50 New Year Traditions From Around the World

50 New Year Traditions From Around The World GMT +9 GMT +8 GMT +8 *: Japan China Philippines Buddhist temples across the Many Chinese people will paint their front door red as a symbol Circles have long been country herald in the new year by ringing their bells 108 times of happiness and good fortune. - one for each of the human sins in Buddhist belief. Many considered sacred in the They may also choose to hide their knives so that nobody Philippines; as such they feature heavily in New Year with people wearing polka Japanese people believe the cuts themselves, as it is dots, eating round fruits and tossing coins into pans. It is believed these practices will bring prosperity. act cleanses them of the thought cutting could impact on the luck of the entire family previous year's sins. for the coming year. GMT +6 GMT + 6.5 GMT +7 Siberia Burma Singapore In Siberia and Russia it is The traditional Thingyan Every year wishing spheres tradition to dive into a frozen festival involves people containing people's hopes for the new year are released onto lake whilst holding a tree trunk, which is placed splashing water on one another in order to start the new year the Singapore River. The wishes underneath the ice. with a purified soul. are written on the white spheres and people come from all over the world to take part. GMT +4 GMT +3 GMT +2 Armenia Russia Belarus Armenian mothers bake special Russians write down a wish, New Year traditions see bread which they knead luck burn it and then throw it into a unmarried women play games champagne glass. They then must drink the champagne and good wishes into. to determine which of them will marry in the coming year. One of the games relies on a rooster to choose from piles of before 12.01. corn in front of the women, whoever the pile belongs to will be the first to wed. GMT +2 GMT +2 GMT Greece Finland Estonia An onion is traditionally hung The practice of casting tin is Traditionally, New Year's Day involves Estonians trying to eat popular amongst the Finnish and involves melting down tin before pouring it into a bucket from the front door of a house on New Year's Eve as a symbol seven, nine or twelve times, as of rebirth for the coming year. they are all lucky numbers. The more they eat, the more plentiful food will be in the Parents then wake their of cold water. Once the tin has children the next morning turned solid again the shadow by tapping them on the head it casts is used as the basis of coming year. with the onion. predictions for the year ahead. GMT +2 GMT +2 GMT +2 South Romania Turkey Africa Romanian farmers try to Residents in Johannesburg As the bells ring in the new party hard by throwing old appliances out of the window, representing the adage year, it is traditional to open your front door and sprinkle salt on the doorstep. The act is thought to bring peace communicate with their animals on New Year's Eve, if they are successful it is believed they will have good ' luck for the next year... 'out with the old and in with the new'. and abundance to your home or business. GMT +1 GMT +1 GMT +1 %3D Czech Belgium Austria Republic The Czech believe it is possible On 1st January, Belgian Austrians see pigs as a symbol to predict what the coming year has in store by cutting an apple in half and looking at the shape of its core. children read 'New Year's of good luck; as such they celebrate New Year by letters' to their parents or feasting on suckling pigs and giving gifts of marzipan or chocolate pigs. godparents, which they will have made at school and decorated with traditional motifs of cherubs, angels, roses and ribbon. GMT +1 GMT +1 GMT +1 Denmark France Germany Dane's like nothing more than seeing in the new year by For many, the new year is Many Germans will welcome in ushered in by eating a stack of smashing plates on their neighbour's doorstep. The more broken crockery at your the new year by eating a donut filled with jam or liquor, called 'Pfannkuchens'. However, as a crepes. While some opt for the tradition of kissing beneath mistletoe as the practical joke some donuts are clock strikes midnight. door, the better your luck for the coming year. given a different filling, such as mustard - if you eat one of these it is seen as bad luck. GMT +1 GMT +1 GMT +1 Italy Italy Hungary In Venice, people gather in St. Mark's Square to see in On New Year's Eve, Wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve is thought to bring love, prosperity and good luck. Budapest's Time Wheel the new year with a mass runs out, it is then mechanically rotated so that the sand can run kissing session. That's one way to create fireworks! through it for another year. GMT +1 GMT +1 GMT +1 Macedonia Norway Spain A dessert called "kransekage' is eaten to celebrate the new year in Norway and Denmark. Traditionally