25 unique New Year's traditions around the world

From the consumption of ash to the shattering of grenades, this is how other countries inaugurate the new year.


You can be used to the fence and song that comes to each New Year's Eve, but some celebrations that inaugurate the new year In different corners of the globe could not be more different from ours. Take the Ecuador, for example: there, citizens parade in the city with scarecrows built to look like popular politicians and cultural icons - and at midnight, said scarecrows are burned to a crisp to clean the new year Of all the evil. And in Brazil, it is usual to light candles and throw white flowers in water like an offering for Yemoja, the Queen of the Ocean. Below, we have traveled the world - at least, at least - to bring together some of the most creative and culturally unique New Year's traditions from around the world. Continue to read to discover how other countries will celebrate!

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Best New Year's traditions (global)

1. Spain: eat grapes for good luck

Happy couple celebrating New Year outside at night and eating grapes
Martin-dm / Istock

In Spain, the inhabitants Eat exactly 12 grapes At midnight to honor a tradition that started at the end of the 19th century. In the 1800s, vine producers in the Alicante region proposed this practice as a way to sell more grapes towards the end of the year, but the sweet celebration quickly made its way. Today, the Spaniards like to eat a grape for each of the first 12 bell strikes after midnight in the hope that it will reproach bad luck and bring about a year of good fortune and prosperity.

2. Scotland: First foot

Cropped shot of a man entering house from front door
Aj_watt / istock

In Scotland, the day before January 1 is so important that there is even an official name for this: Hogmanay. That day, the Scottish observed many traditions, but easily one of their most famous is first foot . According to Scottish beliefs, the first person who crosses the threshold of your house after midnight on New Year's day should be a black hair man if you want to be lucky in the coming year. Traditionally, these men come to wear gifts of coal, salt, shortbread and whiskey, which all contribute to the idea of having fortune.

But why men with black hair? Well, at the time when Scotland was invaded by the Vikings, the last thing you wanted to see at your door was a man with light hair wearing a giant ax. So today, the opposite - a black hair Man - symbolizes opulence and success.

3. Netherlands: choke

Oliebollen {New Years Eve Traditions}
Nancy Beijersbergen / Shutterstock

The reasoning behind this Dutch New Year celebration is strange to say the least. The old Germanic tribes would eat pieces of fried dough During the cry Germanic goddess Perchta, Better known as Perchta The Naughty Belly, tried to open the stomach and fill it with waste (a punishment for those who had not participated enough in the joy of Yuletide), the fat of the paste would slide her sword right away. Today, the Oliebollen are appreciated on New Year's Eve, and you would find it difficult to find a Dutch food seller during the winter months that does not sell these nut type balls.

4. Russia: plant underwater trees

Russia Lake Baikal {New Years Eve Traditions}
Katvic / Shutterstock

In the past 25 years, it was a tradition of Russian vacation for two divers, aptly named Father Frost and the Girl of Ice, to venture into A frozen lake Baikal , the largest freshwater lake in the world, and take a New Year's tree - usually a decorated spruce - more than 100 feet below the surface. Although the temperature is normally much lower than the freezing in Russia on New Year's Eve, people travel around the world to participate in this frozen party.

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5. Brazil: throw white flowers in the ocean

brazilian new years throwing white flowers into the ocean
Wagnerokasaki / Istock

If you are in Brazil for the New Year, do not be surprised to find the oceans strewn with white flowers and candles. In the country of South America, it is common for citizens to put themselves on the banks of the New Year to make Offers in Yemoja , a great water deity that would control the seas, to provoke its blessings for the coming year.

And it is not only white flowers that you might see aligning the banks either. It is also the tradition of Brazilians to dress in white and dive into the ocean shortly after midnight. Once in the water, the celebrants will jump more than seven waves while making seven wishes that come true during the new year.

6. Italy: Wearing red underwear

Red underwear drying on line
Stuar / Shutterstock

Italians have a new year tradition of Wearing red underwear every December 31. In Italian culture, the red color is associated with fertility, so people wear it under their clothes in the hope that this will help them to design in the coming year.

