People from different cultures and from different countries celebrate New Year in their own unique ways. Here is a list of fascinating New Year’s Eve traditions around the world that are weird and unique.
List Of Fascinating New Year’s Eve Traditions
- Broken Plates – Denmark
Unlike the Greeks, people in Denmark also enjoy smashing plates on New Year. The Danes throw unused plates at the front doors of family and friends for good luck. These plates have been saved up throughout the year. The more plates you find outside your house, the more luck you’ll have in the New Year, apparently.
- Twelve Grapes of Luck – Spain
As the clock ticks down to 12 and people around the world are preparing to watch fireworks and enjoy New Year. But, Spaniards are staring at bunches of grapes with a steely gaze. This challenge involves stuffing your face with 12 grapes, one for every ring of the bell. If you succeed, you’ve got good luck for the year ahead.
In Which Country Smashing a Pomegranate on Doors during New Year Will Promote Good Fortune.
- A. Greece
- B. Scotland
- C. France
- D. None of the Above
- Tossing Paper out of the window – Argentina
After shredding all of their old documents and papers, the Argentines then throw them out of the window to look like clouds. According to tradition, they shared everything before the curtain falls on the year, to symbolize leaving the past behind.
- Scarecrow Burning – Ecuador
Ecuadorians light scarecrows loaded with paper at midnight on New Year’s Eve to ward off any misfortune or bad luck from the previous year. They even set fire to images of things from the previous year, leading us to assume that New Year’s is just a thinly veiled pretext for Ecuadorian pyromaniacs to set stuff on fire.
- 108 Rings – Japan
Head to Japan on New Year’s Eve to hear the sound of 108 bells echoing through the streets. It is a Buddhist tradition that has been followed for years to banish human sins and to bring good luck to all. As well as this, residents also believe it’s good luck to enter the New Year smiling or laughing, too.
- Coloured Underwears – South America
The color of your underwear determines your fortune for the coming year in South American countries such as Mexico, Bolivia, and Brazil. Yes, red is said to bring love, whereas yellow is thought to bring money. If you’re seeking peace and tranquility, we think white is the way to go. As a result, all of the colors are based on the person’s wishes for the future year.
- Everything is Round – Philippines
The Filipinos hope to bring prosperity and wealth to the coming year by surrounding themselves with round things on New Year’s Eve. From coins to grapes, each item represents wealth and success. Have you heard of this unique tradition before?
- Takanakuy Festival – Peru
This is an annual Peruvian festival held at the end of December that is at the birth of New Year. This tradition is all about people beating the living daylights out of each other. Takanakuy means ‘when the blood is boiling’, but apparently all of the fights are friendly, and represent a fresh start for the year.
- Tossing Furniture – Italy
Over in Italy, many locals throw old furniture (soft items, you’ll be pleased to know) out of the window to symbolize a fresh start for the upcoming year. From cushions to blankets, anything that no longer brings them joy will be chucked outside.
- Talking to animals – Romania
Romania is a country that is rich in traditions. Mask dances and rites about death and rebirth are popular New Year’s Eve traditions, especially in rural communities. To ward off evil spirits, dancers dress up in furs and wooden masks resembling goats, horses, or bears, then dance from house to house. If a bear visits someone’s home, it brings prosperity, health, and good fortune, according to pre-Christian tradition.