January 1st may seem like the final reset button for most of the world, but surprise! Not everyone is drinking champagne and yelling “Happy New Year!” When the clock strikes midnight. From lunar cycles to centuries-old traditions, plenty of cultures have their own unique calendars — and yes, they even have their own New Year’s celebrations that have nothing to do with January 1.

Chinese New Year

Sometime between January 21 and February 20 (2025: January 29).

This isn’t your regular midnight countdown; It is a 15-day festival filled with red lanterns, dragon dancing and abundant dumplings. Rooted in the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year symbolizes the arrival of spring, new beginnings, and all the fireworks your ears can handle. Each year is assigned a zodiac animal. So, if you’re blaming Mercury retrograde, maybe check out if this is the year of the Wood Snake.

Thai New Year (Songkran)

Welcome to Songkran, where the concept of “new beginning” literally involves buckets of water. Songkran, celebrated as the Thai New Year, is basically a nationwide water fight (along the lines of Holi in India) to wash away bad luck and sins. If you’re in Thailand during this time (April 13-15), you’ll probably get wet, whether you’re in a temple or walking down the street.

Bali New Year (Nyepi)

The Balinese calendar lags the Gregorian calendar by 78 years and follows the lunar sequence. Nyepi is Bali’s “day of silence”, where the entire island of Bali shuts down – no flights, no cars, not even lights. In 2025, Nyepi Day will be celebrated on Monday, March 29, 2025. It is a day of reflection and fasting, followed by a night of wild parades to ward off evil spirits. This might be the coolest New Year celebration in the world. If you’re dreaming of peace and quiet, this is your jam.

Korean New Year (Seoul)

Seollal, a holiday lasting three days (including the day before and after New Year’s Day), marks the beginning of the New Year in Korea. Korean New Year occurs in January or February depending on the year; In 2025, it will be celebrated on 29 January. Koreans celebrate Seolal with family gatherings, traditional games, and tteokguk (a rice cake soup that is believed to add a year to your life). People also keep money in sebatdon (bags) on this day and hang them on cherry blossom trees, believing that it will bring happiness and good fortune.

Islamic New Year (Hijri)

The dates vary every year (based on the lunar calendar; in 2025, it is likely to be Thu, Jun 25, 2025 – Thu, Jun 26). The Islamic calendar is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, so the dates of the Islamic New Year vary every year. Unlike the big celebrations that we associate with the term “New Year”, it is a quiet, contemplative occasion in many Islamic countries.

Also read: Planning a New Year’s trip? The biggest visa changes Indians should know about

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