Overview
New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year. In many countries, this day and night are celebrated at parties or other social gatherings, where people dance, eat, drink champagne and watch fireworks. To learn more about how other countries celebrate New Year’s Eve, visit good ol’ Wikipedia.
Details
In the United States, one of the largest New Year’s celebrations happens in Times Square in New York City. In 1904, the inaugural celebration commemorated the opening of the new headquarters of The New York Times. Even though The New York Times headquarters has now moved, the celebrations still take place in Times Square, and focus on the “ball dropping.” A ball covered with over 2,500 Waterford Crystals, and measuring over 12 feet in diameter, is slowly lowered as the crowds count down to the New Year. When it reaches the base, and the clock strikes midnight, the New Year is celebrated.
Trivia
- The island nations of Kiribati and Samoa are the first to welcome the New Year each year. Hawaii is among the last places to welcome the New Year.
- The New Year’s Eve Ball in New York City is capable of creating a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colors, and billions of patterns, producing a kaleidoscope effect.
- In many Latin American countries, it is considered lucky to wear yellow underwear at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. It is unclear where or how this tradition originated, but it is said to bring happiness and good luck in the New Year.
Celebrating Suggestions
- Let your customers know about your catering services well in advance of the New Year – offer packages for “dinner for two,” or “hosting a crowd.”
- Remerchandise your retail store to make finding a New Year’s Eve outfit easy for your customers.
- Host a New Year’s Eve party for your customers, if appropriate. Have dinner and drink specials, and create a festive atmosphere with music, noise makers, and a champagne toast at midnight.
See our LSMerriment series for more New Year’s promotion ideas.