a tall cake of many layers, it is made with marzipan and decorated with flags and Many Spanish and Latin-American people Macedonians celebrate a second New Year's Eve on 14th January, according eat 12 grapes in time to the Macedonian with the twelve chimes Orthodox Calendar. On of the clock at midnight, this day children receive a tradition which is said presents from relatives - to secure them a happy lucky things! year to come. features a bottle of wine in the centre. Mmm. GMT GMT +1 GMT +1 England Netherlands Switzerland+ The tradition of kissing at It is tradition to drop a dollop of cream on the floor on New Year's Day to bring luck and a rich year. To purge the old and welcome in the new, midnight stems back to old English and German bonfires of Christmas folklore. It is said that a trees are burnt and midnight smooch will set the tone of your fireworks are let off. relationship for the coming year - so, pucker up! GMT GMT GMT United Iceland Ireland Kingdom After midnight, people in the Iceland has a whole host of In the hope that the new year UK and other English-speaking magical traditions that are said will bring them a husband, some single women place countries often join hands in a to take place on circle and sing 'Auld Lang Syne', New Year's Eve, such as cows mistletoe under their being able to talk, seals taking on human form, the dead rising pillows. Meanwhile some people bang bread against the wall to drive away a poem written by Scottish poet Robert Burns. from their graves and elves moving house. evil spirits. GMT GMT GMT -2 Portugal Scotland Brazil In northern parts of the country Known as 'Hogmanay', New Every year thousands of it's not unusual Year involves the tradition of Brazilians throw white for children to go door-to-door 'first footing' - where the first flowers into the ocean as an singing carols or 'janeiros', which are said to bring good person to cross the threshold into a house after midnight offering to the Goddess of the Sea in the hope that she'll luck. In exchange they are brings luck with them. The luckiest guest to receive is a dark male with a gift of coal. make their wishes for the given coins and treats. next year come true. GMT -4 GMT -5 GMT -5 Puerto Rico Bahamas Сапada At the stroke of midnight some The traditional New Year's Known as the Polar Bear Swim, people drop backwards into breaking waves. Water also Day Junkanoo parade sees the tradition started in 1920 and involves people jumping into the freezing waters of The English Bay on people don elaborate features in another Puerto costumes they've spent months creating, with the best ones winning prizes. Rican tradition which involves people throwing pails of water New Year's Day. out of their windows to chase away evil spirits. GMT -3 GMT -3 GMT -4 Argentina Chile Bolivia It is thought that wearing A new tradition was started in Bolivians believe that pink underwear will attract Chile when a family from Talca broke into a graveyard to see in wearing bright yellow love in the new year. While underwear on New Year's Eve eating beans will help you either keep your current job or find a better one. the new year with their deceased relative. Nowadays, will increase their fortune for the year to come. the mayor of the town opens the graveyard after mass so others can do the same. GMT -5 GMT -5 GMT -5 Colombia Ecuador New York In the hope of having a New Year in Ecuador is Since 1907, thousands celebrated by the burning of travel-filled year ahead of them, Colombians carry a of people have gathered in Times Square every effigies, along with photographs from the past suitcase around with them on New Year's Eve to watch the 31st December. year. Men sometimes New Year ball drop; dress up as women to its minute descent represent the widows starting at 11.59. of the past year. GMT -5 GMT -5 GMT -5 North Carolina Panama Peru Effigies of politicians and other famous people are burnt to mark the end of one year and Despite protests by PETA, In one Peruvian village people see out the year with a good old fashioned fist fight to settle their differences. They then people of Brasstown participate in a traditional New Year 'possum drop', which does to ward off evil spirits for the approaching year. exactly what it says on the tin... wipe the slate clean for the new year. GMT -5 GMT -6 wanderlust.co.uk all-that-is-interesting.com list25.com telegraph.co.uk Southern States businessinsider.com Мехісо travelandleisure.com It's traditional to eat a stew On New Year's Eve, many made from black-eyed peas, which are said to symbolise Mexicans decorate their homes in different colours, each coins. Therefore eating representative them will bring prosperity of their hopes for the PACK SEND for the new year. new year. Red is for love, We Send Anything, Anywhere! yellow is for work and green is packsend.co.uk for money.