Mrs Gandhi has also appealed to her party colleagues and well-wishers not "to extend New Year greetings in the wake of gang-rape incident".

BBC: India gang rape: New Year celebrations scaled back

There are no nativity plays in France's strictly secular state schools, no carol-singers in the streets and almost no Christmas cards two per person on average, compared with 28 in Britain, and then usually as greetings for the new year.

ECONOMIST: Spoil the French and spare the Child

Turning back to the New Year, China Daily says many people are at a loss on how to coin Year of the Snake greetings, as the reptile has negative connotations in Chinese culture.

BBC: China media: Wukan frustration