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Whether it's wearing quirky coloured underpants, or gathering with friends around a city square while popping cava or champagne-- ringing in the New Year by celebrating unique customs has been a tradition since the calendar invention, dating back 4,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia. Each of these New Year's traditions and celebrations is unique and special to the country of origin-- some of them may sound more similar to others, while others may sound very bizarre. Either way, most of these celebrations are linked to superstition, luck rituals, legends, or historical events and hold great significance to mark the end of the year and usher in the upcoming one.
Come and join us on this tour to discover different New Year's Eve celebrations around the world!
In the United States, people celebrate New Year's in different ways. However, the most iconic of customs is watching the "ball drop" in Times Square, which began in 1907, and now not only is it streamed nationally but also internationally. Millions of people worldwide follow this event, hence its large-scale popularity. Once the ball reaches the ground and midnight strikes, many people kiss their significant other—this tradition originates from the belief that kissing will ward off loneliness and evil spirits. Singing the famous "Auld Lang Syne", and eating black-eyed peas to attract a prosperous upcoming year, are other New Year's traditions in the US.
If you happen to be near the beach in Brazil at this time of year, then you should ring in the New Year by jumping through seven waves when the clock strikes midnight! With every wave, you should make a wish! It is also believed to usher in luck and give one the resilience to surmount the upcoming years' hurdles. Another tradition is the more widely known custom of donning red underwear for attracting love and yellow underwear for money.
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Starting a century ago as a strategy for grape-growers to discard their excess produce, now Spain's custom of eating 12 grapes at 12 strokes before midnight has bloomed into a much-loved tradition. The grape embodies prosperity for each month of the new year. One needs to make a wish with each gobbled-down-grape- and should promptly stuff all 12 of them down in the allotted last 12 seconds of the year, should they want to have luck all-year-round.
In the big cities like Madrid or Barcelona, people usually gather in squares and pop cava and wine while celebrating the last few moments of the year, as they usher in the new one.
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Among many of Greece's New Year's customs, one is hanging onions at the front of people's households as a symbol of rebirth and renewal on New Year's Eve. On the following day, parents wake their children up by tapping on their heads with these onions. However, many greeks use pomegranates instead of onions for this ritual- as it is a fruit that represents regeneration and prosperity. Many even go to their local church to get their fruit blessed.
Another tradition is playing cards on New Year's Day, as it's considered a day of good luck. Therefore many people try their luck by playing card games.
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Mexico is all about tradition and rituals, and New Year's Eve isn't an exception. This country loves to embrace and usher in renewal through various quirky customs. One of which is throwing buckets of water through one's open window and leaving the front door open. Another ritual consists of tossing coins on the floor and sweeping them again-- which encourages attracting wealth.
Lentils play a crucial part during New Year's in Mexico. People either eat lentil soup that day or put lentils in their pockets-- this is said to attract abundance and good fortune.
Thailand also follows many customs relevant to their culture on New Year's Eve. For instance, one is throwing water through the window-- similar as in many places in Latin America. Another tradition is smearing grey talc on each other's faces, followed by washing them off with water. The talc represents one's sins, whereas the water signifies regeneration, as it washes the transgressions away, therefore starting anew.
During the year's last three days before New Year's Eve, the whole country overflows with celebrations, festivals, and colours. People light candles and incense at shrines, eat traditional dishes, dedicate to their family and play games.
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Italy is also a very traditional country and holds many important rituals during New Year's Eve and Day. One entails throwing old pots, pans, clothes, furniture, or electronic appliances out the window believed to ward off evil spirits and bringing in renewal and fortune. Even though this tradition is slowly petering out, you might want to watch your head while walking around the streets of Milan on this day!
Furthermore, eating lentils on this day is a widely popular custom in Italy. As in other countries, lentils seem to be a big deal as they symbolize wealth, good fortune, renewal, and positive vibes.
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Throughout New Year's Eve in Japan, all the bells around the country get rung 108 times. This custom stems from the Buddhist philosophy of attracting purity and freshness into the upcoming year. Just as in Thailand, the last three days of the year are sumptuously celebrated around the country with festivals, games, eating traditional meals, and spending quality time with family. Another tradition is to visit shrines and temples during "shogatsu". Additionally, they also place Kadomabus at the front of their households, one on either side of their entrance to usher in good spirits and fortune.
