As 2018 draws it’s curtains and the light dawns on 2019, here are some unique but interesting new year traditions from around the world –
Broken Plates: Denmark
People of Denmark welcome the new year by smashing unused china plates againsts their friends and neighbours doorways. The greater the number of broken plates you find on your doorway the more popular you are and the luckier you will get in the coming year.
108 Rings, Japan
As bells are tolled in Buddhist temples around the country, a Japanese will patiently sit through 108 rings at midnight. Number 108 symbolises human sins in buddhism and ringings of the bell that many times aims at removing 108 desires of senses and feelings.
All Things Red: Turkey
Colour red symbolises health for the Turks so they gift and wear red underwear at the stroke of midnight. They also smash pomegranates at their front door at midnight with the belief that more the pieces and seeds spread on the ground, the more successful the new year would be.
Whispering to Animals: Romania
Farmers of Romania and Belgium wish their animals on new year’s day and they also try to listen and understand their animals on that day.
Fireworks and a Kissathon: Venice
People gather St Mark’s square to take part in the annual ‘kissathon’ that takes place in the backdrop of some impressive fireworks lighting up the skies at midnight.
Walk with a Suitcase: Latin America
The Chileans, Paraguayans, Venezuelans, Columbians and Peruvians believe in walking with their luggage after the 12 chimes of midnight so as to attract more trips during the coming year.
Polka Dots: Philippines
The Filipinos believe that round shapes bring prosperity and attract money. So for New Year they wear polka-dotted clothes, fill coins in their pockets, eat and decorate their centrepieces with watermelons and oranges.
New Year with the Dead: Chile
People in the town of Talca in Chile visit the graves of their loved ones and spend New Year with them. This tradition dates back to 1995 only when a family jumped over the fence of a cemetery to be with their dead loved ones on New Year.
Pleasing Goddess Yemanja: Brazil
The Brazilian New Year celebration ritual is to please the Goddess of the sea, Yemanja. Followers of the Afro-Brazilian religion, Umbanda, flock to the sea to offer flowers, perfumes, letter and gifts to please the Goddess. They sing, dance and pray to bless the world with peace, prosperity and happiness.
12 Grapes: Spain
As the clock strikes 12, the people in spain start putting 12 grapes in their mouth-one for each stroke of midnight with the belief that it will bring enough luck to last the 12 months of the coming year.
