5 Unique New Year Traditions and Culture Around the World
Another year is about to come to an end. Everyone does their own ways of spending the few days before we replace the calendars at our homes. You may be listing down your new year’s resolution to achieve in 2023, or preparing your family’s New Year traditions. As we welcome a new chapter in our lives, we celebrate the New Year according to our traditions and cultures. Like how Filipinos wear polka dots that symbolize luck, other countries also have their own traditions once the clock hits 12 midnight!
5 Unique New Year Traditions and Culture Around the World
1. Joya no Kane (New Year’s Eve Bell) in Japan
Buddhist temples all over Japan ring their bonsho (temple bells) 108 times every year at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s eve. Based on Buddhist teachings, they ring the bell 108 times since it’s the number that represents the evil desires we experience. Joya no Kane is a ritual used to discharge these unfavorable feelings from the previous year.
Patrick Vierthaler | Flickr
2. Eating 12 grapes at Midnight in Spain
When clocks strike midnight, people in Spain start off their New Year’s celebration by eating 12 grapes, one at each stroke of the clock. Each grape represents the months of the year. They believe that they’ll have a lucky year if they eat a grape at each of the 12-clock chimes. They will, however, have terrible luck in the next year if they do not carefully eat all of their grapes by the time the clock stops ringing.
Chris Oakley | Flickr
3. Smashing Plates in Denmark
While other countries consider broken things as a bad sign, people in Denmark see it as a stroke of good luck. As the clock strikes midnight, they run around throwing plates against the front doors of their family or friends’ houses. This is to wish them luck for the upcoming year. They believe that the more shattered and piled-up dishes you have at your door on January 1st, the more friends and good fortune you will have.
Christine Welter | Getty Images
4. Hanging onions on doors in Greece
People in Greece make sure that they start off their year right. Hanging onions on the door in the household is one of their activities and rituals that are designed to bring luck. In the Greeks’ perspective, onions represent the epitome of fertility and will aid in the growth and rebirth of the people. This tradition brings good health, fertility, and longevity.
Catalin Petolea | Shutterstock
5. Jumping seven waves in Brazil
Since the New Year in Brazil falls in the summer, they love to hold their celebrations outdoors. And as the clock strikes midnight, they will make their way towards the sea to do this tradition! Purists who participate in the tradition of jumping over seven waves on New Year’s Eve make a wish after each wave they clear for good luck.
hbpro | Shutterstock
