New Years Traditions from Around the Globe – Part Two

The New Year is a painting not yet painted; a path not yet stepped on; a wing not yet taken off! Things haven't happened as yet! Before the clock strikes twelve, remember that you are blessed with the ability to reshape your life!

Mehmet Murat Ildan

A few years ago, I wrote about some New Year traditions from around the globe. Looking at my note from back then, there a some that didn’t make the cut so, here’s my chance to take a second look at some of the weird and wonderful celebrations from around the world!

Various countries: Eating lucky foods

Throughout the world, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with a meal in the company of friends and family. In some places, this means eating specific “lucky” foods. In Spain, Portugal, and much of Latin America (such as Colombia), for example, it’s 12 grapes or raisins, and in Italy, 12 spoonful’s of lentils - one with each of the 12 chimes of the clock at midnight.

The French usher in the best New Year with a stack of pancakes. Germans prefer marzipan shaped into a pig for luck, whereas in the Netherlands, people eat doughnuts and ring-shaped foods. Estonians feast as many as 7, 9, or even 12 times on New Year’s Eve, as they believe for each meal consumed, the person gains the strength of that many men the following year.

Philippines: Wearing polka dots and eating round fruits

To ensure a happy new year, the Filipino community believes that wearing round shapes (such as polka dots!) promotes prosperity and good luck. Additionally, eating round fruits - like oranges, watermelon, longan, grapes, and pomelos - is considered fortuitous as well. Many Filipinos gather 12 or 13 round fruits (the exact number is up for debate) and display them as the centrepiece of their dinner table.

Brazil: Wearing white while jumping into the ocean

Wearing white on New Year’s Eve has long been a tradition with roots in Africa, as it symbolizes peace and spiritual cleansing. In Brazil, the Festa de Lemanjá takes place on this night to celebrate the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea (Lemanjá). The culmination of the event is when everyone - dressed in white - runs into the water right at midnight to jump over seven waves. Each wave and jump signifies a different request the swimmer is making to a different orixá, or god. Consider them New Year’s resolutions or hopes, of sorts.

Mexico: Walking around with an empty suitcase

In Mexico, there’s one tradition people participate in on New Year’s Eve to help ring in a year filled with travel and new experiences. People will walk around with an empty suitcase or set it in the middle of a room and stroll around it. Others go further and take a full lap around the block with their empty luggage. This tradition is practiced in other Latin American countries also.

Cuba: Throwing a bucket of water out the front door

In Cuba, people symbolically gather all of the bad spirits and negative energy from the past 365 days and toss them right out the front door. It’s not uncommon to see buckets full of dirty water flying out of homes during the countdown to midnight.

Greece: Hanging and smashing pomegranates

Podariko, a Greek custom that roughly translates to “good foot,” aims to bring luck at the start of the year. Before the holiday, households will hang pomegranates, thought to be a sign of luck, prosperity, and fertility, from their door. Then, on New Year’s Eve just before midnight, everyone will shut off the lights and leave the house so they can send a lucky individual to be the first to re-enter the house, right foot first. When done correctly, it brings the family good fortune for the year. Afterward, a second person will take the pomegranate in their right hand and smash it against the door to see just how much luck - the more juicy seeds that spill out, the more luck the new year will bring.

Germany: Melting lead to divine the future

In much of German-speaking Europe, as well as Finland, Bulgaria, Czechia, and Turkey, it’s customary to heat small pieces of lead, then cast them in cold water and make a prediction for the new year based on the shapes that form. For example, if a ball forms, luck will roll your way. These days, kits throughout German-speaking countries include tin - rather than lead - figurines to melt.

Spain: Searching for the man with many noses

In the Catalonia region of northern Spain, a special character appears on the last day of the year. L’home dels nassos, or the man with many noses, has as many noses as there are days left in the year - and he grants wishes, if you can find him. According to this Spanish tradition, children are encouraged to look for him, rarely realizing that on the last day of the year, he only has one nose left and is, therefore, hard to spot!

Denmark: Jumping into the new year—literally

Denmark is usually associated with cozy concepts like hygge, but New Year’s is a totally different story. At midnight, Danes will jump off a chair or sofa - literally jumping into the new year. It’s seen as good luck if you do and bad luck if you don’t, so be sure to take a leap if you ever ring in New Year’s in Denmark. They also have a tradition of breaking plates, which represents the act of removing negative energy and ill will.

Italy and Spain: Wearing red underwear

Italians and Spaniards both wear red underwear for luck. However, Spaniards insist the underwear must also be new to be lucky. Italians, however, take things a step farther! They often throw old items out the window to symbolize the coming of new things with the New Year.

These last two are close to my heart having experienced both for several years!

Scotland: Redding of the house and “Auld Lang Syne”

In Scotland, Hogmanay is an end-of-year New Year’s Eve party that starts on December 30 and ends on New Year’s Day. There are many variations of Hogmanay celebrations throughout the country, but the most common tradition is that of “first footing,” which involves being the first to visit friends and neighbours, often with a symbolic gift in hand, very often a piece of coal to bring warmth to the family.

People gather to sing “Auld Lang Syne” (a song about friends recalling their adventures from long ago) as the clock strikes midnight, but one of the most important New Year’s Eve traditions is the redding of the house. This is essentially a deep clean around your home, from the cabinets to the front door. One spot that’s focused on is the fireplace - all old ashes are cleaned out so everyone in the house can start the year off fresh.

If you happen to be in Edinburgh for the festivities, expect to see pipers and drummers leading torch-wielding locals on a procession throughout the city (scheduled for December 29 this year). And on New Year’s Day, the party ends with a bracing swim in the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth. (I didn’t participate in that bit!).

Ireland: Setting an extra place at the table

The Irish have several New Year’s traditions, such as banging the outside walls of their houses with bread to keep away bad luck and evil spirits and starting the year with a spotless, freshly cleaned home. But one of the most well-known is setting an additional plate at the dinner table for any loved ones lost in the prior year. Personally, whilst my mum passed several years ago, I still set a place for her, Happy New Year Mum!

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