3,2,1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Friday 31st December 2021, we are about to end the year and this occasion is celebrated in upbeat in multiple ways around the world. Generally, people get together, grab a bite, dance, watch or light fireworks, and indulge in family picnics and excursions.
So, let’s take a look at lesser-known fun facts and traditions for New Year’s Eve around the globe.
Did you know that Samoa is the first place to celebrate the new year while American Samoa is the last one while they are only barely 80 kilometres apart? WOW!!
Here are some more fun and weird traditions around the globe:
Popping in grapes (Spain): Spanish people munch on 12 grapes, one at each stroke of the clock at midnight to set the seal on Goodluck for the coming twelve months. This tradition goes back for generations.
Smashing plates (Denmark): Danish people welcome the new year by this weird technique of tossing plates, glasses, and other ceramic ware against the doors of family, friends, and relatives’ houses. You are considered to be popular if you have a pile of smashed ceramics outside of your door. They also stand on chairs and then jump off together at midnight.
Flung old appliances (South Africa): In South Africa, some people throw out their old appliances from the window.
Wearing special underwear (Venezuela): In Venezuela, it is considered lucky (and weird) to wear special underwear on New Year’s Eve (Yes, you heard that right!). Red is for love, and yellow is for money.
Dinner for one (Germany): Germans watch the same British show named “Dinner for one” every year since 1972.
Eating Round-shaped food (Philippines): In the Philippines, people wear clothes having polka dots on them and feast on round-shaped food to bring prosperity.
Melting Tin (Finland): Every new year, Finnish people melt miniature tin horses in a pan. Then we take molten tin and pour it into cold water. The tin then hardens again upon hitting the cold water. The new shape formed by the process is interpreted as an indicator of the person’s wealth, health, and happiness for the coming year.
Bread thumping (Ireland): every new year people in Ireland take loaves of hard bread and smack it against the wall. they believe that this tradition of making loud noises will keep bad spirits and bad luck out of their houses.
Underwater tree planting in Siberia (Russia): If you’ve ever been to Russia in the holiday season, you probably noticed decorated Christmas trees in excess, but these trees have nothing to do with Christmas!
There’s a pretty good chance that these trees are New years’ trees, known as ‘Yolkas’. The Yolka, which means ‘Fir tree’ is used in new years’ celebrations for centuries.
In Siberia, People follow this strange tradition of setting up a Yolka tree on a lake floor. Divers take to the –49-degree water to set up a decorated Yolka on the floor of a nearby lake.
Graveyard shift (Chile): It’s always tough to celebrate good times without our loved ones whom we have lost. Because of that, the people of Talca (Chile) follow this extremely unconventional and weird tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve with their lost ones (like literally). The citizens of this town spend their new year’s night in the graveyards of the friends and family members who have passed away! 😲
They believe that this not only brings peace to their heart but also good luck for the coming year.
Binge-Eating (Estonia): This one is for foodies as you might want to head to Estonia for your New year’s celebration. The people in this country like to binge eat in the new year. The number of meals you have that day matters a lot. 7, 9, and 12 are believed to be the luckiest number of meals to have on this day. It is believed that the number of times you eat on this day will depict the strength you will have for the coming year.
It’s also not ok to not finish your whole plate. Although leaving a little leftover is believed to make your ancestors happy.
Possum Dropping (North Carolina): It all started over 2 decades ago in Brass town (North Carolina) when a local shop owner, Clay Logan decided that the Possum was the town’s Mascot. So, he came up with this queer idea to welcome the new year by lowering one of these large rodents from the roof of his shop at the midnight.
It proved to be successful as thousands of people gather each year to witness this strange tradition.
Key Takeaways
The world is full of people from all walks of life. So, it’s no wonder that they choose to ring on New Year’s Eve in completely different ways.
We hope that you liked the article. Stay tuned to SpeEDLabs for more such amazing stuff!
Also published on Medium.