New Year celebrations around the world Happy New Year 2022.

Dr Masimba Mavaza

Happy New Year to our blessed wonderful readers. God is faithful we have again managed to slip through to another year. This was never our wisdom. It is not even the place where we are, but God alone who has taken us to this end.

We have come this far by faith and we will go that far by faith.

We in Diaspora we envy you. You are home and there is no place like home. 2021 has brought mixed fortunes. Many have lost their loved ones.

You thank God for everything. God will remain your protector and you are where you are by faith.

The Tandi family lost a good man Emmanuel Tandi. He was a good man but God did his will. Last year my friend in Diaspora passed on. God has decided that he dies then. Silas Mkoba one year now may his soul rest peace.

I remember growing up in Chitungwiza, Zengeza 2 to be precise. New Year’s day was something else. You would feel the year changing. We were told that at 12 midnight there would be a roaring sound. The new year was coming to replace the old year. I do not remember hearing the sound but on the strike of twelve there were loud cheers. People would beat drums. Bins were taken from houses and the celebrating mood was electric.

People would pour in the road ululating. That was a ritual. We did that each new year.

Now I sit in the land of strangers. The day passes quietly while I am coiled in a corner. New year has lost its meaning or is it me who have lost his tradition.

Countries celebrate the day differently but the very common thing is the hooting of horns in the street. The excitement is close to insanity.

New Year’s day is a day that binds all Zimbabweans humankind.

The new year must teach us that as a nation, we can’t be consumed by petty differences.

We must be united in our common interests.

As a nation, we must fight for our right to live and to coexist.

And as we come together as one, in the new year, the day must no longer be known as a Zimbabwean holiday, but as the day when all realise that Zimbabwe is bigger than days.

By the same strength, we must strive to govern in the best interest of our nation and, above all, our people.

It gives us great pleasure to know that all Zimbabweans, local and abroad, are slowly outgrowing selfish and immature politicking. We gratefully remember our freedom fighters and martyrs whose sacrifices have enabled us to live yet another year.

Our visionary leaders brought together a diversity of world views to forge a common national spirit.

They were committed to the cause of liberating Zimbabwe from oppressive foreign rule and securing the future of her children. So going into a new year is our way of getting into the future.

We celebrate the new year as Zimbabweans.

In England people gather on the main street of every town. There will be fire work displays. Some will be glued on their televisions waiting to catch a glimpse of fire works in each and every country. They will be judging which country has taken a trophy for the best fireworks.

So Britain observes this ritual through fireworks. This has become the norm on every new year. The fireworks are lit to brighten our future.

Our visionary leaders brought together a diversity of world views to forge a common national spirit which will take us as one to 2022.

They were committed to the cause of liberating Zimbabwe from oppressive 2021 and securing the future of her children in 2022.

Their thoughts and actions shaped the identity of Zimbabwe as a modern nation.

Zimbabwe must swim in the self-evident truths; that all men are created equal and that their Creator endows them with certain inalienable rights, including ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’.

Without the assurance that blood would be shed in her defence, Zimbabwe very well may have remained lifeless.

We are fortunate that our heroes became the guiding light of our freedom movement and because of them we can see tomorrow.

Taking from where former President Robert Mugabe left, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has forged ahead.

Troubled by social strife, economic problems and climate change, Zimbabweans sought relief in President Mnangagwa’s leadership. Today we light our future.

In Brazil, people will eat in lentils in the hope of having good fortunes in the new year.

On 31st December, the festivities hit places around the world at slightly different times too, due to the time differences across the world.

Some cultures may celebrate New Year at a different time to 31st December, because they use a different calendar to the UK.

Generally, whenever they take place, New Year traditions are designed to bring luck and good fortune in the year ahead.

Hence the slogan and salutations will be  happy New Year! One of the most popular ways to celebrate the New Year is with big fireworks displays.

These take place all over the world, as different countries hit midnight.

Although coronavirus restrictions will prevent big crowds in many places, England has allowed New Year’s celebrations to continue. Fireworks are still expected to be fired so people who can not attend can enjoy them from a distance.

Diaspora enjoys amazing fireworks.

In New Zealand, Auckland Sky Tower is usually part of an impressive fireworks display, and the same happens in Sydney Harbour in Australia.

In Toronto in Canada, it’s in Nathan Phillips Square, while in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, it’s the city’s famous Copacabana beach where the sky is lit up by fireworks.

While in Denmark the jovial celebrators will smash plates on your door. If you came out of your front door to find a load of smashed plates, you might be a bit confused.

But that’s exactly what people in Denmark hope to find after midnight, as it means good luck.

So, if you were Danish, you might go and smash a plate on a friend’s doorstep to bring good luck over the next 12 months.

In Brazil, there is a tradition to eat lentils at New Year, as these represent money – meaning good fortune for the year ahead.

In New York in the US, Times Square is the centre of the countdown to midnight.

But the thing that everyone is looking forward to is called the ball drop, which is when a glowing ball is lowered down a big flagpole, to signal the start of the new year.

In Vincennes in Indiana, people drop watermelons from high up!

When the clocks hit midnight in Spain, you’ll find people reaching for grapes.

This is because there is a tradition to eat one grape each time the clock strikes at midnight. The idea is that this will bring you 12 lucky months in the year ahead.

In Romania, there’s a tradition for people to dress up as dancing bears to chase away any evil spirits. Romanian children can be seen dressing up as bears to celebrate New Year.

This is because bears are special according to old Romanian stories and are able to protect and heal people. Some countries, like Japan and South Korea, ring bells to start the New Year.

In Japan, the bells are rung 108 times, so you can expect it to be quite noisy.

In Johannesburg in South Africa, people like to start the year without any unwanted items.

They do this by throwing old furniture out of the window.

In some South American countries, you might see some people on New Year’s Eve walking around with an empty suitcase.

Some believe that taking what is called a “suitcase walk” means they will have a year full of adventures ahead.

Zimbabwe and it’s leadership are indebted to doctors, nurses and other health workers who have been working continuously at the forefront of our fight against this virus in 2021. The Diaspora salutes you too.

Unfortunately, many of them, including our ministers, ambassadors, soldiers have lost their lives to the pandemic. They are our national heroes.

They might not be at the Heroes’ Acre, but they remain our national heroes.

All Covid-19 warriors deserve praise.

They go much beyond the call of duty to save lives and ensure essential services.

With very limited resources, they stood their ground for us as a nation and as a people.

Health workers, members of the pandemic management teams, police, providers of various services, Government employees, social service organisations and generous citizens have been scripting inspiring stories of courage and selfless service.  They risked, and continue to risk, their own lives to save others.

Amid such onslaughts of disasters, it is gratifying to see all sections of society coming together to help those in distress through the leadership of President Mnangagwa. Now as we march into 2022 we must all say, “Happy New Year”.

[email protected]

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey