With just a week away for the world to bid adieu to another year and to welcome the dawn of a new one, a wave of revelry will sweep over the globe. The air crackles with anticipation, and people unite to celebrate a new year, a fresh start. A common thread that binds different countries and cultures in their celebrations is the abundance of irresistible culinary delights. In Spain, the tradition of consuming 12 grapes in perfect synchrony with the chiming midnight clock is famous, meanwhile, just across the border in France, people indulge in a gourmet extravaganza known as the "Le Réveillon" dinner, where the star of the show is none other than the delectable oyster and exquisite champagne.

Festivals in Asia are recognized for their colorful and lavish celebrations. Find out what people in various Asian countries will be drinking and eating on New Year's Eve. As a delightful bonus, Australia’s beautiful New Year customs are also described as Australia welcomes summer’s warmth at that time of the year. 

Japan: Steaming bowls of soba and other festive treats to celebrate Shogatsu

The Japanese New Year celebration is known as Shōgatsu. Traditionally, as the dawn of New Year's Day breaks, people rise early to witness the first sunrise of the year. They also make a visit to their nearby shrine (hatsumōde) to ask for prosperity and good health in the coming year.

Culinary Delights: As the clock ticks closer to midnight on New Year's Eve, a comforting ritual unfolds in Japanese homes. Families gather around steaming bowls of Toshikoshi soba which is a hot bowl of soba noodles in soup. Come New Year's Day, spiced sake awaits, believed to ward off flu and colds for the rest of the year. For the first three days of the year, stoves remain idle, and families indulge in Osechi-ryori (Japanese New Year dish), a feast of deliciously preserved delicacies packed in a tiered lacquer box. Each dish carries symbolic significance, from the glistening herring roe representing fertility to the sweet chestnuts symbolizing success. Some other dishes include black beans, shrimp, boiled fish paste, sweet chestnuts, sweet rolled omelets, and many more lip-smacking delicacies. 

The first glowing sunrise of the year and delicious food promise a year of health and happiness.

Thailand: Fireworks for the New Year and culinary revelry in Songkran Water Festival

On 31st Dec and 1st Jan, like other nationalities, Thais engage in parties and fireworks, reveling with family and friends. However, the Thai New Year is the main festival and is celebrated in April as Songkran. Songkran, which annually occurs on April 13 has an extended holiday period until April 15. Water rituals – such as splashing Buddha statues for luck and younger generations bathing elders' hands for blessings – mark the occasion. Street revelry involves exuberant "water fights," creating an atmosphere of fun and joy.

Culinary Delights: While Songkran does not have a definitive dish, Khao Chae, a royal specialty, remains closely tied to the celebration. Comprising rice cooled in flower-scented water and an array of condiments, Khao Chae offers a cooling and refreshing experience in the hot season. Though Songkran lacks a signature drink, Thai tea proves a refreshing thirst-quencher amid summer festivities.

Thailand's New Year unites tradition and joy, crafting unforgettable celebrations

Singapore: New Year Beach parties and a feast of local flavors

New Year in Singapore is like a convergence of friends and families, marked by magnificent fireworks and bustling parties that attract crowds at premier locations such as Marina Bay, the civic district, and Sentosa's Siloso Beach. The city's cosmopolitan character ensures a diverse array of celebratory cuisines in New Year’s Eve feasts, ranging from the local Hainanese chicken rice to the Italian agnolotti in brown butter, all accompanied by effervescent flutes of bubbly. On Lunar New Year in February, the streets of Singapore come alive with colorful parades and traditional lion dances and a food carnival begins. 

Culinary Delights: The auspicious Hokkien dish, Mee sua, featuring longevity noodles is relished on day one of the Lunar New Year, while on the seventh day, the Teochew dish Qi Yang Cai graces tables, displaying seven different vegetables, each laden with auspicious symbolism. Further enriching the festivities are special culinary delights like the Cantonese Lap mei fun, a hearty clay pot rice dish brimming with flavors. The food journey continues with radish cake (lo bak go), Nian Gao (sweet rice cake), Bak Kwa (Barbecued Pork Jerky), Stuffed Three Treasures which are dried oysters filled with beancurd, yang (mutton soup), Ji (steamed chicken), and Chin Deh (Hainanese chicken rice balls) to name a few. 

In Singapore, New Year's celebrations are enhanced by food, flavors, and traditions.

Australia: Summer season barbecues and New Year midnight fireworks

In Australia, the arrival of December marks the start of summer, bringing warmth everywhere and building anticipation for the world-famous New Year fireworks display. 

Culinary Delights: New Year's Eve becomes the perfect time for families and friends to gather for a barbecue, or 'Barbie,' outdoors. Whether it's a gas or charcoal grill, the sizzling meat, smoky air, and good music set the tone for celebrations in Australian homes. People enjoy casual games like cricket or totem tennis while the chef flips the meat on the barbecue. Cold beers are sipped, and banter fills the air as sausages cook. Plates are loaded with salads, sausages, prawns, and burgers. Veggies like zucchini and eggplants also find their way on the grill. 

It's a fun, laid-back Aussie way to welcome the New Year – good food, good company, a relaxed atmosphere, and midnight fireworks. 

Malaysia: Countdown New Year parties and a kaleidoscope of tastes

Malaysia rings in the New Year with lively street fairs, electrifying live concerts, brilliant fireworks, and glamorous rooftop parties. 

Culinary Delights: While there's no specific traditional New Year's meal or drink, festive dishes take the spotlight. Rice dishes steal the show, featuring Nasi Minyak (fragrant rice) with curry and Nasi Biryani. For starters, there's the flavorful Lekor Keropok (fish crackers) and chicken satay. The main courses include Ayam Masak Merah (Chicken casserole), Beef Rendang Tuk (slow-marinated beef), Udang Masak Lemak Cili Api (spicy prawns), and kerabu Beehoon, among others. Cap off the feast with desserts like Aic Kacang, a treat with shaved ice, syrupy cendol, and Bubur Cha Cha, a sweet soup. Wash it down with popular drinks like strawberry-flavored Sirap Bandung, Sirap Selasih, and Lihing (rice wine). 

The diverse flavors of Malaysia's New Year's fare promise a feast for the senses.

Vietnam: Street celebrations, family feasts and regional specialties for Tet

On December 31 in Vietnam, the air is filled with excitement as people bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new. Streets come alive with colorful celebrations – from bustling street parties to dazzling fireworks in major cities. Yet, it is during Tet, the Lunar New Year celebrated in January or February, that Vietnam truly comes alive in a crescendo of revelry. Families reunite to honor ancestors, seeking luck, prosperity, and health for the upcoming year. 

Culinary Delights: Central to these New Year celebrations is the food fiesta, with the Tết cake bánh chưng, taking the spotlight. Across the country, families partake in day-long feasts, featuring regional specialties such as nem, bánh chưng, and whole-boiled chicken in the North, while the South boasts caramelized pork, bitter melon soup, and chicken salad. Lotus tea is also very popular. These dishes not only signify the overcoming of hardships but also embody the optimism and fresh beginnings heralded by the new year.

The New Year festivities culminate in family feasts ushering in hopeful beginnings.

Indonesia: Rice delicacies and abundant flow of palm wine

In Indonesia, each city celebrates the New Year with unique traditions, ranging from lantern and coffee festivals to hillside sunrise views and traditional puppet shows.

Culinary Delights:  Amidst the New Year festivities, a culinary mashup takes place because of the multi-ethnic diversity of Indonesia. Which dishes will make it to New Year’s Eve feasts? Mee Rebus, noodles in a delicious shrimp gravy, sets the tone for a night of indulgence. Tumpeng, a cone-shaped rice dish, steals the spotlight with its festive presentation. Desserts include the airy Kue Bolu sponge cake and the rich heritage of Jajan Pasar. Seafood lovers dive into the smoky delights of Ikan Bakar, while Murtabak, a stuffed pancake, adds a savory twist to the celebration. As glasses clink, Tuak, palm wine, flows freely, complemented by the warmth of Sekoteng's ginger kick and the traditional touch of Arak, rice wine. 

Cheers to a tasty celebration!

South Korea: New Year bash, Seollal and gourmet feast

Koreans celebrate two New Year's, the global January 1 and the lunar-based Seollal. Families exchange New Year's greeting cards and everyone collectively ages a year on January 1.

Culinary Delights: The heart of the New Year celebration lies in the food. Tteok, thin rolls of glutinous rice, are the main dish representing wishes for longevity and prosperity. Sliced and added to tteokguk, a traditional soup, it becomes a staple during Seollal. Another culinary highlight is mandu, dumplings filled with a mix of ground meat, tofu, and veggies, crafted in a multi-day family affair. Though commercial shortcuts exist, some still opt for the labor-intensive process of making mandu wrappings from scratch. From spicy rice cakes (deokbokki) to braised short ribs (galbijjim), Seollal's menu reflects a rich tapestry of Korean culinary tradition, emphasizing family unity and the anticipation of a prosperous year ahead.

Cheers to Korea's double New Year bash – one global, one lunar with heaps of tteok and dumplings.

Taiwan: Family traditions and culinary festivities

In Taipei, the New Year's countdown isn't just a countdown, it's a public extravaganza! The New Year's Eve Party has a prime view of Taipei 101 with music from global artists serenading the ecstatic party-goers. This party is an annual tradition. However, in Taiwan, the Lunar New Year is a more important celebration. 

Culinary Delights: The New Year’s symbolic foods served during the Lunar New Year reflect the vibrant traditions of this fifteen-day festivity. Dumplings are thought to resemble gold nuggets of old China, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Families might sneak in a coin in the dumpling or, nowadays, edibles like peanuts for added luck. Whole fish, a cornerstone of the festivities, represents abundance and good fortune. Mandarin oranges, signify wealth and good fortune. Apples symbolize peace. Pork, a symbol of prosperity, finds its place in Zhu Jiao Mian Xian promising longevity. Fa-gao, the "prosperity cake," hints at career elevation and increased wealth. Candy, dried fruits, and sweets stored in "Trays of Togetherness" convey good wishes. Kumquats, in season and echoing luck in pronunciation, are savored. Peanuts, associated with long life and prosperity, feature in snacks. Pineapples, linked to financial benefits, make for popular New Year treats. Finally, the white turnip, a homophone for "good fortune," appears in various forms, including the revered Turnip Cake.

 In Taiwan, each dish embodies tradition and carries a deep meaning.

United Arab Emirates: Spectacular NYE parties and global cuisines

In the dazzling UAE, where the impact of everything is magnified tenfold, the New Year celebration is nothing short of spectacular. The NYE party could start with a live concert and conclude with a Yacht party.  

Culinary Delights: The gastronomic offerings are foods from around the world and as diverse as the skyline. While there's no set menu for the celebration, Emiratis indulge in a variety of global cuisines, from French delicacies to aromatic Indian dishes. However, amidst the fusion of flavors, some traditional delights hold a special place. Thareed laham, a soul-satisfying lamb stew enriched with potatoes and vegetables, warms the heart as it is comfortingly slow-cooked. Meanwhile, Machboos, an iconic dish infused with aromatic spices and dried lime, fragrant spicy rice, and chicken, lamb, or fish. Amidst the savory delights, Lugaymat, a beloved Emirati dessert, adds a sweet note to the celebration. These deep-fried dough balls, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, symbolize the spirit of sharing and generosity intrinsic to Emirati culture. Then there is the sweet Shirin Polo, lamb Biryani, and the wafer-thin Rigag bread. 

The food mirrors the grandeur of the NYE fireworks in this extraordinary land.

Hosting a New Year bash stands as an important event on the annual calendar of many restaurants. TableCheck helps restaurants manage their reservations allowing businesses to grow and deliver what they do best – creating joyful experiences for their guests, especially during the holiday season and the New Year.