Tequila Boom
Mexicans would not be Mexicans if they were to celebrate the New Year sitting decorously at the table and engaging in leisurely conversation. These people will not miss an opportunity to have fun. So if you happen to be in this country on the night from December 31 to January 1, hold on tight.
New Year trips to Mexico include visiting several cities, and in one of them you will celebrate the holiday. And it does not have to be the capital—in any part of the country the celebration is very fun. Of course, you should not refuse a tasty dinner at the hotel restaurant, but you can only feel what a real Mexican New Year is like on the street. After the wild celebrations, be sure to find time to explore the sights of this interesting country.
A week before the New Year, in different cities of Mexico, here and there you can see a strange clay vessel hanging on a rope—a piñata—painted with images of various fairy-tale creatures. Inside the piñata are gifts, candies, and fruits. Whoever wants luck and happiness in the new year must break the vessel blindfolded. The faster you do it, the more favorable fate will be, according to Mexicans.
Continuing Traditions
Most trips to Canada begin in Toronto (translated from the Huron language as "meeting place"), the unofficial capital of the country's English-speaking part. The city is located on the shore of Lake Ontario and is an international standard of cleanliness and order. Ottawa, despite its capital status, is calmer than Toronto. Here, besides visiting all kinds of parks and museums (for example, the Museum of Numismatics, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the National Gallery, the Caricature Museum), you can go to Parliament and attend one of its sessions.
Montreal, the oldest city in Canada, is located in the province of Quebec. Montreal is sometimes called the "city of saints" because most streets are named after Catholic saints. This makes an unexpected impression, given that modern Montreal is a city of skyscrapers and expressways.
By the way, exploring the province of Quebec, if you happen to be there, can take your entire vacation, because such a number of museums, lakes, rivers, and cathedrals probably cannot be found anywhere else in Canada. It is here that it is best to celebrate the New Year. First, in Quebec it lasts as long as three days; second, it is in the first week of January that the International Ice Sculpture Competition takes place here annually. Otherwise, celebrating the New Year in Canada looks fairly traditional: a festive table, a cheerful company, fireworks, carnival costumes, and an entertainment program. And there is snow on the streets, decorated fir trees stand all over the country, and garlands glow. In general, almost like home. So Canada is a great option for those who love a traditional New Year and, at the same time, want a change of scenery.
In Vancouver, on January 1, the Walrus Festival begins. In Ottawa, in February, there is a magnificent "Snow Ball." In Quebec, the carnival begins in early February. In Montreal, in February-March, the spectacular Festival of Lights is held.
Between Summer and Winter
The hot tropical Hawaiian Islands and cold Alaska. What do they have in common? They are part of one state and lie on the same longitude, and they are the last to celebrate the New Year, a day after the people of Kiribati.
It cannot be said that our northern neighbors actively visit Alaska, especially for the New Year, but those who do get there return satisfied. The tourist service here is of a high level, because Americans themselves like to come to Alaska on vacation. Moreover, this state is a suitable place for extreme sports enthusiasts: you can snowboard, ski, and ride snowmobiles here. That is why quite a few skiers gather here in winter. The New Year is usually celebrated in an organized manner, in a small restaurant or hotel. But there are also those who prefer to go in a "mobile home" away from people and celebrate the holiday somewhere in the forest.
And in Hawaii at this time—sun, sea, palm trees... and fearless surfers making dizzying turns on giant waves. And the same Americans happily spend their New Year's "vacation" here.
On the numerous islands of the archipelago, guests have excellent hotels and great service, but rooms in these hotels for the New Year need to be booked six months in advance. And then you will be lucky to meet it Hawaiian-style, on the ocean shore.
The American visa is the biggest problem for our compatriots, because everyone who enters the US from any country is a priori considered a potential emigrant. Therefore, all your documents must be in order, and when filling out the application and having an interview at the embassy, do not lie. It will definitely come out. Do not violate the terms of your visa in the country, otherwise you will not be allowed into the US again.