From crying to plate smashing, the odd ways some ring in the New Year

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, people across the globe come together to celebrate the arrival of a new year.

For many, this moment calls for fireworks and champagne, but for some, it’s a time to embrace quirky customs and heartfelt traditions.

From eating twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight to smashing plates for good luck, every culture has its own special way of welcoming the New Year. Some traditions will make you smile, others may leave you scratching your head, but all are sure to spark inspiration for your own celebrations.

Here’s a glimpse into some of these fascinating customs.

Hanging onions at the doorstep

In Greece, it’s common to see onions hanging outside doors on New Year’s Eve. This quirky tradition is believed to bring good luck for the coming year, as the onion’s roots symbolise continuous growth. It’s a way of ensuring prosperity and positive energy in the household for the year ahead.

Plate smashing

In Denmark, people ring in the New Year with a bit of unconventional house cleaning. Throughout the year, residents save up chipped and unused dishes, and on New Year’s Eve, they smash them joyfully against the doors of friends and family.

The more shattered pieces, the better, as broken plates are considered a sign of good luck and strong relationships in the year to come.

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Wearing colourful underwear

In several Latin American countries, including Brazil, Mexico, and Bolivia, as well as in Spain and Italy, the colour of your underwear on New Year’s Eve is believed to influence your fortune.

According to legend, yellow will bring money, and red will bring love, while white can bring peace and pink underwear is said to bring affection, kindness. Thus, each colour essentially has an underlying (pun-intended) reason, based on the individual’s goals for the upcoming year.

Sprinkling salt

At midnight in Turkey, it’s traditional to sprinkle salt on the doorstep, a gesture believed to bring prosperity and peace for the new year. The custom is rooted in the idea that salt protects the home from negativity, ushering in a fresh start.

Similarly, in Chinese New Year traditions, cinnamon is thought to bring good luck.

Crying together

In Taiwan, New Year’s celebrations begin with an unexpected yet heartwarming tradition: crying together.

Families and friends gather to let out their emotions, allowing everyone to vent and find comfort in shared experiences. This ritual, which defies the conventional idea of happiness on New Year’s Eve, provides a way for people to release pent-up feelings and start the year with emotional healing.

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Interestingly, the practice was started as a joke by a 22-year-old university student on Facebook in 2023, but it quickly gained popularity, becoming a heartfelt tradition.

Eating 12 grapes

In Spain, as the clock strikes midnight, locals follow a fun tradition called “Las doce uvas de la suerte,” or “The Twelve Grapes of Luck."

As the twelve chimes of the clock ring out, Spaniards attempt to eat one grape for each bell toll, each representing good luck for a month in the upcoming year. The challenge is to swallow all twelve grapes in time, bringing a comical start to New Year’s Day.

The tradition was introduced by the vine growers in the Alicante area in the 1800s.

Ringing 108 temple bells

In Japan, New Year’s Eve, or ‘Omisoka’, is a time for reflection and spiritual cleansing.

At Buddhist temples across the country, a ritual called “Joya no Kane” takes place, where large temple bells are rung 108 times.

Each bell represents one of the 108 worldly temptations, and the ringing serves to cleanse individuals of these sins, preparing them for a fresh and spiritually purified start to the New Year.

Furniture tossing

In Johannesburg, South Africa, it’s common to see old furniture being thrown out of windows on New Year’s Eve.

This dramatic gesture of “Out with the Old” is a symbolic act of discarding unwanted items, representing a fresh start and renewal for the coming year. While it may seem unconventional, this practice fosters a spirit of communal renewal and shared experiences.

Throwing white flowers in the ocean

In Brazil, on New Year’s Eve, many people head to the beach to honour Yemoja, the Goddess of the Sea.

Dressed in white, locals throw flowers and candles into the ocean as offerings, seeking her blessings for the year ahead. This tradition is particularly prominent at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, where the rituals create a serene and beautiful atmosphere.

Eating 12 meals

In Estonia, the New Year’s celebrations involve not just one meal, but up to twelve. It’s believed that eating twelve meals on New Year’s Day will bring good luck for the year ahead, with the number twelve considered especially lucky.

Interestingly, it’s not seen as rude to leave food on the plate, as some intentionally do so for the spirits of departed family members, inviting them to join in the feast.

Walking around with an empty suitcase

In Colombia, to ensure a year filled with travel and adventure, it’s customary to walk around the block with an empty suitcase at midnight.

This quirky ritual is thought to invite wanderlust and promise exciting journeys throughout the year, allowing for new adventures and experiences to unfold.

Mistletoe and bread

In Ireland, single women place mistletoe under their pillows on New Year’s Eve, hoping to find love in the coming year.

Additionally, some Irish households partake in a tradition of banging bread against walls and doors to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. This ensures that the coming year will be full of prosperity, happiness, and good fortune.

With input from agencies