Unusual places to celebrate the New Year
Four plans to welcome 2019 in a different way
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1 Morocco
In Morocco, European and American influences have converted the New Year into a major event. Families get together and celebrate with special dishes based on fish or lamb, listen to music and dance, although the celebration is mostly aimed at tourists.
How: A route through the Sahara
Southern Morocco offers a myriad of possibilities when it comes to activities: 4x4 trips, camel rides, visits to an oasis... ending up with a starlit feast of traditional Moroccan cuisine around a campfire accompanied by local music. The plan lasts all night, and participants get to greet the first day of the new year watching the sun rise among the dunes.
Sunrise in Sahara desert, a different plan to receive the year -
2 Cape Town
In the south of Africa, 2 January is the important day. The celebration dates back to the mid-19th century. The second day of the year was the only day the slaves had off and it has become a bonding event among Cape Town residents.
How: The Carnival
The Kaapse Klopse is one of the events that best represent the local culture. The streets fill with jugglers, music, dance and performances. The preparations and activities carried out during the celebration give the locals the opportunity to learn to play instruments, dance and even take part in organising the events.
The Kaapse Klopse is one of the most expected events of the year in Cape Town -
3 Dublin
In Ireland, some people still believe in superstitions, like one of its most peculiar traditions: having the entire family clean the house from top to bottom for a fresh start to a new year filled with luck.
How: NYF Dublin Festival in Dublin
From 30/12 to 1/01, Dublin is hosting NYF 2018. During this period, all the monuments are lit up and there are celebrations all over the city, from top Irish bands, street artists and magic shows, to impressive air exhibitions. The attractions also invade areas such as Temple Bar and Barnardo Square, and a huge ice rink is installed in Wolfe Tone Square.
During the Dublin New Year's Eve Festival, the Liffey River becomes a light show -
4 Zurich
In Switzerland, New Year’s Eve is known as Silvester, as it coincides with the Feast of Saint Sylvester (31 December). The dinner always includes cheese-based dishes such as fondues or raclettes. Custom dictates leaving some of the meal on the plate until the next day, which will ensure abundance for the next 12 months.
Silvester Zauber in Zurich
In Zurich, the biggest festival takes place on the shores of the city’s lake. From 29/12, they become filled with stands offering food and drink from all over the world. There are stages with live music all over the city and on the 31st, darkness falls over the historic centre at 00:20 for a few minutes, until the boats anchored in the lake begin to launch fireworks.
After the fireworks, the party continues until 3 in the morning
