New Year’s traditions are unique to each country and their origins, drawing upon specific cuisines, celebrations, and objects that are inherent to their culture. Whether it’s having a meal with family and friends or throwing furniture out of the window, each of these customs is derived from a unique origin. Discover some of these traditions that draw to create a unique representation of their heritage:
The United States - the Ball Drop
After fireworks were banned in New York City in the early 20th century, event organizers arranged to have a 700-pound ball lowered down on a pole. Ever since it has become a tradition to watch the ball start dropping and count down the year’s final seconds.
Americans also sing the tune “Auld Lang Syne” which translates to “Old Long Ago.” The song spread beyond Scotland and the English-speaking countries, bringing about a sense of belonging. In the South, a popular dish “Hoppin’ John” features black-eyes peas are believed to symbolize coins and represent economic prosperity in the coming years.
The United Kingdom - First Footing
There is an old superstition in Scotland and some other parts of the UK that the first person to enter someone’s home on New Year’s Day will bring luck for the coming year. This tradition is called first sooting, and the first person to enter a house on New Year’s is called the first footer. It is traditional to carry a lump of coal when going first footing and dark-haired people are thought to be the luckiest first footers by a lot of people.
Also, just before the clock strikes midnight, people hold hands and sing traditional songs, including “Auld Lang Syne.” They count the seconds down to the new year and when the clock strikes 12, they hug and kiss and wish each other a Happy New Year!
China - The Spring Festival
The Lunar New Year is one of the most significant holidays in China. Also known as the Spring Festival, this 15-day-long celebration has a different date every year, following the Lunar Calendar instead of the Gregorian Calendar.
Homes and cities are lined with red decorations—a color that symbolizes good luck and good fortune—such as red lanterns to ward off bad luck and jianzhi, red paper cutouts that hang on walls. Children also receive red envelopes that contain money, which is considered a way to symbolically transfer fortune from elders to youth. In addition, there are parades, lion dances, decorative dragon statues, traditional food, and imperial performances to cap off the celebration.
Ireland - Sleeping on Mistletoe
In Ireland and many other cultures, mistletoe is a popular plant associated with Christmas celebrations. It has been a symbol of love, peace, and good luck for centuries, and it's believed to bring prosperity and happiness to those who come into contact with it. According to tradition, couples who kiss under the mistletoe will have good luck in their relationship.
Spain - Eating Grapes for Good Luck
In Spain, locals eat exactly 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight to honor their tradition that commenced in the late 19th century. In the 1800s, vine growers came up with this tradition as a means f selling more grapes towards the end of the year, but the celebration quickly caught on, and even today, Spaniards enjoy eating one grape for each of the first 12 bell strikes after midnight with a hope of good fortune and prosperity.
The Netherlands - Chowing Down on Oliebollen
Ancient Germanic tribes would eat these pieces of deep-fried dough during the Yule so that when Germanic goddess Perchta, better known as Perchta the Belly Slitter, tried to cut their stomachs open and fill them with trash (a punishment for those who hadn't sufficiently partaken in yuletide cheer), the fat from the dough would cause her sword to slide right off. Today, oliebollen are enjoyed on New Year's Eve.
Russia - Planting Underwater Trees
For over the past 25 years, it has been a Russian holiday tradition for two divers, aptly named Father Frost and the Ice Maiden, to venture into a frozen Lake Baikal, the world’s largest freshwater lake, and take a New Year Tree – typically decorated spruce – more than 100 feet below the surface. Even though the temperature is well below freezing in Russia, people travel from all over the world to partake in this tradition.
Brazil - Throwing White Flowers Into the Ocean
In Brazil, it is common for citizens to take to the shores on New Year’s Eve to make offerings to Yemoja, a major water deity who is said to control the seas, to elicit her blessings for the year to come. So, if you find yourself in Brazil for New Year’s, don’t be surprised if you find the oceans littered with white flowers and candles.
Greece - Hanging Onions
The Greeks believe that onions are a symbol of rebirth, so they hang the pungent vegetable on their doors to promote growth throughout the new year. Greek culture has long associated this food with the idea of development, seeing as all the odorous onion ever seemingly wants is to plant its roots and keep growing.
Chile - Chilling in Cemeteries
This tradition, known as "Vigilia de Fin de Año" or "New Year's Eve Vigil," is a way for people to remember and honor their loved ones who have passed away. It is a common belief in Chilean culture that the deceased come back to visit their families on New Year's Eve, so people gather at cemeteries to spend time with them. People often bring food, drinks, and flowers to the graves; some even set up tables and chairs to create a picnic-like atmosphere. This tradition brings comfort to many families and helps keep the memory of their loved ones alive.
