New Year’s Eve in South Africa is one of the biggest festivities of the year because it marks the last day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, December 31, before the New Year. In South Africa, people celebrate New Year’s Eve Day dancing, having braai, drinking, watching or lighting fireworks as they count down to the New Year. In this article, we discuss some of the things do on New Year’s Eve in South Africa.
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What is New Year’s Eve?
In the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, the day before New Year’s Day, is on 31 December. In some countries, New Year’s Eve is also known as Old Year’s Day or Saint Sylvester’s Day. The public holiday in South Africa is celebrated at evening parties, where many South Africans eat, dance, drink and do lots of fun activities together. In South Africa, some Christians attend a watchnight service. The New Year’s Eve celebrations generally go on past midnight into New Year’s Day, 1 January.
According to History.com, the earliest recorded festivities in honor of a new year’s arrival date back some 4,000 years to ancient Babylon.
According to research in South Africa, New Year’s Eve festivities can be traced back to celebrations in Europe that date back before Christianity spread. As reported by TravelTriangle, when many inhabitants in Europe were converted to Christianity, these festivals were merged with Christian beliefs and in time came to mark holidays such as the New Year’s Eve and New Year celebrations.
Please note that not all countries celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. For example, Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, Coptic and Chinese calendars differ to that of the Gregorian calendar.
But are the things to do on New Year’s Eve in South Africa for 2021? Let’s have a look at some of the things you can do on New Year’s Eve South Africa.
Things to Do On New Year’s Eve in South Africa
- Attend Church Service – Some South Africans attend midnight church services on New Year’s Eve
- Gather in Public Places – Some people gather in public venues to count down for the closing seconds of the old year.
- Host Parties – In South Africa, some people hold parties to bid farewell to the finishing year and to celebrate the New Year.
- Braai (Barbaque) – New Year’s Eve in South Africa is also a great opportunity for families and friends to gather and braai some meet while doing a count down to the New Year.
- Light Fireworks – South Africa is also best known for lighting some fireworks on New Year’s Eve Day. Many New Year’s Eve celebrations in South Africa are highlighted by firework displays.
- Watch Televised Countdown – The SABC is best known for broadcasting live New Year’s Eve celebrations where people can watch their favourite artists perform live on stage.
These are some of the things you can do on New Year’s Eve in South Africa.
As the clock strikes midnight into New Year’s Day, many people in South Africa and around the world, celebrate the crossover by hugging, kissing and wishing one another a “Happy New Year”.
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