Interesting New Year customs around the world

People in every country have their unique ways to wish for wealth, luck, and happiness in the New Year.

1. Spain: Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight

A girl eating grapes for luck in the New Year.

In Spain, people have the tradition of eating one grape for each chime of the clock at midnight, hoping for a year filled with happiness.

This custom originated in 1909, during a year of excess grape harvest, when the king decided to give the leftover grapes to the people to celebrate the New Year.

Today, it is believed that those who can eat all 12 grapes before the clock finishes will have a very lucky and happy New Year.

2. Brazil: Offering to the Sea Goddess

In Brazil, there is a tradition of throwing white flowers into the ocean to honor the sea goddess Yemanja. Every year, thousands participate in this tradition, hoping that the goddess will bless them in the New Year.

Brazilians traditionally throw white flowers into the waves to honor the sea goddess Yemanja.

Additionally, they may also throw other feminine items such as perfumes, jewelry, or lipsticks placed in small wooden boats.

3. Denmark: Breaking Plates

If you are planning to get rid of old, chipped plates in your cupboard, here’s how the Danes do it. At midnight, they throw old dishes at the doors of friends and neighbors.

Breaking old plates before the New Year.

In Denmark, it is believed that the more broken dishes outside your door on New Year’s Day, the more friends and good fortune the host will have in the coming year.

Although this tradition is not widely practiced today, it remains quite fascinating.

4. Scotland: Inviting a Handsome Man for First Footing

To ensure a lucky New Year, Scots try to invite a tall, dark-haired, and handsome man to be the first visitor to their home in the New Year.

Inviting handsome men for first footing.

The “first footing” tradition in Scotland reflects the belief that the first person to enter the house in the New Year will determine the luck of the household for the next 12 months.

Among them, tall, dark, and handsome young men are considered to bring the greatest fortune, especially if they bring whiskey as a gift for the host.

5. Ecuador: Burning Effigies

On New Year’s Eve, families in Ecuador gather outside their homes to set fire to straw effigies.

Burning effigies to ward off bad luck.

While this act may symbolize anger or fear for many, in Ecuador, it is believed that destroying bad luck accumulated over the past 12 months and frightening off evil forces will bring good fortune and joy in the New Year.

Each family makes their own effigy from paper, wood scraps, and burns it outside their home.

6. Ireland: Placing Mistletoe Under the Pillow

If you want your love life to flourish in the New Year, you might want to learn how the Irish place mistletoe under their pillows before going to bed on New Year’s Eve to wish for better romantic relationships.

Placing mistletoe under the pillow to wish for love.

In Ireland, single people place mistletoe, fly agaric, or ivy under their pillows, wishing to find their soulmate soon.

7. Chile: Celebrating New Year in the Cemetery

Chileans have a tradition of celebrating the New Year with their families and ancestors in the cemetery. In fact, this tradition is not about wishing for luck, but rather an opportunity for families to gather and remember their deceased loved ones.

Lighting candles and playing classical music in the cemetery.

This relatively new tradition, only 15 years old, began when a family in the small town of Talca crossed the cemetery fence to celebrate the New Year near their deceased father’s grave.

Currently, over 5,000 people visit cemeteries each year, lighting candles and playing classical music with their loved ones, whom they believe are waiting to celebrate with them.

8. Italy: Throwing Out Old Stuff Through the Window

Italians have the custom of throwing out old belongings through the window to signify that they are ready to welcome the New Year and the changes it brings.

In Naples, people can throw out any item, such as old toasters or refrigerators, from their balconies.

Throwing belongings out the window shows readiness to welcome the New Year.

However, people do not prefer to throw dangerous items, as this would not bring good luck; they prioritize small, soft items instead.

If you plan to stroll outside on New Year’s Eve in Italy, be careful of these unpredictable flying objects.

9. Philippines: Wearing Polka Dots

In the Philippines, circles symbolize wealth, so on New Year’s Eve, people dress in polka-dotted attire, fill their pockets with coins, or eat round fruits.

Wearing polka dot items for prosperity from the Philippines.

If you want to attract prosperity, remember to carry round fruits and wear polka dot clothing this New Year.

10. Belarus: Fortune Telling with a Rooster

Unmarried girls will participate in special games to predict who will marry in the New Year.

During the traditional New Year celebration in Belarus, unmarried girls engage in special games to guess who will marry in the upcoming year. For instance, a pile of corn is placed in front of each girl, and a rooster is released. The rooster will run to the pile of corn at the feet of the girl first, indicating she will be the first to marry in the coming year.

In another game, a married woman hides special items around her house for her unmarried friends to find; the girl who discovers the bread is believed to marry a wealthy man, while the one who finds a ring will marry a handsome husband.

11. Estonia: Eating Seven Meals in a Day

Estonians try to eat seven meals on New Year’s Day.

Traditionally, Estonians attempt to consume seven meals on New Year’s Day. They believe this action ensures abundance for the coming year. If a man eats seven meals on the first day of the year, it is believed he will have the strength of seven other men throughout the year.

