by Andi Progonati

Created on: November 09, 2010

Preparations for the New year's eve in Albania start long before 31st December. It starts with the Christmas tree which in Albania is known as "New Year's Tree" or " New Year's Pine". Children are the one that tend to be the most festive during the Eve. Celebration of New Year's Eve is considered to be the most joyous day of the year. On these day, 31st December, grandparents, parents, children and relatives are gathered together to spend some remarkable moments all together. Having an abundant dinner with different kinds of delicious dishes is also a tradition. Here it is what you can find during New Year's Eve dinner in an Albanian family:  steak, beef, roast, lamb, pork, turkey different types of salad such as xaxiki, green salad, olive and tomato salad, Cesar's Salad, different types of dairy produce starting from mozzarella to ricotta, Gouda etc.  The drinks: High quality wine, beer and raki ( a kind of alcoholic drink that tastes the same way as Tequila but that is prepared differently). The last, but not the least, the desserts; if it happens to in an Albanian family during these festive days you should ask for "kadaif" or "baklava", and you are going to get a heavenly delicious dessert. There is no house in Albania that during New Years Eve does not have these two desserts.  It is a tradition that during the dinner people should be cheerful and happy, and of course it cannot occur otherwise. Every moment of that night is magic as all the people on the table share happy moments with one another.

Another part of the tradition is that of watching lot of  comedy shows on that night, as the New Year should find people smiling and full of joy.The most amazing moment of the night is the last minute of The Old Year and the minute to come of the New Year. At 00:00 everybody toast and greet the others, a lot of fireworks brighten up the sky of the city. They wish each other a prosperous new year, full of happiness, joy, good health and lots of fortune. It is a tradition that at 00:00 people call each other on the phone to greet one another or send SMS to all their friends.  31st  December is the busiest day of an Albanian. This day is the day when one should  think about what is to come and has been left behind. The "what is to come" should be welcomed, and "what is left behind" should never be forgotten.

Learn more about this author, Andi Progonati.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.