Having recently researched some of the most unique Christmas traditions around the world, I was curious to do the same with New Year’s traditions. When living in Spain I experienced the twelve grapes tradition, and I thought that was really unique but the rest of these are even more intriguing and I hope to get to experience some of these first-hand over the coming years!
1-Spain New Year’s Tradition: Eating Twelve Grapes
Eating twelve grapes during the countdown to midnight is both a Spanish New Year’s tradition and a Mexican New Year’s tradition (as well as parts of other Latin American countries). But, in Spain the tradition, as the clock strikes midnight and tolls 12 times is to eat a grape for every toll of the bell, totaling a dozen grapes. People come out into the town squares with their dozen grapes and confetti and other party supplies or they do it at home.
I did the eating twelve grapes at midnight thing in the city center of Granada a few years back, which was really fun. The city passes out little cans of grapes, masks, and confetti and thousands of people chomp grapes as the clock is counted down, before erupting into cheers, abrazos, and besos. I’ve also done the twelve grapes at home, in my former apartment in Madrid with my Spanish partner and friends. Both ways are a nice way to ring in the New Year.
The story is, that this tradition started back in the early 1900s when there was a huge grape harvest one year, and the farmers wanted a way to get rid of more of their supplies.
2-Italy New Year’s Traditions: Throwing Old Furniture or pots and pans out of the window
Due to the danger of potentially getting whacked with a flying pot, pan, or piece of old furniture I wouldn’t recommend walking around at midnight in the parts of Italy that practice this tradition as it could be quite perilous!
This tradition is practiced primarily in regions in Southern Italy (and in modern day Italy it’s primarily in Naples that it’s still practiced). The practice of throwing old pots and pans and/or furniture out of your window apparently symbolizes getting rid of the old or letting go of the past in order to ready yourself for the new/New Year.
In other regions of Italy, New Year’s traditions also include firing up the yule log to scare away evil spirits or to provide a warm hearth for the Virgin Mary to warm baby Jesus next to (depending on who you ask), the exploding of fireworks (almost every region in Italy does this), and eating special dishes that symbolize something positive (such as abundance) for the New Year.
3-Denmark New Year’s Tradition #1: Breaking Dishes
In Denmark (as well as in part of Germany and the Netherlands) it is traditional to break dishes against your neighbors and friends’ doors after midnight. The act is thought to bring good luck and to represent friendship.
Those who wake up to large piles of broken china on their doorstep on New Year’s Day can take satisfaction in knowing they are popular and well-loved.
If you are asking ‘Isn’t that an expensive way to ring in the New Year?’ Possibly. But, it is customary to save old and chipped dishes throughout the year to use for this occasion. Some people also even create mosaics out of the chipped pieces they find on their doorsteps in an effort to bring even more meaning to the act (or perhaps simply because they are awesome up-cyclers?)
Denmark New Year’s Tradition #2: Hopping off of Chairs at Midnight
From Derek of Robe Trotters
Another tradition in Denmark is to quite literally leap into the New Year from the top of a chair at the stroke of midnight.
First, the entire nation tunes in to see Queen Margarethe II address the Danish people. After dinner, cocktails flow until 11:40, when the television networks air a 1963 German sketch comedy called Dinner for One. It’s 18 minutes long, which takes viewers right into a countdown that focuses on the clock at Copenhagen City Hall.
As midnight approaches, most people stand on a chair or their couch to prepare for the stroke of midnight when they hop off to jump into the new year. Additionally, fireworks light up the sky for anyone living in Copenhagen because they’re only available to purchase the week between Christmas and New Years Day.
4-The Netherlands: Dutch Polar Bear Plunge
From: Lotte of Beste voor Kids
The Netherlands have several traditions when it comes to the New Year. They eat oliebollen (a traditional Belgian and Dutch beignet), light fireworks, and play traditional Dutch games such as sjoelen (table shuffleboard). However, the best-known New Year’s tradition in the Netherlands is the so-called ‘Nieuwjaarsduik’.
Every year thousands of people wake up early in the morning on the first day of the New Year. They put on their bathing suit (and an Unox beanie) and drive to Scheveningen. Here they assemble on the beach along the freezing North Sea. When the horn sounds, they take off their warm winter clothes, run to the ocean and take a dip in the cold water.
While there are Polar Bear Plunges held in other countries, the Netherlands tops the list when it comes to the number of participants that take a plunge. It’s a fun tradition and something many Dutch people do at least once in their life. Some even say it’s the perfect cure for a hangover…
5-Irish New Year’s Tradition: Cleaning Your House, Honoring the Dead, and Ushering the Old Year Out of Your Backdoor
While there have been many New Year’s traditions in Ireland over the centuries (like in most other countries) that have faded with time, some are still practiced. Among the ones I hear from my Irish friends that are most common are doing a deep clean of your house before New Year’s, setting a place at the table or leaving the door unlatched for a lost loved one, and the practice of opening up your backdoor to usher out the Old Year before opening your front door to usher in the New Year.
These all make a lot of sense to me! I may start the backdoor/front door tradition in my own home. I feel that physically taking an action that is supposed to symbolize something important, helps make it feel more meaningful and allows us to mentally put ourselves in the mind-frame we need to be in to help that symbolic change occur.
6-Swiss New Year’s Tradition: Throwing Ice Cream on the Ground
I am normally strongly opposed to throwing perfectly good ice cream on the ground, but the Swiss disagree with this sentiment at least once a year-on New Year’s Eve. A New Year’s tradition practiced by some Swiss, is dropping a scoop of ice cream on the ground at the New Year. The act seemingly ensures that your year will be filled with luck and/or wealth.
I wonder if they keep an extra scoop to eat afterwards?
7-New Year’s Tradition in Scotland: Hogmanay and ‘First Foot’
From Izzy at The Gap Decaders
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year. Across the world, hogmanay is recognised as a celebration, a party to bring in the new year, wherever you may be. Edinburgh is the center of global hogmanay celebrations, where people party in the streets and fireworks light up Edinburgh Castle at midnight.
First footing is also still very common across Scotland. The ‘first foot’ in the house after midnight should belong to a dark-haired man – this is because blondies are synonymous with Vikings, who were not so popular in the Scotland of old! The traditional gift that a first footer brings is a lump of coal for the host’s fire, along with shortbread and whisky to toast a happy New Year and bring good fortune to the householder. Don’t turn up without this, or you won’t be very popular!
8-Greek New Year’s Tradition: Hanging Onions on the Front Door
The onion is a symbol of growth and rebirth and therefore is at the center of one of the Greek orthodox New Year’s traditions. On New Year’s Eve an onion is hung on the front door to make sure the following year will be one of happiness, prosperity, and new growth.
Other Greek New Year’s Traditions include: smashing pomegranates, lighting fireworks, playing cards, singing carols and giving gifts.
9-Estonia New Year’s Tradition: Eat Seven, Nine, or Twelve Meals
This may sound absolutely gluttonous and practically impossible but you don’t have to finish each of the meals. Estonians believe that eating either seven, nine or twelve meals on New Year’s will guarantee you prosperity and luck in the New Year.
It is also traditional to leave food on your plate for the spirits of ancestors who may visit.