Some cultures, religions, and countries have some quirky New Year’s celebrations, with some stranger than others. Here’s a list of some of the quirkier around the world.
Spain – Grapes and Suitcases
When the clock strikes midnight in Spain, some people eat a grape each time the clock strikes a chime. The grapes correspond to each month of the upcoming year, and the sweeter the grape, the better the month is supposed to be. (Feel bad for the soul that gets 12 sour grapes.)
The tradition started in 1895 as a way to sell the leftover supplies grape growers had and it’s stuck around ever since.
Other Spanish speaking countries celebrate by walking a block with a suitcase in hand. It’s supposed to some good chances of travel in the upcoming year. This mostly happens in Colombia, though.
Denmark – Dish Throwing and Furniture Jumping
Usually, broken dishes are a sign of clumsiness or too much wine throughout the night. (Perhaps the grapes had something to do with it?) But in Denmark, the tradition is to throw dishes at family’s, friends’, and neighbors’ doorsteps. The more of a mess there is to clean up in the morning, supposedly the more blessed you are with friends.
This is also from the same country that believes jumping from a chair at midnight will rid you of bad luck for the upcoming year. No word on whether breaking a mirror on someone’s doorstep is counterintuitive to that, or not.
Belarus – Roosters
Single? Female? Have a stash of extra hay or corn, and a rooster near by? Then stack up the hay or corn in front of you and release the rooster. Supposedly, whichever women the rooster goes to first will be the first to get married during the New Year.
Ecuador – Death to Scarecrows
People in this South American country ring in the New Year by burning scarecrows. The reasoning behind it is that scarecrows scare bad luck away and that by burning them gets rid of whatever’s left, leaving the next twelve months available for everything good.
Puerto Rico – Water Works
Northeast of Ecuador, people in the island country of Puerto Rico fill up a bucket of water and hurl it out the window, door, or other opening of the house. This is supposed to wash away everything bad while bringing good. Some families also use that water before hand to clean a belongings before tossing it out, which seems a lot less fun than just tossing the water.
South Africa – Almost like Puerto Rico
Instead of water, South Africans throw old appliances out the window.
Russia – Swimming Around the Christmas Tree
Home to Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest and oldest lake, Russia has it’s own unique twist on New Year’s – throw a tree into the lake and have people swim around it. Think it’s made up? Check out Youtube.com for video!
Germany and Finland – Molten Metal
Some people hold out their palms for fortunes. Germans and Fins melt tin into a molten form and then drip it into water. The hardened shapes formed are then interpreted, with bubbly surfaces meaning financial wealth, hearts meaning love, and broken shapes meaning nothing good.
Mexico, Central America, and South America – Special Underwear
Quick: Choose between yellow or red underwear? That’s what people do in these parts of the world. Supposedly yellow will bring wealth and red will bring love. No idea if it’s possible to wear underwear with both colors.