Denmark - Smashing Plates
In Denmark, people take pride in the number of broken dishes outside their door by the end of New Year's Eve. It's a Danish tradition to throw china at your friends' and neighbors' front doors on New Year's Eve—some say it's a means of leaving any aggression and ill-will behind before the New Year begins—and it is said that the bigger your pile of broken dishes, the more luck you will have in the upcoming year.
Japan - Soba Noodles Slurp and Ringing Bells
In Japan, it is customary to welcome the new year with a bowl of soba noodles in a ritual known as toshikoshi soba, or year-crossing noodles. It is believed that the soba's thin shape and long length are meant to signify a long and healthy life.
One-hundred-and-eight. That's how many times Buddhist temples in Japan ring their bells on New Year's Eve—107 times on New Year's Eve, and once when the clock strikes midnight. This tradition, known as joyanokane, is meant to both dispel the 108 evil desires in each and every person and cleanse the previous year of past sins.
Ecuador - Burning Scarecrows
In Ecuador, New's Year Eve festivities are lit up by bonfires. At the center of each of these bonfires are effigies, most often representing politicians, pop culture icons, and other figures from the year prior. These burnings of the "año viejo," or "old year," as they're called, are held at the end of every year to cleanse the world of all the bad from the past 12 months and make room for the good to come.
Greece - Smashing Pomegranates
In ancient Greek mythology, the pomegranate symbolizes fertility, life, and abundance, so the fruit has come to be associated with good fortune in modern Greece. Just after midnight on New Year's Eve, it is customary for Greeks to smash a pomegranate against the door of their house—and it is said that the number of pomegranate seeds that end up scattered is directly correlated with the amount of good luck to come.
Germany - Pouring Lead
In Germany, all of the New Year's Eve Festivities center around a rather unique activity known as Bleigießen, or lead pouring. Using the flames from a candle, each person melts a small piece of lead or tin and pours it into a container of cold water. The shape that the lead or tin forms are said to reveal a person's fate for the upcoming year, not unlike tasseography.
Czech Republic - Cutting Apples
The Czechs prefer to predict their future fortunes on New Year's Eve with the assistance of an apple. The night before the new year begins, the fruit is cut in half, and the shape of the apple's core is said to determine the fate of everyone surrounding it. If the apple's core resembles a star, then everyone will soon meet again in happiness and health—but if it looks like a cross, then someone at the New Year's Eve party should expect to fall ill.
Estonia - Eating Many Meals
People in Estonia believe that eating seven, nine, or 12 meals will bring about good things in the coming year, seeing as those numbers are considered lucky throughout the country. And if you can't finish your food, worry not: People often purposefully leave food on their plates to feed their visiting family members—those in spirit form.
Armenia - “Good Luck” Bread
When people in Armenia bake bread on New Year's Eve, they add a special ingredient to their dough: luck. Of course, they don't literally add an ingredient called luck into their batter, but it is tradition for metaphorical good wishes to be kneaded into every batch of bread baked on the last day of the year.
Turkey - Sprinkling Salt
In Turkey, it's considered good luck to sprinkle salt on your doorstep whenthe clock strikes midnight on New Year's Day. Like many other New Year's Eve traditions around the globe, this one is said to promote both peace and prosperity throughout the new year.
The salt is believed to purify the household and ward off evil spirits, bringing good health and protection to the family throughout the year. The tradition also symbolizes the preservation of life, as salt is an essential ingredient that helps preserve food. Sprinkling salt on the doorstep is just one of the many rituals performed in Turkey to ensure a prosperous and peaceful New Year.
Colombia - Carrying Suitcases
Colombia boasts an array of New Year’s traditions intended to bring fortune and prosperity to those participating. Partygoers carry empty suitcases at midnight in hopes of inducing a year rife with travel. They also bear money in hand to attract financial security and stability in the coming year. Lentils are believed to bring luck and affluence; many bake them into their rice or carry them in their pockets.
Israel - Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated in many countries around the world. The holiday takes place in the fall, during the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. During the night the holiday begins, a festival candle blessing is recited as well as the Kiddush, a blessing over wine. Those celebrating enjoy apples and other fruits dipped in honey, which symbolizes sweetness and blessings in the coming year.
Switzerland - Dropping Ice Cream
In celebration of the New Year, the Swiss channel good luck, wealth, and abundance by dropping a dollop of ice cream on the floor at midnight. They also line the streets in colorful costumes and perform symbolic ceremonies intended to chase away negative spirits.
Philippines - Polka Dots
You’ll find round shapes all over the Philippines on New Year’s Eve as representatives of coins to symbolize prosperity in the coming year. Many people display 12 circular fruits and wear clothing with polka dots to symbolize money. It is also popular practice to open all the doors and windows at the stroke of midnight to let in good luck. Many Filipino families also read the Christian bible and attend a church midnight mass.
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