New Year Traditions Around the World
Curious Facts

New Year Traditions Around the World

By Kiwilimón - 2018-10-08T17:08:41.28694Z
The end of the 2016 cycle is approaching, and it should be celebrated in grand style as every year, but not everyone celebrates in the same way. There are very marked traditions in each country around the planet that make this festivity unique and unrepeatable depending on where you live. Today we tell you about 10 of the most peculiar New Year traditions around the world so you can try them at home too. Brazil In the carioca country, lentils are thought to be lucky, so soups and stews with the legume are prepared to attract good fortune and wealth for the coming year. Denmark It turns out that the Dutch keep all the dishes they don’t use during the year and smash them by throwing them against the front door on New Year's Eve. According to them, this should result in good luck. Ecuador To bring good fortune, Ecuadorians do two things on New Year's. The first is that they burn scarecrows filled with paper on the night of December 31st, and the second is that they burn photographs of the past year to welcome the new cycle. Philippines Here they believe that round shapes symbolize coins and, consequently, money. On New Year's, Filipinos celebrate with everything that is round: hats, fruits, balls, etc. Japan In the Land of the Rising Sun, the New Year is celebrated by ringing a bell 108 times, which is believed to bring good luck according to Buddhist tradition. They also think that when the clock strikes midnight, one should always be smiling to welcome the year with a good face. Peru Although it doesn't necessarily happen on December 31st, some communities in Peru and Bolivia resolve their differences with bare-knuckle fights that are also public. Although it may seem wild, this is done to start the new year with a clean slate and without grudges. Switzerland It may sound wasteful, but in Switzerland, they celebrate by throwing a scoop of ice cream on the ground. Why? Many of them don’t even know. Romania When the midnight bells finish ringing, Romanians go to the nearest stream and throw their leftover coins. This is believed to bring luck and financial good fortune for the following year. Puerto Rico In certain areas of Puerto Rico, families throw buckets of water out of the window. Although it sounds dangerous, it is to drive away evil spirits. France Simple but delicious. On New Year's, the French indulge in pancakes, simply because they are delicious. And because we also want to join in, here are some of our New Year rituals that you can apply at home.