From eating 12 grapes at midnight to marching with torches, every country has its own unique way of celebrating New Year’s. Here are some interesting New Year’s traditions from five countries around the world.
- Denmark: Residents shatter their unused dishware in front of their doors to ward off bad spirits. They also jump off chairs and couches at midnight to symbolize “leaping into the new year”. After midnight they consume Kransekage, a cone structure cake made of multiple marzipan rings. On Dec. 31 at 6 p.m., Danish residents listen to their Queen give a speech from Fredensborg Castle. The speech serves as a kickstarter to the night. Danes start their New Year mornings by watching an international ski jumping competition from the German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It has been televised live in Denmark yearly on Jan. 1st since 1959.
- Brazil: It is considered good luck to jump over seven waves, each wave signifying a wish. They throw white flowers in the ocean as an offering to the Goddess of the Seas, eat lentils because it symbolizes wealth, and burn dolls with face masks of different people that represent bad past events.
- Ecuador: A popular tradition in Ecuador is the burning of Año Viejo (old year) dolls. At midnight, effigies representing politicians, celebrities, and cartoon characters from the previous year are burned to cleanse the world from its evil and make space for the good to come. These effigies are made of paper mache and are stuffed with paper and fireworks. Traditionally, people attempt to jump over the fire 12 times to ensure happiness and prosperity for the coming years. During the afternoon of Dec. 31, the streets are blocked by “New Year Viduas,” men dressed up in drag who ask commuters for a small amount of cash before letting them go. The money is used to pay for the festivities of the night.
- Japan: New Year’s Eve (Oshogatsu) is marked by bells in Buddhist temples around the country that ring exactly 108 times at midnight. According to Buddhist Faith, the number 108 represents the number of human desires. Ringing the bells is meant to drive away these negative emotions. All decorations for New Year’s must be brand new to symbolize moving away from the past. Shimezzari-decorations made from Shinto rice, straw rope, pine twigs, and zig-zagged paper strips are hung outside houses and stores to keep bad spirits away. The fronts of houses are decorated with Kadomatsu. These are made of pine, bamboo, and plum trees, and are meant to be the temporary dwelling of gods. They remain in front of houses until Jan. 7 and are burned after Jan. 15 to release the gods.
- Greece: The Greeks spend their New Year’s evening and night playing cards with their families. On New Year’s Eve, they hang an onion outside their house to ensure that the following year will bring happiness, prosperity, and growth. Right before midnight on New Year’s Eve, families turn off their lights and leave their houses. At midnight, one person who is considered lucky re-enters the house with their right leg first. Usually, children are asked to be the first ones to enter since they are innocent and have good hearts. After the first person has reentered the house, another person with a good heart smashes a pomegranate at the door. Pomegranates are a sign of fertility and regeneration. It is said that the more pomegranate seeds there are on the floor, the luckier the year will be. Other family members and friends reenter the house with their right foot first. On New Year’s day, the Greeks eat Vasilopita, a cake with a coin or trinket hidden inside it. A slice for each family member is cut in addition to slices for symbolic people such as Jesus, Virgin Mary, and Agios Vasilios. Slices are served to family members from oldest to youngest. The person who finds the coin/trinket receives a small gift or money.
This New Year’s Eve as you celebrate your traditions, consider what others may be doing around the world.