New Year’s parties may differ slightly now, especially in the capital Tallinn, where households display plenty of drinks alongside a variety of foods.

12. Scotland: First Footing and Fire Festivals

Men parade through the streets with fireballs.

The tradition of “first footing” exists not only in Vietnam but also in Scotland. During the Hogmanay festival (Scotland’s New Year celebration), the Scots believe that the first person to enter their home will bring good luck.

The Scots also celebrate with fire. In many small fishing villages like Stonehaven, men parade through the streets with fireballs, symbolizing the sun.

13. Ghana: Building Small Houses with Palm Leaves

Ghanaians do not celebrate the New Year with a Christmas tree but instead build small houses from palm leaves, decorated with lights, placed throughout the streets. Young men and women visit these houses to celebrate, singing joyfully. Inside these homes, families gather around a feast.

The most popular New Year dish is fried rooster. At midnight, those who have quarreled in the past year reconcile, letting go of all grievances. According to tradition, at midnight a loud shout is made to drive away the past year’s troubles. If a family faced misfortune the previous year, they must shout and cry; if they had much joy, they shout in celebration.

From 4 to 5 AM, Ghanaians visit relatives and close friends to share greetings. When visiting, they recount their past year’s misfortunes and joys. Outside, people sing…

14. Germany: Leaving Food on the Plate

Leaving a little food on the plate symbolizes wishing for abundance in the New Year.

Melted lead placed in water forms various shapes, which people interpret to predict their future. On New Year’s Eve, after dinner, it is customary to leave some food on the plate until after midnight. This is a way to wish for abundance in the New Year.

15. India: The Festival of Lights Diwali

The Festival of Lights Diwali.

Indians welcome the New Year with the Festival of Lights, Diwali. People exchange cards and gifts, and they strive to complete all tasks before New Year’s Eve.

16. Japan: Ringing the Bell 108 Times

The New Year in Japan is called Oshogatsu, a time for vibrant celebrations when businesses close for the holiday. The Japanese decorate their front doors with pine branches or bamboo and ropes, believing these items bring health, longevity, and ward off evil spirits. The ropes symbolize happiness and good fortune.

Japanese people hang a straw rope at their door to ward off evil spirits.

Children receive otoshidama – New Year’s money on the first day of the year. The Japanese often send New Year’s greeting cards to friends, hold year-end parties to bid farewell to the old year, and welcome the new one. On December 31, bells ring 108 times to dispel 108 misfortunes. As the New Year begins, the Japanese smile, hoping for good fortune to come.

Additionally, the Japanese start the New Year by eating a hot bowl of soba noodles. This tradition dates back to the Kamakura period and is associated with a Buddhist temple that distributed noodles to the poor. Because the noodles are long, thin, and strong yet easy to bite, it is believed that eating them helps to eliminate the misfortunes of the previous year.

17. USA: Watching the Ball Drop

Millions of Americans gather in Times Square waiting for the ball drop at midnight. (Photo: Benoit Dujardin/Pexels).

Every December 31st, millions of Americans flock to Times Square to watch the crystal ball drop at midnight.

As the ball touches the ground, everyone present shouts “Happy New Year!” and joins in singing Auld Lang Syne.

In January 1908, the editor of The New York Times organized this event to attract the public to visit their new headquarters. Since then, it has become an annual New Year’s Eve celebration.

18. Champagne Parties in France

Champagne parties are popular in France during the New Year. (Photo: Rene Asmussen/Pexels).

France is known as the home of champagne. The image of a bottle spraying champagne when opened creates a festive atmosphere.

At midnight, the French typically gather for parties to chat, dance, and enjoy dinner. The New Year’s Eve meal in this country includes oysters, turkey, goose, Cornish hen, and a bottle of wine.

19. Ice Fishing in Canada

Canadians enjoy ice fishing and savor their catch to celebrate the New Year. (Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels).

Frigid weather does not deter Canadians from starting the New Year with their favorite winter sport – ice fishing.

According to Global News, families and groups rent heated tents and cooking equipment to enjoy their catch on-site as a way to celebrate the New Year with loved ones and friends.

20. Giving Homemade Tamales in Mexico

In Mexico, families gather to make tamales, a dish of corn dough filled with meat, cheese, and vegetables, all wrapped in corn husks. They distribute these tamales to loved ones on New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Day, people enjoy menudo, a traditional Mexican soup made from beef tripe.

21. Hanging Onions Outside Doors in Greece

Onions are not only a kitchen staple but also symbolize good luck for homeowners. In Greece, people often hang onions at their doors to celebrate the New Year.

Considered a symbol of fertility and growth (due to its ability to sprout), onions are hung up after the church service on New Year’s Day.

22. Placing Three Potatoes Under the Bed in Colombia

On New Year’s Eve, Colombian families have a tradition of placing three potatoes under the bed of each family member. The three potatoes include one that is peeled, one that is unpeeled, and the last one which is only partially peeled.

At midnight, each person closes their eyes and picks one potato. These potatoes are said to predict a year of financial hardship or abundance.

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