This Is What New Year's Looks Like Around the World
This Is What New Year's Looks Like Around the World
The stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve isn't just about belting Auld Lang Syne with a glass of champagne in hand. Countries across the globe have their own unique ways of celebrating the fresh start.
Scotland
In Scotland, a celebration called Hogmanay takes place, which involves jumping into a freezing river, and swinging fireballs over head. There's also a more comfortable tradition known as "First Footing," where revelers bring treats to their neighbors after midnight. It's considered good luck if the first person to enter your home is a strapping, dark-haired man with whiskey to share. This is presumably a nod to the Viking days when it was considered the opposite of lucky if a tall blonde stranger came to your home wielding a sword.
Romania
Animal lovers, skip this slide. Romanians in the Moldova region have an annual festival between Christmas and New Year's where they dance around wearing real bearskins. The dancing is supposed to scare away any bad energy that might follow them into the next year.
Cuba
Cuba, Colombia (pictured here), and other Latin countries have a midnight tradition of burning dolls stuffed with memories from the year that they'd like to forget.
Colombia
Colombians yearning to travel run around their houses carrying empty luggage at midnight hoping the symbolic gesture will bring a future trip.
Greece
In Greece, onions are hung on doors to bring blessings in the coming year. The vegetable supposedly symbolizes growth and rebirth, and is also believed to cast away bad energy.
England
Yorkshire, England started the custom of shouting "Black rabbits, black rabbits, black rabbits" in the final seconds of the year to wish away bad juju. Then, people shout "White rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits" as soon as midnight hits to bring on the good vibes.
Chile
Residents in the town of Talca ring in the new year by spending the night in a cemetery. Families set up chairs next to the graves of their loved ones to celebrate the holiday by acknowledging how valuable life is.
Portugal
The singing doesn’t stop at Christmas. There are New Year’s carolers in Portugal called Janeiras who walk through the streets belting traditional songs. They also offer warm wishes for the new year to everyone who walks by.
Finland
In Finland, small tin horseshoes are melted down and poured into a bucket of cold water. The shape the metal hardens into acts as your fortune. If it resembles a horse or boat, you will be traveling in the coming year. A ring shape means there will be a wedding. A broken ring symbolizes heartbreak, while a star will bring good fortune.
El Salvador
And in El Salvador, Peru (pictured here), and other South American countries, predictions about the coming year are made based on the shape of an egg. On New Year's Eve, a yolk is dropped into a glass of water. The next morning, if the yolk is shaped like a ship, book a trip and pack your bags. If you see a tree or bubbles, a baby might be on the way.
Germany
It's common to cue up an old British comedy short from 1963 called Dinner For One. The exact reason for the fanfare isn't entirely clear, but the belief is that the line "The same procedure as every year" resonates with people as they welcome the new year.
Ecuador
Here, hiding money around the house is believed to bring good fortune in the coming year.
Philippines
In the Philippines, folks turn all their lights on as the clock strikes midnight to ensure that the coming year will be bright.
Japan
Buddhist temples all over Japan rings their bells 108 times at the stroke of midnight on New Year's. The ringing is a symbolic purging of the 108 sins that are part of Buddhist beliefs. Some temples invite people to come ring the bells for them.
Guatemala
Guatemalans hoping for wealth in the new year toss 12 pennies behind their backs into the street when midnight strikes. The pennies represent each calendar month.
Estonia
Foodies should spend New Year's in Estonia where it's customary to eat a lucky number of seven, nine, or 12 meals throughout the day to ensure strength in the coming year.
France
Have you done your New Year's shopping yet? The French have a tradition of giving gifts called étrennes, which usually include candy for children and money for service workers.
Ireland
Banging bread against the wall of your home in Ireland is supposed to bring good luck. It also means that food will be plentiful in the coming year.
Russia
One popular Russian New Year's tradition is to write down a wish, burn it, put the ashes in a glass of champagne, and drink up. Participants have to finish their drink before the clock turns 12:01 or else the wish won't come true.
Poland
In Poland, New Year's Day is also known as Saint Sylvester's Day. Pope Sylvester I was famous for supposedly saving the world from the dragon Leviathan, who, according to legend, was planning to destroy the earth on the first day of the year 1000.
Switzerland
Switzerland's Villars-sur-Ollon holds an annual New Year's Eve bike race that begins at the top of Roc d'Orsay. The event draws cyclists from all around and prize money is awarded to those who make it down the mountain the fastest.
Belgium
Children in Belgium write letters to their parents and godparents on New Year's Eve to wish them good fortune. These notes, often decorated with ribbons, are read aloud at the stroke of midnight
Brazil
Brazilians like to take it to the water. There's an annual tradition of jumping over seven waves (considered a lucky number) and making seven wishes for the new year.
Italy
Midnight kissing is taken up a notch in Venice, Italy where a NYE kissathon is held in St. Mark's Square. The event attracts around 70,000 people every year.
Iceland
Reykjavík residents visit bonfires set up around the city on New Year's Eve. There are 10 locations (and seven outside of the city) for people to gather to bid adieu to the outgoing year.
Spain
The Spanish have been eating 12 lucky grapes in the first 12 seconds of New Year's Day for over a century. The grapes symbolize 12 (hopefully) lucky months ahead. According to legend, Spanish winemakers started this tradition to increase grape sales in winter.
South Africa
Kaapse Klopse is an annual minstrel festival in Cape Town celebrating the new year that's been happening since the mid-19th century. The celebration starts on December 31st, but the main event occurs on January 2nd.
America
Hours after the ball has dropped (another iconic US tradition), and the hangovers start to kick in, the New Year's Day Rose Parade kicks off in Pasadena, California. The colorful floral celebration precedes the Rose Bowl college football game. The parade has been an annual tradition since 1890.
You may just want to adopt some of these traditions yourself.