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European New Year's Celebrations - Events for New Year's Eve in Europe

By James Martin, About.com

fireworks picture, new years eve

Many New Year's celebrations include fireworks, like these in Torino

James Martin
New Year's Eve in Europe: Everywhere in Europe you'll find celebrations and festivals on New Year's Eve. Each country gives it's own spin on celebrating New Year's Eve and some European cities have special celebrations. The biggest New Year's Eve parties are found in the European capital cities, of course. What's common to most? Often, big fireworks displays ring in the New Year.

Join us for a survey of what you might experience on New Year's Eve in Europe.

New Year's Eve in Amsterdam: New Year's Eve in Holland is really called Old Year's Evening. But whatever you call it, if you're looking for the big party scene, Amsterdam is the place to go. The streets and squares will be filled with people and there are plenty of parties in bars and clubs. Not the place to be if you don't like crowds.

Read more about New Year's Eve in Amsterdam

New Year's Eve in France and Paris: In France, you can go clubbing in Paris or other big French cities but France offers some unique ways to celebrate New Year's Eve. You can enjoy a romantic Seine River cruise, a torchlight procession to pick grapes at midnight, or an illuminated city tour of Avignon.

More suggestions for celebrating New Year's Eve in France

New Year's Eve in Italy: La Festa di San Silvestro, New Year's Eve, is celebrated all over Italy with a special traditional dinner, fireworks, music and dancing, and prosecco, Italian sparkling wine. The Fat Ox Fair is held in Bologna on New Year's Eve and the tradition of Lo Sciuscio is still practiced some places in the south. Rome and Naples are good places to celebrate in Italy.

Find out more about Italy's New Year's Eve traditions and celebrations and be sure to wear your red underwear on New Year's Eve.

New Year's Eve in London: The highlight of New Year's Eve in London is the huge fireworks display. Lots of London clubs have special New Year's Eve parties and restaurants have special New Year's Eve dinners. You can also take a cruise on the River Thames or attend the largest fetish ball in Europe, the Torture Garden New Year's Eve Ball.

Read more about New Year's Eve in London and find out the best places to watch the fireworks.

New Year's Eve in Reykjavik, Iceland: Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, is known as a good place to party on the long, dark winter nights. New Year's Eve starts out calmly with a service in the Cathedral, dinner, and a bonfire. At midnight, the fireworks go off and then it's downtown to party until at least 5am.

Find out more about New Year's Eve Celebrations and Customs in Reykjavik

New Year's Eve in Ireland: In Scotland, Bernd Biege give us a blow by blow description of the 12 days of Christmas, which includes New Year's Eve and New Year's day, of course.

Read more about A Ireland's 12 Days of Christmas

Stockholm, Sweden - Head for the Ice Bar: If you're looking for a real winter experience, why not head to the Absolut Icebar Stockholm. Don't worry about not having warm enough clothes, admission includes warm clothing. Only 30 people at a time can enter the Icebar so you'll need a reservation.

Absolut Ice Bar Stockholm pictures and information.

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