.

• The New Year’s Day Parade is held in London. Performers include acts from each of the city’s 32 boroughs, as well as entertainment from around the world.

• Since 2008, the National Hockey League has held its annual Winter Classic, an outdoor regular season hockey game, on New Year’s Day.

• In the Southern United States, people traditionally prepare a meal of collard greens, black-eyed peas and pork for a year of good luck. A dime is often placed beneath the plate as a part of the tradition.

• Ski jumping in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany, a part of the Four Hills Tournament.

• In Pennsylvania and Ohio, mostly in or near Pennsylvania “Dutch” (Deitch/German) areas, it is common to celebrate New Year’s Day with a meal of pork, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes. The practice comes from a Pennsylvania “Dutch” tradition that dictates these foods will bring good luck in the New Year.
• In Brazil, celebrations are held around the nation. Most famous is the celebration in Rio de Janeiro which occurs in Copacabana beach, drawing 1.5 to 2.5 million people.

• In Australia, celebrations are held around the nation, especially in Sydney, where one of the world’s largest fireworks displays draws 1 to 1.5 million people to the harbour. Australia is one of the first countries in the world to celebrate the New Year.

• In New York City, the 11,875-pound (5,386-kg), 12-foot-diameter (3.7-m) Times Square Ball located high above Times Square is lowered starting at 11:59:00 p.m., or the last minute of the year, and reaches the bottom of its tower at the stroke of midnight with fireworks. It is sometimes referred to as “the big apple” like the city itself; the custom derives from the time signal that used to be given at noon in harbours.

• Other ball drops occur in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro and Sydney Harbour.

• In European countries, the New Year is greeted with private fireworks. This day is also the occasion to make bonfires of discarded Christmas trees in some countries.

• In Scotland there are many special customs associated with the New Year. These are a part of the Scottish celebration Hogmanay, the Scottish name for the New Year. The world-famous street party in Princes Street in Edinburgh is one of the examples of Hogmanay events.

• In Russia the New Year is greeted by fireworks and drinking champagne. The New Year is considered a family celebration, with lavish dinner tables and gifts. The president of Russia normally counts down the final seconds of the “old year”, as it is called in Russia. A giant clock tower chimes in the New Year, and it is customary to make a wish with each chime.

• In South Korea the most popular way of celebrating New Year’s Day is to travel to Jung dong jin, the place on the peninsula where the Sun can first be seen each day.

• Junkanoo parade, in Nassau, Bahamas.

• Some mayors in North America hold New Year levees.

• In Wales, Calennig is celebrated, with celebrations attracting thousands of people in the capital, Cardiff.

• Japanese New Year in Japan.

• The Peach Drop in Underground Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

• In Davos, Switzerland, the final match of the Spengler Cup ice hockey Tournament is usually held on this day by tradition.

• In the Philippines, people light fireworks, loud firecrackers, booming sound system, bamboo canons as well as make a lot of noise with the belief that the noises would scare evil spirits away and prevent them from bringing bad luck to the coming New Year. Coins are also jumbled in tin cans to make noise with the belief that this will bring more money to the revelers. Children are encouraged to jump about as there was an old belief that this was supposed to make you taller. People wear clothing with polka-dots, the round figures symbolizing fertility and abundance (as in round fruits and coins); some would wear other colorful clothing just to show their enthusiasm for the coming New Year. The tables are laden with food for the Media Noche or midnight meal, and there is a basket of 12 different round fruits to symbolize prosperity in each of the coming year’s 12 months. Most Filipinos would light their own fireworks, but public New Year parties like those in New York and Sydney, are also available to the people and are often very well attended.

• Israel is one country that uses the Gregorian calendar, but does not formally celebrate the New Year’s holiday — mainly due to objections by religious parties on the holiday’s Christian origins. However, many secular Israelis do partake in some sort of informal celebration, especially if they have European, North American, or former USSR origins, who celebrate the Russian version of the holiday, Novi God.

• In Greece, families and relatives switch off the lights at midnight, then celebrate by cutting the “vassilopita” (Basil’s pie) which usually contains one coin or equivalent, whoever wins expects luck for the whole year. After the pie, a traditional game of cards called “triantaena” (31) follows, similar to black jack.
• It is popular to kiss loved ones on New Year’s Eve.
(adapted from Wikepidia)