As the last days of the year approach, various, sometimes quite surprising, New Year’s traditions emerge around the world. Some countries wear colorful clothes to attract luck, while others throw old belongings out of the window to chase away evil spirits. These traditions, which vary from culture to culture, are essentially a common reflection of people’s desire to start a new year with hope, abundance, and happiness. In this article, we will explore the most interesting New Year’s rituals preserved in different geographies and color your perspective on the new year.
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New Year’s Traditions from Different Cultures
Now, let’s take a look at how different countries around the world welcome the New Year.
Japan: Hatsumode and the Bell Ringing Tradition
In Japan, the bells in Buddhist temples are rung exactly 108 times at midnight. In this ritual, called “Joya no Kane,” it is believed that each bell stroke erases one of the 108 worldly desires and sins a person possesses. Also, the “Hatsumode” tradition, which means visiting a Shinto shrine in the first days of the year, is very common; people wish for health and happiness for the new year during this visit.
Spain: Eating 12 Grapes
Spaniards enter the new year with a quite fast and fun challenge. When the clock strikes 12 at midnight, a total of 12 grapes are eaten, one with each chime. In this tradition, known as “Las doce uvas de la suerte” (The twelve lucky grapes), each grape represents a month of the year. If you can eat all the grapes before the chimes are over, it is believed that the year will be very lucky.
Scotland: Hogmanay and the First-Footing Tradition
New Year’s celebrations in Scotland are called “Hogmanay” and can last for days. The most famous tradition is “First-Footing”. It is believed that the first person to cross the threshold of the house after midnight determines the luck of that year. The most auspicious guest is a tall, dark-haired man who arrives with coal, salt, or whiskey as a gift; this symbolizes that the house will be warm and abundant throughout the year.
USA: Times Square Ball Drop
This celebration in Times Square, New York, is one of the world’s most iconic New Year’s images. Millions of people watch the giant crystal ball on top of the “One Times Square” building descend 60 seconds before midnight. As the ball touches the ground, the new year begins, confetti rains down, and people traditionally celebrate the new year by kissing the person next to them.
China: Chinese New Year and the Dragon Dance
In China, the New Year is celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar (usually late January or early February). The indispensable Dragon and Lion dances are performed accompanied by drums and cymbals. The dragon is believed to represent power, dignity, and luck. It is thought that the dance and the noise frighten away the mythical beast called “Nian” and evil spirits, ensuring the new year will be spent in prosperity.
Cuba: Throwing a Bucket of Water Out the Front Door
New Year’s Eve in Cuba is a time for cleaning and purification. When it is midnight, people pour a bucket of water out of their windows or doors. This act symbolizes washing away all the bad energies, troubles, and negativity of the past year. Thus, they aim to make a “clean” and fresh start to the new year.
Mexico: Walking with an Empty Suitcase
If your dream is to travel a lot in the new year, this Mexican tradition is perfect for you. When it is midnight, people take an empty suitcase and walk around the house or in the street. This ritual is believed to bring the person opportunities to see new places, adventure, and plenty of travel in the new year.
Greece: Hanging and Breaking a Pomegranate
The pomegranate, a symbol of abundance since ancient times, is the star of the New Year in Greece. Before entering the house on New Year’s Eve, a pomegranate is forcefully smashed on the doorstep. It is believed that the more the pomegranate breaks and its seeds scatter, the more abundant, healthy, and lucky the new year will be for the household. Furthermore, one must always enter with the right foot to bring good luck when entering the house.
Denmark: Breaking Plates in Front of the Door
Danes save unused or broken plates throughout the year. On New Year’s Eve, they throw and break these plates in front of the doors of their beloved friends and family members. The more broken plates you have at your door, the more people love you, and the luckier the new year is believed to be. Also, the tradition of standing on chairs and “jumping into the new year” when the clock strikes 12 is common.
Brazil: Jumping Over 7 Waves
In Brazil (especially in Rio de Janeiro), people wear white clothes on New Year’s Eve to ward off evil spirits and symbolize peace. At midnight, they go into the sea and jump over 7 waves. A wish is made with each wave. This ritual is believed to be a tribute to Yemanja, the goddess of the sea.
Italy: Eating Lentils
Italians make sure to eat lentils (*lenticchie*) on New Year’s. Since lentil grains resemble coins in shape, eating them is believed to bring wealth and abundance in the new year. Also, wearing red underwear for luck and love is a very common tradition.
Philippines: Round Objects and 12 Fruits
In the Philippines, “round” shapes represent coins, so they are symbols of wealth. For this reason, polka-dotted clothes are worn on New Year’s. Also, 12 different round fruits (grapes, oranges, watermelon, etc.), each representing a month of the year, are placed on the table.
Ecuador: Burning a Scarecrow (Año Viejo)
Ecuadorians make human-sized scarecrows (*Año Viejo*) filled with paper or sawdust, representing the past year’s misfortunes and bad memories. When it is midnight, they set these scarecrows on fire to get rid of the bad energy of the past and open a new page for the new year.
Russia: Burning and Drinking a Wish Paper
In Russia, seconds before midnight, a wish is written on a piece of paper. This paper is burned, and the ashes are thrown into a champagne glass. This mixture must be drunk before the clock passes exactly 12:00. If it is drunk in time, it is believed that the wish will come true.
Czechia: Apple Fortune Telling
After the New Year’s meal, the Czechs cut an apple in half. If the shape formed by the seeds resembles a star, it means health and happiness. If the shape resembles a cross, it indicates bad luck or sickness.
Estonia: Eating 7, 9, or 12 Times
In Estonia, eating this number of meals on New Year’s Day is believed to give the person the strength of that many people in the new year. However, the entire meal on the plate is not finished; some of it is left on the plate for the spirits of ancestors or visitors to the house.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Year’s Traditions
In this section, you can find frequently asked questions about New Year’s traditions.
What foods are believed to bring money and wealth in the new year?
Cultures seeking money and abundance usually prefer round or shiny foods that resemble coins. In Italy, lentils (due to their resemblance to coins) and in the Philippines, 12 different round fruits (representing the months of the year and coins) are definitely eaten.
What colors are worn on New Year’s and what do these colors mean?
The choice of color reflects the fundamental wish for the new year:
- White: Worn in Brazil for peace and a clean start.
- Red: Represents luck and love in Italy and China.
- Yellow/Gold: Worn in Latin American countries to wish for wealth and abundance.
What traditions are practiced to get rid of the bad energy and bad luck of the past year?
Some cultures focus on purification. In Cuba, pouring water out of windows at midnight (to cleanse evil) and in Ecuador, burning scarecrows representing the past year (*Año Viejo*) are common; these rituals symbolize opening a clean slate for the new year.
Is there an unusual tradition related to drinks on New Year’s Eve?
Yes, there is quite an unusual tradition in Russia. Just before midnight, a wish is written on paper, quickly burned, and the ashes are mixed into champagne and drunk before 12:01. This is an intense ritual believed to increase the chance of the wish coming true.
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