How people around the world celebrate New Year’s Eve
New Year's is celebrated worldwide, with each country adding its own unique traditions. From eating 12 raisins in Portugal to jumping off furniture in Denmark, customs vary widely. Explore some of the most fascinating and unusual New Year's Eve celebrations from around the globe.
Germany and lead pouring
In Germany, a unique New Year's tradition is Bleigießen, a form of divination using molten metal. People melt small pieces of lead and pour the liquid into cold water, where it solidifies into random shapes. These shapes are then interpreted as omens for the coming year. Due to health and safety regulations, lead is no longer used, and instead, wax or tin is poured.
This custom dates back to ancient times, with origins in the Roman Empire, where people believed that molten metal could provide insights into the future.
Some common shapes and their meanings include the ball, which symbolizes that "luck will come to you". The sword or Degen represents "courage to take risks", encouraging bold decisions in the year ahead. Other shapes can symbolize personal qualities, such as the fox, which represents being clever and proactive.
Another unusual German tradition, shared by several European countries, is watching the British comedy “Dinner for One”. Originally aired in 1963, it tells the story of Miss Sophie, who celebrates her 90th birthday with a dinner party, despite her guests having passed away. Her butler, James, humorously and awkwardly takes on the role of her deceased friends, mimicking them while getting progressively drunk throughout the evening.
Spain and twelve grapes
In Spain, New Year's Eve is traditionally celebrated at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol public square, where crowds gather to welcome the midnight hour. The event is broadcasted for those unable to attend. At each of the twelve chimes, Spaniards eat a grape, a custom believed to bring good luck and happiness for each month of the coming year. If you plan to celebrate at Puerta del Sol, it's best to arrive hours before midnight due to limited space.
Portugal and right foot
Starting the year with the right foot is a literal tradition in Portugal. At midnight, people step onto a chair with their right foot and either descend or jump off using the same foot, believing it brings good luck for the year and wards off bad luck.
New Year's Eve customs also reflect those of Spain, but instead of eating 12 grapes, people eat 12 raisins—one for each stroke of the clock at midnight. Each raisin symbolizes a wish for one of the upcoming months and is thought to bring good fortune and prosperity. Raisins are preferred over grapes on New Year's Eve, likely because grapes were historically harder to get during the winter months. Additionally, it's simply more convenient to eat 12 raisins instead of 12 grapes
Italy and throwing old things
In Italy, one of the most unique New Year's traditions involves throwing old items out of windows, including pots, pans, clothes, appliances, and even furniture! This custom symbolizes "letting go" of past misfortunes and making space for the new year. While most Italians have abandoned this tradition, it's still wise to be cautious when walking the streets of Naples on New Year's Eve. Another popular tradition in Italy is wearing red underwear, as it is believed to bring good luck and love in the coming year.
Czechia and apples
In the Czech Republic, apples hold a special significance during the New Year's celebrations, especially on New Year’s Eve and Day. A popular tradition involves apple divination or apple fortune-telling. On the night of December 31st, every person present at the table cuts an apple in half crosswise, and the shape of the core is interpreted to predict the future. If the apple's core forms a star, it's considered a sign of good luck and a prosperous year ahead. If the core is misshapen or resembles a cross, it is seen as an omen of bad luck or illness.
Philippines and twelve round fruits
In the Philippines, a cherished New Year’s tradition is placing 12 round fruits on the dinner table, each symbolizing one month of the year. Popular fruits for this custom include apples, oranges, grapes, mangoes, papayas, durians, mangosteens, pineapples, guavas, plums, peaches, and apricots. Each fruit is thought to bring luck to a specific month.
The round shape of the fruits is associated with coins, which Filipinos believe attract prosperity and good fortune in the year ahead. The round motif goes beyond fruits in Filipino New Year traditions. Many wear polka-dotted clothing and decorate their homes with circular objects, believing these shapes symbolize wealth and attract prosperity.
Brazil and jumping into the ocean in white
One of the most well-known customs in Brazil is wearing white clothing, which symbolizes renewal, and good luck for the coming year. Many people flock to the beaches, especially in Rio de Janeiro, to celebrate, where they participate in rituals to honor Lemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea. Offerings of white flowers, candles, hair combs, and other small trinkets are placed in the water as a gesture of respect and hope for blessings.
Another common tradition is jumping over seven waves at midnight, a practice believed to bring good luck and fulfillment of wishes. You can make one wish for each wave. The number seven is significant in Brazilian culture, symbolizing luck.
Denmark and jumping into the new year
In Denmark, many families gather on December 31st to watch the annual New Year’s address. The royal speech, which is broadcast annually, marks an important moment in the celebrations in Denmark. This year, the address will be delivered by King Frederik, as Queen Margrethe II has announced her abdication. After the speech, it's time for dinner, and at midnight, Danes jump off their sofas or chairs to start the new year with energy and joy. Forgetting to jump at midnight is believed to bring bad luck for the entire year.
Cuba and buckets of water
At midnight, Cubans engage in a unique tradition to "wash away" the past year's misfortunes. They throw a bucket of dirty water into the street, symbolizing the removal of bad luck and making way for a fresh start.
In addition to this, two other interesting New Year's Eve customs are widely practiced. One involves walking around the block with an empty suitcase, a belief that this action will bring travel opportunities and adventures in the coming year.
Another tradition is the burning of a human-sized rag doll. Typically made of old clothes or straw, this figure represents anything negative that happened in the past year and is set on fire at midnight, welcoming the new year with optimism and renewal.
Greece and smashing of pomegranate
The pomegranate has long been a symbol of prosperity and luck. In Greece, one of the most unique customs is the smashing of pomegranates. At midnight on New Year's Eve, it's traditional to throw a pomegranate against the door or onto the ground. The number of seeds that scatter is believed to signify the family's prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. The more seeds, the better!
Another important tradition is Podariko, or the 'first step' custom. The belief behind this tradition is that the first person to enter a Greek home on New Year's Day will bring either good or bad luck. Homeowners typically choose this person before midnight, and they must step into the house with their right foot, as the right foot is considered lucky. It's believed that this first step with the right foot brings prosperity and happy moments for the year ahead. This person is thought to bring positive energy into the home, and only someone with a kind, loving, and honest heart can truly bring luck.
Earlier Kazinform News Agency shared the list of 10 events that shaped Kazakhstan in 2024.