What are your plans for New Year's Eve 2023? Are you still deciding between the classic giant fireworks show, indulging in a gourmet meal, exploring a historic chateau, or taking a snowy walk? There are plenty of ideas to ensure that welcoming 2024 is a memorable experience. Take a mini world tour of suggestions and tips here.
Australia
Sydney's fireworks are a must-see. The event draws a massive crowd of over a million people annually, including about 300,000 tourists. The whole city joins in the celebration well before the fireworks start, featuring renowned events like concerts, festivals, and various activities that keep the party alive into the early morning hours. But what if this year you've opted to welcome the New Year in Perth? Located in the southwest of Australia, this capital of Western Australia is known for its vibrant and diverse music scene. Throughout the year, Perth lives with the beats of festivals and music events, making it the perfect destination to usher in the New Year. Join the SNACK Festival, a gigantic stage offering a mix of music, rides, inflatable games, bars, and more… This a fantastic way to welcome 2024!
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Dubai or Abu Dhabi? Once again, these two of UAE's most popular cities are competing to provide you with the most unforgettable New Year's Eve celebration. If you're leaning towards Abu Dhabi, dress to impress and welcome the New Year with style and luxury. Treat yourself by booking a masquerade-themed gala dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, or consider a cocktail party at the same venue. Expect breathtaking views, elegance, refinement, and, of course, an essential fireworks display to cap off the night.
The fireworks spectacle in Dubai still lights up the sky, promising an unforgettable evening across numerous spots. Opting for a change from your usual celebrations, you've chosen to step into the role of a food critic this year. Picture this: welcoming 2024 with the finest dishes curated by the city's top chefs, accompanied by the beats of the best DJs and artists of the moment. It's all within reach at the Hall of Wonders, the grand celebration hosted by Time Out Market Dubai.
South Korea
This year, the decision is made: you'll be celebrating New Year's Eve in Busan. While Seoul will undoubtedly be sparkling with festivities, attracting both locals and expatriates to welcome 2024, you aim to celebrate in a unique way. Far from the capital, Busan (or Pusan), situated in the southeast of South Korea, is a contender for the 2030 World Expo. However, it's not just for this reason that you've chosen Busan (your decision was made before this, and we applaud your visionary choice). This year, join the lively and festive Busan Citizen's Bell-tolling Ceremony. Winter in Busan offers a diverse and picturesque natural setting featuring beaches, rivers, and forests for you to explore. Known as a city of culture and music, Busan hosts numerous dedicated festivals, ensuring there's no shortage of entertainment to keep the celebration alive and recharge your spirits for 2024.
France
Remember your first New Year's Eve experience on the Champs-Élysées? That inaugural "blue, white, and red" celebration was a must. In the following years, you revisited the world's most beautiful avenue for its atmosphere, the festivities, and the sheer beauty of the moment to be able to say, "I was there." However, this year, you're looking for something different. Having settled in France, you're opting for New Year's Eve celebrations in other regions.
You found yourself torn between participating in the New Year's Eve grape harvest in Occitanie (after all, isn't wine another iconic symbol of France?), enjoying the view of Mont-Blanc from a cozy hut in the Jura, trying your luck at fishing on the Atlantic coast along with savoring oysters (a quintessential part of a French New Year's Eve), or perhaps spending the night in a huge barrel in Normandy. If you're in an eco-friendly mood, consider a snowshoe hike in the Aspe Valley in the Pyrenees, followed by an igloo-building workshop. Be prepared – you'll be spending the night there. These enjoyable and sociable walks and activities not only allow you to explore the Pyrenees but also raise your awareness of climate change.
Egypt
Celebrating New Year's Eve in the sun has become a tradition ever since you made the move to Egypt. This year, you want to make the occasion special by delving into the history of ancient Egypt. New Year's Eve is considered one of the world's oldest celebrations, dating back to around 4000 BC in ancient Babylon (present-day Iraq). However, during that era, the emphasis was more on agriculture and its seasonal cycles. The new year naturally commenced in spring when nature came back to life.
Ancient Egypt adopted this vision and introduced an additional date to commemorate the transition to the New Year: September 11. This date is linked to water, symbolizing the annual flooding of the Nile, which is crucial for agricultural yields. Fire and gifts round out the trio of symbols associated with the festival. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has modernized this historical tradition with celebrations that, while happening on December 31, recall the rich history of ancient Egypt.
United Kingdom
This year, you missed out on securing a ticket for the London New Year's Eve Fireworks, renowned as the largest display in the country. Sure, you can still catch the spectacle on BBC One, but you're aware there are other prime spots for a fantastic New Year's Eve celebration. One such place is Edinburgh, and that's exactly where you're headed. In 2024, your New Year will be painted in the vibrant colors of Scotland. Hogmanay, which translates to "the last day of the year" in Scottish, is a significant festival with roots tracing back to pagan winter solstice celebrations. The festivities kick off on December 30 with a torchlight procession, a concert, and fireworks, and continue into the next day with a massive concert and a lively street party. The grand finale? A daring ice bath on January 1 — a unique and chilly way to kickstart the New Year (Edinburgh tends to be quite cold at this time of the year).
Mexico
The sun is shining for your New Year in Mexico, and you've chosen to follow tradition by bidding farewell to the past year, making way for the new one. And what better way to do it than with El Viejo de Veracruz, offering you the opportunity to set the world on fire, quite literally! Situated on the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz is the largest city in the state of Veracruz, known for its music, gastronomy, and scenic beauty — a perfect recipe for a festive season. "El Viejo" translates to "the old one," and in Veracruz, the tradition involves getting rid of the old to welcome the new year, symbolizing renewal. For this special occasion, locals gather old rags to create a massive puppet known as "Viejo." They fill it with firecrackers and drag it along the beach to the sounds of festive music and singing. "El Viejo" is consumed in a spectacular fireworks display, keeping the party alive until the end of the night.
Japan
This year, you're opting for a serene farewell to 2023 and a quiet welcome to 2024. For you, celebrating doesn't necessarily involve crowds, lively parties, and a sky full of fireworks. As an expat in Japan, you're stepping away from the typical New Year's extravagance to immerse yourself in history. Plan a visit to Matsuyama Castle, located in the town of the same name, which serves as the capital of Ehime prefecture on the island of Shikoku. Built between 1602 and 1628, this castle stands as one of the few surviving original castles. Keep in mind that the castle tour doesn't extend into the late hours; it closes at 4:30 pm in December and January. This presents a perfect opportunity for you to continue to discover the charms of Ehime.
Happy 2024
At the end of the day, what matters is celebrating the new year in a way that suits you. As an expatriate, the festive season can evoke a range of emotions. Will you be able to return home? Will you be able to receive your family in your host country? Will you be celebrating with a group, a small group, or alone? Some may look for the vibrant energy of a capital city, while others may find it in a village. You might opt to welcome 2024 under the sunshine, or perhaps you prefer the serene calm of a winter's night. There are countless ways to celebrate New Year's Eve, each offering a unique and delightful way to move in the new year. Here's to hoping that 2024 brings you and your loved ones a year filled with pleasant surprises.
