There are several reasons why Canada holds New Year’s Eve significant besides the ending of the Old Year. Some of the reasons for this significance is due to the fact that it is the last day of the Canadian tax year and it is the day when all Canadians believe in an optimistic year ahead, forget all their past problems and miseries and put their faith in the New Year being fortunate for them in all areas of their lives.
CELEBRATIONS ON NYE
Private parties or social celebrations like street parties, go to pubs or clubs or restaurants or discotheques are Canadians love to do for New Years Eve 2024. The size of the party varies from large scale extravaganzas with many people or small private parties with only family, extended family and friends where they will confine the celebrations to their homes and have a special dinner.
Whatever, or wherever the party, arrangements are always made for drinking, dancing and lots of food and music to ensure that the attendants have a memorable and fun time saying goodbye to the Old Year and hello to New Year. Most of the parties, whether public or private begin at the onset of New Years Eve and continue until the dawn of New Years Day.
NYE Events
The highlight of course is the midnight fireworks show and toast when champagne and wine bottles are opened and everyone raises a toast to wish each other the best of luck for the New Year. NYE fireworks shows are usually seen in the major cities in Canada like Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec, etc.
Some of the special New Years Eve and New Years Day shows include magic shows, playing of traditional instruments, dancing, poetry, modern rock music, art and acrobats all of which draw huge crowds and lots of art lovers. The major city of Toronto host a laser show with special film screenings and theater performances.
Some private groups, families and groups of friends have totally different New Years Eve plans such as going to nearby nature parks, going show skiing, ice skating, snowboarding or sitting around a frozen lake and ice fishing, drinking and eating.
NYE TRADITIONS
There are some traditions in Canada that are intrinsic to New Years Eve and the celebration is not complete without. These traditions include the cheering, clapping and creating lots of noise at just seconds before through to minutes after midnight in order to chase off all the bad luck associated with the previous year. Kissing and exchanging gifts at midnight are other traditional ways of showing you love for someone.
A tradition called the “first footing” in which a young, dark haired male arrives first in a house at midnight to denote good luck for the coming year. Another tradition is the polar bear swim where young people are challenged to a short swim in icy waters to bring good luck to the society.
There are many other Canadian traditions associated with New Years including eating a bowl of black-eyed pea soup, visiting friends on New Years morning and gathering coals from the fire at midnight.