Article: from pigs to pickled herring: New Year traditions

New Year's Day is one of the few holidays not geared toward a religion, ethnicity or geographical location: Almost everybody turns the calendar to a brand-new start at the same time, give or take. The holiday does have roots in Christianity, but non-Christian countries celebrate Jan. 1 as a public celebration -- as long as they're following the Gregorian calendar.

Most of the celebrating is done Dec. 31, as if to send out the old in the most raucous manner possible. Parties are de rigeur, consumption of alcohol close to mandatory and the tacit understanding that the party will continue until at least midnight makes revelers settle in early for the long haul.

There are traditions on New ...

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