New Year's in the USA: Family above all
The celebrations for the New Year's Eve and the New Year's Day are flooding the country, and the people of the US are putting all their energy into creating memorable time within the first hours of 2017. Endless shopping, spirited street music and art performances, store displays with outlandish festive design, and glancing lights.
“Most houses in the neighborhood have been decorated and illuminated. You just cannot miss this festive atmosphere”, says Olivier, a French expat in the USA. He will be welcoming the New Year with his wife and daughter, who have just returned from their Christmas holidays in France. “For Christmas, I was with my two dogs, so, I wasn't really alone. On the 5th of January, we're going on vacation to Costa Rica.”
New Year's in Brazil: Under the scinitllating sun
This year, Craig, a US expat, is spending his first holidays in Brazil as a permanent resident. “The holidays in Brazil is a wonderful time of the year — great weather, family time, and lots of social events to go to. The atmosphere here is festive, and there are lots of holiday activities to do with the whole family”. For him, Christmas is about going to the mall to see the Santa Clause and all the window decorations, or go downtown to walk around the decorated parks throughout the city.
Craig's plan for the New Year's Eve is to have a party at home with around 20-30 family members and friends. “We are going to celebrate under the stars while enjoying the beautiful weather outside on the patio, unlike most of our family in America that is seeking shelter from the bitter cold and the snow.” After the New Year, Craig will be travelling to the beach for about nine days of soaking up the sunshine in Bahia. “This is the time of the year to relax and enjoy yourself! From now until after the carnival the country takes a step back, and its vacation time.”
New Year's in Japan: When celerations and traditions blend
Married to a Japanese, Rey is a retired US expat in Yokohama. He'll be celebrating the New Year's Eve for the third year in Japan. “Our end of year celebration is Japanese style but with American food!”, he says. And since old habits die hard, he has been ordering honey baked ham and making the side dishes for the past two years when his wife's children come for dinner. “We meet our relatives on New Year's Day and give money in envelops to their children. Then we visit my wife's dad at his home. The following day we go to Kamakura to the main temple for the New Year celebration. I like the warm sake served near the entrance.”
Please leave us your comment: How did you welcome the New Year?
Expat.com seizes the opportunity to wish you a Happy 2017!
