Seven New Year’s Eve traditions from around the world..
Every country has its New Year’s Eve traditions, dating back into the mists of time. Here are seven we love.
Spain: the 12 grapes of luck
In Spain, one New Year’s tradition is to eat 12 grapes, one for every strike of the clock until midnight, which is believed to ensure good luck and prosperity in the year ahead – but only if you finish all 12 before the final strike of the clock. The tradition of the las doce uvas de la suerte (the 12 lucky grapes) is said to have originated in 1909, when a Spanish region had an exceptionally good grape harvest. Well, they had to do something with all those spare grapes, assuming the wine barrels were already full!
Denmark: smashing plates
A Danish tradition sees people smashing plates and crockery against the doors of their neighbours to bring them good luck for the year ahead. All year round old plates are saved and, on New Years Eve, they are flung at the front doors of friends and family. It’s believed that the bigger the pile of broken china, the more friends and good luck you’ll have in the coming year. We quite fancy this one, but not so much the cleaning up next day. Or trying to explain to your neighbour what on earth you’re up to.
Mexico: colourful underwear
In Mexico, Bolivia, and Brazil, your fortune for the year ahead is determined by the colour of your pants, apparently. Tradition says that red will bring love while yellow will bring wealth, whereas if you seek a peaceful year, you should wear white. It’s not clear if you can wear more than one pair, of different colours, or even a patterned pair.
Japan: 108 bells
Japanese New Year, Oshogatsu, is welcomed in at midnight with the ringing of a bell 108 times, to dispel the 108 evil passions all human beings have. The tradition sits with the belief that this ringing of the bells will cleanse them from their sins of the previous year.
The Philippines: round things
In the Philippines, New Year is all about money. Hoping to bring prosperity and wealth for the year ahead, the Filipinos surround themselves with round things (to represent coins and wealth). They eat grapes; keep coins in their pockets and constantly jangle them, wear clothes with polka dots, etc.
Italy: throwing furniture out of the window
In certain parts of Italy tit is traditional to throw old, unwanted furniture out of the house to symbolise a fresh start for the year ahead. This one we can totally get on board with, but perhaps would only throw soft things out of windows, we don’t want to start the new year with an injury claim from an innocent passer-by.
Scotland: first footing
One of the oldest Scottish traditions, the ‘first foot’ says that the first person to cross the threshold after midnight on New Year’s Eve should come bearing gifts. These gifts can be coins, coal, bread, salt, and a “wee dram” of whiskey, to bring good luck for the household. Traditionally a tall dark-haired male is picked to be the first footer, an indication of the origins of this tradition, which dates back to the day when big blonde strangers arriving at the door (often wielding axes and swords) meant trouble. This tradition holds throughout the British Isles, in fact, and if you don’t already do it, here’s how it should go:
Choose your First Footer – a tall, dark man, and have him leave by the back door just before midnight and come round to the front door. He must knock or ring, and when asked to enter step over the threshold saying ”A Happy New Year and good tidings to you and yours”. He must then hand his gifts to the owners of the house and accept a drink.
However you spend your New Year, we wish you love, luck and prosperity for the year ahead. And no big, blonde, strangers…
Eddie – Saturday 30th December 2023. (Image used from JP & Brimelow marketing team).
