Edition 15: How is light integral to New Year's traditions around the world?
HLB Lighting Design
Illuminating the lives of people around the globe through innovation, education, and stewardship.
In almost every corner of the world, regardless of what calendar is observed, the New Year is a significant milestone imbued with symbolism and celebrated via long-held traditions passed from generation to generation. Light is a constant presence in many of these customs, whether in the form of fire, fireworks, electric lighting, or even our greatest source of illumination, the sun. No matter the form, light has proven to be a pervasive part of New Year's traditions around the world, and in this month's edition of Lighting Design Talk we're exploring the meaning behind a few compelling examples.
1. It represents good fortune.
In many celebrations, light is synonymous with the idea of prosperity and good luck in the year to come. The Japanese tradition of hatsuhinode is rooted in a belief that the toshigami, a god of good fortune, appears at sunrise on New Year's Day. Today, many people in Japan wake up early on New Year's Day to watch the sunrise, often traveling to a beach or mountain top for a more scenic vista. HLB Associate Director Azusa Yabe, who grew up in Japan, remembers this tradition fondly:
"When I was young, New Year's was the only night I could stay awake as late as I wanted. My friends and I would try to stay awake until the sun came up – we often fell asleep, but our parents would wake us up to watch the sunrise together. We would all celebrate with soba noodles, rice cakes, and sweet sake for longevity and good luck in the New Year." - Azusa Yabe, Associate Director
2. It symbolizes new beginnings.
New Year's is often treated as a proverbial reset, a chance to shed the year that was and make a fresh start. This idea is pervasive in celebrations around the world, with light acting as a beacon of new beginnings in many New Year's traditions. Historically in Scotland, for instance, fires symbolized the rising of a new sun and were believed to ward off evil spirits. Torches, bonfires, and fireworks are popular choices for New Year's celebrations in modern day Scotland.
In Ecuador, the tradition of a?o viejo takes the concept of "out with the old, in with the new" to another level. Large figures made of paper and other flammable materials, often depicting pop culture characters and politicians, represent the misfortunes of the past year, and are set on fire at midnight to symbolize a fresh start. The figures must be completely incinerated, otherwise it is believed that the ill fortune of the previous year will follow you into the new one.
3. It attracts a crowd!
Many New Year's celebrations around the world utilize light to create massive spectacles for the public to take part in and enjoy – like the famous Times Square tradition in New York, where a large, illuminated ball drops from the roof of One Times Square at the stroke of midnight. In Sydney, Australia, home of one of the earliest New Year's Eve celebrations due to its time zone, two massive fireworks displays detonated from the illuminated Sydney Harbour Bridge attract millions of visitors from around the world. The luminous spectacle requires more than a year of planning and a multimillion-dollar budget. Paris, France and Madrid, Spain are also known for their spectacular fireworks displays with a backdrop of some of the world's most iconic architectural landmarks.
As lighting designers, we know that life inspires great design. As 2024 comes to a close, we anticipate the year ahead with excitement and a fresh point of view. How are you preparing for the New Year? Join the conversation and let us know!