For centuries the beginning of the year was celebrated at different times. Only 1691 Pope Innocent XII fixed the New Year beginning on the first January.

Many religions against it have a movable New Year day! The Jews and Islam after lunar years, the Iranians after solar years.

In China, Korea and Vietnam one welcomes the new year between the end of January and the end of February.

New year is the largest festival of the Chinese culture, which is celebrated for three days with splendid dragon and lion parades.

New Year is also associated with many different facets of superstition.

Free according to the motto "How the New Year begins, so is the whole year" has been and is still being followed today according to certain rules:

For example, this is how bww. the housewife has always not to leave any laundry to dry during the New Year, as this would bring misfortune and work in the coming year.

In the many rural areas of the Alpine region, "smoking", the walking around of living and working rooms and stables with blessed incense, is common to drive away the demons.

In the Chinese world, the house is thoroughly cleaned with bamboo branches that drive away the evil spirits before the beginning of the New Year festival, according to old tradition. During the New Year's days, one would run the risk of also turning out happiness.

Many food and drinking habits that one cultivates at the turn of the year also have a superstitious background.

It is obvious that on New Year's Day you can treat yourself to something very special, after all, you say: "Whoever eats well over the years has the whole year round".

Some superstitioners let their lentil soup spoon out on New Year's Day so that small change never runs out in the New Year. In other areas this is considered to be the consumption of sauerkraut.

New year's carp is also popular. This means that the housefather puts one of the fish scales under his plate. This must be kept in the wallet throughout the year, which should guarantee a full wallet.

Nibbles chips, nuts and salt sticks to compensate for the loss of minerals caused by alcohol.

Dehydrated alcohol! Compensates for fluid loss. Drink plenty of water after the New Year's Eve party.

You didn't follow the above tips!?

You wake up the next morning or even at noon, your skull hums, and the headaches almost kill you?

Then only a hangover breakfast can help.

Take plenty of fresh fruit, wholemeal products, scrambled eggs, pickled herrings and lots of water with you.

Avoid the use of a painkiller if possible!

Get a long walk instead. A lot of fresh air makes you fit.

A nice New Year's Eve party wishes you the whole team of frankfurt-tipp.en

In Central Europe pork dishes such as pig's head or "sour trunks", which are supposed to bring good luck, are widespread.

As sweets one eats marzipan pigs, but also bakery products such as fruit bread or the so-called "pork bread". New Year's bread, into which often individual coins are baked.

Poultry, on the other hand, should not be eaten at all at New Year's, because luck flies away otherwise. An exception are the Rhinelanders, who want to defy their fate with the New Year goose.

With the Greeks there is the Basilius bread, into which they bake individual coins.

In some parts Englands triangular tartlets are baked, filled with minced meat and passed on as presents.

In England it is also common for neighbours to visit each other on New Year's Day and eat homemade cakes with wine together.

In Scotland on the other hand the so-called Black Bun is served. Haggis, filled sheep's stomachs, are eaten in a cosy circle of friends. The whole thing is washed down with plenty of whisky.

In Russia one eats borscht and kutya, the latter being a porridge-like dish made of wheat and other cereal grains, which stand for hope, as well as honey and poppy seeds, which are supposed to bring joy and success.

In Israel sweet apples in honey as New Year's food should express the hope that the New Year will become sweet.

In Spain a grape is eaten with every midnight chime. At the 12th stroke, before you embrace and congratulate yourself, everything must be eaten if you don't want bad luck in the new year.

Americans visit friends, relatives and neighbours. During these spontaneous visits, one wishes the very best for the new year and there is plenty to eat and drink.

Japanese bake rice cake one week before New Year at a social gathering.

At New Year you eat Soga, a type of pasta similar to Italian macaroni, which is supposed to give you a long life.

The drinks served at the turn of the year are as varied as the eating habits.

Champagne or sparkling wine is the focus of the action. Around the globe you let the corks pop at midnight.

In Scotland but you don't toast with sparkling wine, but with the Hot Pint, a punch of strong beer, whisky and eggs.