7. Greece: Suspension of onions

Onions Hanging From a Door {New Years Eve Traditions}
George Green / Shutterstock

No, this New Year's tradition has nothing to do with vampires. On the contrary, the Greeks believe that Onions are a symbol of Renaissance , they therefore hang the spicy vegetable on their doors to promote growth throughout the new year. Greek culture has long associated this food with development, because all the odorous onion never apparently wants to plant its roots and continue to grow.

8. Chile: cooling in cemeteries

The old cemetery in Punta Arenas, Patagonia, Chile
SERGEY STRLKOV / ISTOCK

In Chile, New Year's Masses are not held in church, but in cemeteries. This change of landscape allows people to sit with their deceased family members and include them in New Year's festivities.

9. Japan: Slurping some Soba noodles

soba noodles
GMvozd / Istock

In Japanese culture, it is usual to welcome the new year with a bowl of Soba noodles in a ritual called Toshikoshi Soba or cross noodles of the year. Although nobody is entirely safe where the Toshikoshi Soba comes from, we think that the thin shape and the length of Soba are intended to signify a long and healthy life. Since many people also believe that because the buckwheat plant used to make Soba noodles is so resilient, people eat pasta on New Year's Eve to signify their strength. If you want to make a bowl of new year noodles for yourself on December 31, then consult Blogger Namiko Chen's recipe .

10. Denmark: Smashing Plates

Pile of Broken Plates {New Years Eve Traditions}
Aswphotos134 / Shutterstock

In Denmark, people are proud of the number of broken dishes in front of their door At the end of New Years Eve. It is a Danish tradition to throw China at the entrance doors of your friends and neighbors on the evening of the New Year - some say that it is a way to leave all assault and bad Will before the start of the new year - and it is said that the greater your battery of the broken dishes, the more luck you will have in the coming year.

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11. Ecuador: Burning of the scarecrows

Burning scarecrow
In green / shutterstock

In Ecuador, New Year's celebrations are lit (literally) by joy fires. In the center of each of these The lights of joy are effigies , most often representing politicians, icons of pop culture and other figures from the previous year. These burns of "Año Viejo" or "old year", as they are called, are held at the end of each year to clean the world of all the bad of the last 12 months and make room for the good to come.

12. Greece: friction of grenades

Close up of fresh harvested juicy pomegranate
Guerguni / Istock

In ancient Greek mythology, grenade symbolizes fertility, life and abundance, and therefore the fruit has become associated with good fortune in modern Greece. Just after midnight the evening of the New Year, it is usual for the Greeks of break a grenade Against the door of their house - and it is said that the number of grenade seeds which are dispersed is directly correlated with the amount of good luck to come.

13. Germany: lead to flow

Lead Pouring in Germany, a popular new years eve tradition
Simone Andress / Shutterstock

In Germany, all New Year's festivities focus on a rather unique activity known as Bleigießen, or leading lead . Using the flames of a candle, each person melts a small piece of lead or box and pour it into a container of cold water. It is said that the form that lead or tin constitute the fate of a person for the coming year, a bit like cup. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

14. Japan: Ringtone

Bell at a Buddhist Temple {New Years Eve Resolutions}
Maxim Tupikov / Shutterstock

One hundred and eight. How many times are Buddhist temples in Japan Ring their bells on New Year's Eve when the clock strikes midnight. This tradition, known as Joyanokane, is supposed to dispel both the 108 bad desires in each person and clean past sins last year.

15. Russia: Drinking ashes

Champagne glasses, office etiquette
G-Stock Studio / Shutterstock

Before you get out, rest assured that Russians do not consume human ashes or anything. On the contrary, in Russian culture, it is the tradition of the New Year for people to write their wishes on a piece of paper, to burn them with a candle, and Drink the following ashes In a glass of champagne.

