Celebrate New Year's Eve Around the World

January 1 is the first day of the New Year in all the countries that adhere to the Gregorian calendar. However, there are many countries and cultures that celebrate the New Year on other dates. This week "Let's Travel" previews what's ahead in a host of major cities around the world for New Year's Eve. Our first stop is New York where Chris Heywood, NYC & Co's Director of Tourism Media tells us to expect another record crowd in Times Square where the 100th anniversary of the Times Square "ball" takes place -- plus Fireworks and an annual midnight run in Central Park. Over 45 million visitors are expected to be here in in 2008 he adds. Click nycvisit.com on the web for info you need.

From Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Iceland, Norway and the UK, from China and Japan, from South and Central America, you'll marvel at what's in store for the adventure traveler – from their Customs and Traditions to their Food and Fashion. You'll find this a most interesting tour of some of the world's greatest places to visit on your next trip abroad. For a history of New Year's and a listing of these celebrations click here.

One of the most popular traditions around the New Year is making New Year's resolutions, which dates back to the early Babylonians. Their most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment. Nowadays the most popular resolutions are to lose weight and stop smoking. Many cities from Bologna, Italy to Sydney, Australia to Paris, France and many cities in the United States including New York City celebrate New Year's Eve with fireworks.


There are also many eating traditions for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Here's a list of some of them:


Black–Eyed Peas - actually lentils not peas, have been considered good luck since Ancient Egypt and eaten especially in the southern United States.


Lentils represent money. In Brazil they are served with rice and in Italy they are served with pork sausage.


Cabbage also represents money (the leaves look like bills) and is served in Germany, Poland and Scandinavia.


Grapes are eaten in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, one grape at a time, as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve.


Ollie Bollen – oil balls or puffed doughnuts—are a traditional New Year's treat in Holland.


Osechi-ryori is a combination of foods in Japan, prepared before midnight on December 31, served in layers in lacquered boxes, jubako,and enjoyed until January 3. It is also especially fortunate to eat shrimp, sea bream and long soba noodles.


Of course, there are also foods to avoid, such as anything that flies which might mean that your money and good fortune will fly away in the New Year.

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Our final guest, Eve Nagler, is an inveterate traveler. She's been there, done that and has a few good stories about what to see and do, what to bring along, and the rules of the game. Morocco, Patagonia, the Central African Republic, Spain, and the Costa Brava. She'll keep you enthralled. For more info. about Eve and her travels, click here.