In Lebanon, New Year's Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. Officially known as 'Jour de l'An,' it is a public holiday and the celebration begins on New Year's Eve. Many locals take to the streets, attending public gatherings and private parties where fireworks are a common sight. The streets of Beirut, the capital, are often filled with people participating in countdowns to midnight and reveling in the festive atmosphere.
Food often plays a central role in New Year's Day celebration in Lebanon. Traditional Lebanese meals are prepared at home and families gather around to share the feast. These meals often include dishes like 'Mezze' - a spread of small dishes such as Falafel, Tabouleh, and others, 'Kibbeh' - a dish made from finely ground meat and spices, and 'Baklava' - a sweet dessert. Additionally, a custom of baking a cake known as 'Vasilopita' is common, which has a coin hidden inside, is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the person who finds the coin in their piece.
Lebanese people also visit churches for special New Year's Day services. The ceremonies involve singing hymns and prayers for the coming year. Many Lebanese people also participate in the age-old tradition of making New Year's resolutions. This is a list of goals they would like to achieve in the upcoming year. Just like in many parts of the world, exchanging gifts, especially among children, is a popular custom to mark the beginning of the New Year.