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New Year Traditions Around The World

There’s no doubt that every country has a New Year tradition that starts a New Year with some sort of gusto and life force. After all New Year’s Eve is the end of one year that was filled with life changing or life threatening experiences and a celebration is always in order to usher in a New Year filled with positive expectations. 

New Year traditions may seem the same around the world, but each country differs due to past and present local customs, as well as cultural and social attitudes about how one should celebrate. Countries around the world have unique expressions that is noticeable on New Year’s Eve so understanding what the word celebrate means in different countries is an interesting learning experience.

  Countries around the World That Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Cultural Style

Every country has a unique style when it comes to New Year’s Eve celebrations but here are some of our favorites:

Australia

The Aussies know how to celebrate the end as well as the beginning of a year in Australia. It starts at midnight December 31st with rattles, horns, church bells, and car horns, and continues with a picnic or a camping adventure on the beach the next day.

Great Britain

The first male house visitor in Great Britain on New Year’s Eve bring good luck in the form of money, coal, or bread to ensure the family will have enough of those things in the coming year. The first visitor can’t be a woman, and men can’t have blond hair or red hair; they bring bad luck. The people in London gather in Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square to hear Big Ben Chime at midnight.

Germany

The people in Germany drop molten lead into cold water and tell the future by the shape the lead makes in the water. A bite of food is left on their plates after midnight to ensure the coming year is filled with abundance.

Hungary

If your name is Jack Straw do not go to Hungary for New Year’s Eve, because the chances are you will be burnt. The tradition in Hungary on the 31st December is to burn an effigy called Jack Straw which represents all the evil and bad luck in the world. The effigy is taken around all the villages.

India

Diwali or the festival of lights starts the Indian New year. Gifts are exchanged and people try to complete any work that’s not finished.

Japan

Start laughing! Think of something funny at midnight and let loose. Ringing in the New Year with laughter brings good luck.

Netherlands

People burn Christmas Trees in street bonfires and let fireworks ring in the New Year.

 Russia

In Russia Grandfather Frost wears a blue suit instead of Santa’s red suit and he arrives on New Year’s Eve with toys and gifts for the children.

Spain

Stop whatever you’re doing at midnight and get out your grapes. In Spain, revelers eat 12 grapes, one for each chime of the clock. They bring good luck for the 12 months of the New Year.

Scotland

The first person to walk through your door on New Year sets the tone for the rest of the year. At least according to the Scottish tradition of “First footing.” the best luck will come from a tall, dark and handsome man bringing you a gift- preferably whiskey.

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