Around the world, cultures welcome the change of the calendar with unique New Year’s traditions of their own. Here are some of our favorite New Year’s traditions around the world (we’re especially fans of Colombia’s!).
United States
Celebrations include singing “Auld Lang Syne” to greet the New Year, and eating black-eyed peas for good luck.
Spain
In Spain, it is customary to eat 12 grapes – one at each stroke of the clock at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Each grape represents good luck for one month of the coming year.
Colombia
In hopes of a travel-filled new year, residents of Columbia carry empty suitcases around the block. That’s one New Year’s tradition we can get behind!
Denmark
Residents of Denmark greet the New Year by climbing on chairs and jumping off of them together at midnight to “leap” into January in hopes of good luck.
Finland
In Finland, people predict the coming year by casting molten tin into a container of water, then interpreting the shape the metal takes after hardening. A heart or ring means a wedding, while a ship predicts travel and a pig declares there will be plenty of food.
Scotland
Scotland's New Year’s Eve celebration of Hogmanay, “first-footing” is practiced across the country. The first person who crosses a threshold of a home in the New Year should carry a gift for luck.
Philippines
You’ll find round shapes all over the Phillipines on New Year’s Eve as representatives of coins to symbolize prosperity in the coming year. Many families display piles of fruit on their dining tables and some eat exactly 12 round fruits at midnight. Many also wear polka dots for luck.
Brazil
In Brazil, as well as other Central and South America countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela, it is thought to be lucky to wear special underwear on New Year’s Eve. The most popular colors are red, thought to bring love in the New Year, and yellow, thought to bring money.
Greece
An onion is traditionally hung on the front door of homes on New Year’s On New Year’s Day, parents wake their children by tapping them on the head with the onion.
