New Year’s customs seem unchanging and familiar. New Year’s is celebrated everywhere, but its format in different cultures is sometimes so diverse that it surprises and forces one to rethink familiar stereotypes.

1. The main character of the New Year’s holidays, Father Frost, has many names and nicknames. Different countries call him by different names: in the USA, Canada, and Australia, he’s Santa Claus; in Germany, he’s Santa Nikolaus; in Romania and Moldova, he’s Moş Crăciun; and in Finland, he’s Jollupukki.

2. In Australia, New Year’s begins in midsummer, making local celebrations unique. The local Santa Claus is far from the traditional fur-clad image: he prefers a comfortable, bright red wetsuit or cheerful swimming trunks with a hat.

3. Stories about the origins of Father Frost have varied origins. In Slavic and Scandinavian mythology, his original image was that of the stern Old Man of the North, the ruler of the Eternal Frost. In Central and Western Europe, the appearance of Father Frost was initially associated with a kind figure—Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.

4. In 45 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar throughout the Roman Empire, establishing January 1st as the beginning of the new year.

5. The custom of celebrating the New Year traces its roots to Ancient Mesopotamia. According to one version, the Sumerians and Assyrians began celebrating the beginning of a new calendar cycle long before our era, approximately 2,000 years ago.

6. The history of the New Year tree is shrouded in legends about various spirits. In some cultures, it was decorated with treats to reconcile hostile deities, while in others, it served as a symbol of the forces of light. These customs have ancient roots.

7. In regions of the Southern Hemisphere, fir trees are less common, but the desire to decorate remains unchanged. Instead of the traditional fir tree, eucalyptus is often used as a symbol of the Christmas holidays.

8. In Ecuador, on New Year’s Eve, people have a custom of writing letters in which they detail all the troubles and difficulties of the past year. This action symbolizes the release of negativity, allowing a new chapter in life to begin with a clean slate.

9. In India, New Year is celebrated more frequently than in many other countries. The national holiday, Gudi Padwa, is celebrated throughout the country, but each state also celebrates its own New Year in accordance with the prevailing culture and traditions of that region.

10. In some Muslim countries, New Year is not celebrated at all. There, decorating a Christmas tree and festive festivities are viewed as a return to pagan customs and useless activities. However, in countries such as the UAE and Kuwait, citizens are allowed to display fireworks on New Year’s Eve, although Saudi Arabia strictly prohibits such festive events.