How New Year’s Eve Became a Mega Holiday for Eastern Europeans

At Rakija Lounge, a Balkan restaurant in Miami, there is a New Year’s Eve party with D.J.s, as well as a series of events for Orthodox Christmas, which falls on Jan. 7, and Orthodox New Year’s Eve, which will be celebrated on Jan. 13. Though all are welcome, there is only one kind of music on the New Year’s playlist: Balkan hits.

“Even if they ask for another song, we won’t, because that’s our day,” said Marija Banjac, 45, operational manager.