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16. Czech Republic: Cut the apples

sliced apple
Rotofrank / Istock

The Czechs prefer to predict their future fortunes on the evening of the New Year with the help of an apple. The night before the start of the new year, The fruit is cut in half , and the shape of the apple nucleus would determine the fate of all those around it. If the core of the apple looks like a star, then everyone will come together soon in happiness and health, but if it looks like a cross, then someone at the New Year's Day should expect to get sick .

17. Estonia: eat many meals

people at a dinner party celebrating a birthday
Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

If breakfast, lunch and dinner are not enough to make sure, you will want to celebrate New Year's Eve in Estonia. There, people believe that eating Seven, new or 12 meals will cause good things in the coming year, because these figures are considered lucky throughout the country. And if you cannot finish your food, don't worry: people often leave food on their plates to feed their family members on a visit-those in spiritual form, that is to say.

18. Armenia: Cook bread "good luck"

Whole wheat bread.
Yes photographers / Shutterstock

When the inhabitants of Armenia make bread on New Year's Eve, they add a special ingredient to their dough: luck. Of course, they don't do it literally Add one ingredient called luck In their dough, but it is the tradition of good metaphorical vows to be kneaded in each batch of bread baked on the last day of the year.

19. Türkiye: Sprinkle with salt

Road Rock Salt on Wooden Stai
Greenseas / Istock

In Türkiye, it is considered good luck to Sprinkle with salt at your door As soon as the clock strikes midnight on the New Year's Eve. Like many other New Year's traditions in the world, it promotes both peace and prosperity throughout the new year.

20. Ireland: hit bread against the wall

man holding a loaf of bread
Alexander Labut / Istock

Each new year, Irish families will cook a Christmas bread and hit it Against the doors and walls of their family homes to keep evil spirits away. In addition to hunting bad luck, the act is supposed to help invite in a good mood to help cause a new start

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21. United States: Look at the ball fall

Confetti flying during the New Year Ball Drop event at Times Square in New York City
Ryan Rahman / Istock

Each year, about a million people gather Times Square from New York To look at the New Year's Blond Drop. Satellite technology helps millions of American American people to discover the tradition of home comfort, with more than a billion people who look around the world. If those who connect live from the house are located in the South American, there is a good chance that they do it with a bowl of green cabbage and black -eyed peas in hand. We think these foods help secure Good luck and financial gains in the new year.

22. Colombia: Put three potatoes under the bed

raw potatoes in sack
Val_R / Shutterstock

The last night of the year, Colombians place Three potatoes under their beds —A pelé, a non -breath and one half pelled. At midnight, they will reach bed and catch the first potatoes they touch. Peleled means that you will encounter financial problems in the coming year, not spoken, you will have a year filled with prosperity and financial success, and half -banned place somewhere between the two.

23. Philippines: serving 12 round fruits

passion fruit
October 22 / Istock

In the Philippines, it is usual to serve 12 round fruits New Year's Eve - one for every month of the year. It is believed that tradition helps to provoke prosperity, happiness, good health and money. The round shape represents parts that will help attract good fortune in each household. Different color fruits also symbolize different forms of luck. Green and purple, for example, represent prosperity while yellow is associated with happiness and unity.

24. Canada: Go to ice fishing

A man drilling a hole with an ice auger for ice fishing expedition in Manitoba, Canada.
Imaginegolf / Istock

These days, it is not uncommon to find Canadians celebrating New Years Day by participating in the Popular activity in cold weather ice fishing. Many companies you can pay for experience provide heated huts to keep everyone comfortable on ice. Some even provide equipment and cooking equipment to help groups enjoy their sockets.

25. Universal: Make New Year's resolutions

red journal open to whit lined page with
Shutterstock / Lemau Studio

To conclude our list of New Year's traditions, here is something that is specific to any country. The practice of New Year's resolution is, rather, something that people around the world do. Tradition actually dates back to around 4,000 years, when the former Babylonians make promises to their gods and reaffirm their loyalty to the king for 12 massive days Religious festival known as Akitu .

Wrap

This is everything for our list of New Year's traditions, but be sure to come back with us soon to make it even more to celebrate. You can also Subscribe to our newsletter To take advantage of similar content, as well as the last on well-being, entertainment and travel.


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