All around the world, people celebrate the beginning of year with different traditions. Some people start it with eating 12 grapes to fulfill one wish for each month of the year, some watch firework display and some light up a lantern. Different traditions signify different meanings of the new year for different people. But one thing is for sure, everyone celebrates new year’s day with enthusiasm.
Different Traditions Around the World
USA’s Times Square Ball Drop: A Countdown Spectacle
In USA, people welcome its arrival with the infamous Times Square Ball Drop. The ball is dropped at midnight with people count down seconds left in the start of new year. Various people host new year’s party where they invite all their friends and families.
Spain’s Midnight Grapes: A Tasty Tradition for Good Fortune
In Spain, people will eat 12 green grapes at midnight making a wish for each month of the coming year. People also drop objects made of gold in their glass of cava before the new year toast. It can be any object made of gold like rings or coins. It is said to bring good luck and people have to drink their entire glass of cava and retrieve their gold object for the charm to actually work. They also make sure that the first step they take of new year is made with right foot.
Denmark’s Plate-Smashing Ritual: Welcoming the New Year with a Bang
In Denmark, people smash plates at their neighborhood’s front door to symbolize friendship and good fortune. Another fun tradition people have there is they jump as high as they can when the clock strikes 12 to begin their year with optimism and enthusiasm.
Greece’s Pomegranate Smash: Symbolizing Prosperity and Luck
In Greece, people hand onions outside their houses to ward off evil spirits and as a symbol of growth. Some families also roll a homemade bread wheel down a hallway in their home. If the bread lands upright, the coming year is considered to be filled with good luck, but if the bread lands upside down, the year is considered to be filled with bad luck. Some also smash a pomegranate. The more seeds spilled, the luckier would be the coming year.
Colombia’s Suitcase Walk: Ensuring a Year Full of Travel Adventures
People in Colombia also eat 12 grapes at midnight. In addition to that, people also fill up their pockets with lentils to bring prosperity for the new year. Some people believe in keeping lots of cash instead of lentils brings prosperity. Another tradition involves walking around the block with your luggage or suitcase if you want to travel in the coming year. Many Colombians start their new year with deeply cleaning their houses to receive good luck and prosperity. Another tradition is predicting the new year with 3 potatoes. People put 3 potatoes under their couch or bed on New Year’s Eve. One potato is fully peeled, one is half peeled and one is completely unpeeled. They pick the potato on New Year’s Day without looking. The completely peeled potato indicated bad financial status, half peeled indicates an okay status in which you might get financial stress but not too much and unpeeled potato indicated good fortune and year of prosperity.
Brazil’s Seven Waves: Jumping into the New Year with Good Luck
It is a tradition in Brazil to wear white clothes on New Year’s Eve as a symbol of peace and good luck. People wear white and jump over 7 waves at Copacabana beach for good luck. People start their new year on elevated surfaces and jump off on your right foot. Many people also believe that the food you eat determines your new year. So, many people eat lentils and pomegranates to bring good luck and wealth.
Philippines’ Polka Dots and Round Fruits: Attracting Wealth and Prosperity
In Philippines, people wear polka dots as they believe that it attracts wealth. They also arrange 12 types of round shaped fruits to attract money. At the clock strikes 12, people make sure all their windows and doors are open to let the old year and bad spirits out. They also make sure that their house is lit as bright light means bright future. It is also a symbolic gesture to welcome good luck and positive energy. Some dishes like chicken and seafood are considered unlucky, so people avoid eating it to avoid bad luck.
South Africa’s Furniture Toss: Out with the Old, In with the New
In South Africa, people throw out their old furniture and appliances out of their windows to let go of the past and welcome the future.
Finland’s Molten Tin Predictions: Shaping the Future Year
In Finland, people predict their coming year by casting their molten tins in a bucket of cold water. The shape that the tin takes predicts the coming year.
Global Fireworks Displays: Lighting Up the New Year Worldwide
Similarly, all around the world, people have different ways of starting a new year. All of these traditions hold a special place in our hearts. These traditions have been going on for generations. People have different ways to unsure good luck foe the coming year and get rid of bad one. One thing is for sure, everyone celebrates it with firework display to make the start of the year really special.
Author
Manahil Shoaib
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