Prompt Cast
New Year's Traditions Around the World: From Times Square to Edinburgh and Beyond
TLDR Explore the diverse and fascinating New Year's traditions celebrated worldwide, from the iconic ball drop in Times Square to the lively Hogmany festival in Edinburgh, as well as fireworks displays, effigy burnings, grape eating, and unique customs like smashing pomegranates and throwing furniture out the window.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
New Year's traditions around the world vary greatly, involving drinks, food, rituals, and staying up late, and this episode explores some of the biggest and most interesting traditions, starting with the dropping of the ball in Times Square.
02:15
The ball drop in Times Square on New Year's Eve has been a tradition since 1907, with various balls being used over the years and the event being computerized in the 1990s, and prior to the pandemic, around 100,000 people would gather to watch it live.
04:08
Hogmany is a popular New Year's festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, known for its street party, torchlight procession, and fireworks, and the song "Old Lang Zine" originated in Scotland and is played in Times Square on New Year's Eve.
05:58
New Year's traditions around the world include fireworks displays in cities like Rio de Janeiro, London, Dubai, and Taipei, as well as burning figures in effigy in Ecuador and eating grapes at the stroke of midnight in Spain.
07:39
New Year's traditions around the world include smashing pomegranates in Greece, breaking plates in Denmark, walking with an empty suitcase in Colombia, putting salt on doorsteps in Turkey, eating 12 spherical fruits in the Philippines, and throwing furniture out the window in Naples.
09:19
The college bowl system, which includes the Rose Bowl and other games, has grown to over 40 bowl games, but the most important ones are still played around New Year's Day.
10:59
The New Year is a global, non-religious celebration that is celebrated differently around the world, whether it's through eating grapes, smashing pomegranates, or watching football.
