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- Spain: Eating Grapes For Good Luck. In Spain, locals will eat exactly 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight to honor a tradition that started in the late 19th century.
- Scotland: First Footing. In Scotland, the day before Jan. 1 is so important that there's even an official name for it: Hogmanay. On this day, the Scottish observe many traditions, but easily one of their most famous is first footing.
- The Netherlands: Chowing Down On. The reasoning behind this Dutch New Year's Eve celebration is odd, to say the least. Ancient Germanic tribes would eat pieces of deep-fried dough during the Yule so that when Germanic goddess Perchta, better known as Perchta the Belly Slitter, tried to cut their stomachs open and fill them with trash (a punishment for those who hadn't sufficiently partaken in yuletide cheer), the fat from the dough would cause her sword to slide right off.
- Russia: Planting Underwater Trees. For the past 25 years or so, it has been a Russian holiday tradition for two divers, aptly named Father Frost and the Ice Maiden, to venture into a frozen Lake Baikal, the world's largest freshwater lake, and take a New Year Tree—typically a decorated spruce—more than 100 feet below the surface.
- Mallory Moench
- Times Square ball drop. Some version of the famous ball has been dropped in Times Square in New York City on New Year’s Eve since 1907, although the history of using a ball on a pole to notify ship captains of the time dates back to the 1800s.
- Jumping waves and wearing white. In Brazil, revelers often wear white and go to the beach to celebrate the new year. At the ocean, some practice the tradition of making offerings to Iemanjá, or Yemanja, an ocean goddess from traditional Afro-Brazilian religions Candomblé and Umbanda.
- First footing. One tradition in Scotland, where New Year’s Eve is known as Hogmanay, is “first footing”—literally the first foot to enter someone’s home after midnight.
- Ringing bells 108 times. In Japan, Buddhist temples ring bells 108 times on New Year’s Eve. This is because in Buddhism, it is believed that there are 108 types of earthly desires, and each strike of the bell will remove one desire.
Dec 27, 2023 · Wherever you are on the night of December 31, the celebrations for the new year might look a little different. In New York City, people watch a 700-pound ball drop from Times Square, a tradition ...
- Marisa Lascala
- 2 min
- marisa.lascala@hearst.com
- Ancient New Year’S Celebrations
- January 1 Becomes New Year’S Day
- New Year’S Traditions and Celebrations Around The World
The earliest recorded festivities in honor of a new year’s arrival date back some 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. For the Babylonians, the first new moon following the vernal equinox—the day in late March with an equal amount of sunlight and darkness—heralded the start of a new year. They marked the occasion with a massive religious festival called...
The early Roman calendar consisted of 10 months and 304 days, with each new year beginning at the vernal equinox; according to tradition, it was created by Romulus, the founder of Rome, in the eighth century B.C. A later king, Numa Pompilius, is credited with adding the months of Januarius and Februarius. Over the centuries, the calendar fell out o...
In many countries, New Year’s celebrations begin on the evening of December 31—New Year’s Eve—and continue into the early hours of January 1. Revelers often enjoy meals and snacks thought to bestow good luck for the coming year. In Spain and several other Spanish-speaking countries, people bolt down a dozen grapes-symbolizing their hopes for the mo...
- 1 min
- Contributing Writer
- Clean Your House Before Midnight. In Japan, there's a New Year's tradition known as "osoji" or "o-souji" that involves thoroughly cleaning and tidying the house before midnight.
- Watch a New Year's Day Parade. Many people around the world like to kick off the new year by watching or attending a parade on the holiday. In the U.S., a couple of the most famous examples are the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, and the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia.
- Write a Letter to Yourself for Next Year. This tradition is a gift that keeps on giving. It involves taking a moment to reflect on the past year, set goals and intentions for the future, and capture your thoughts and feelings in a personal letter to be opened the following New Year's Day.
- Watch the Sunrise. In Japan, the tradition of watching the first sunrise of the new year is known as "hatsuhinode." This act is believed to bring good fortune for the coming year and many people make a special effort to wake up early and find a scenic location like a beach or hill to take in the view.
Dec 30, 2023 · 7. Wear Polka Dots. In the Philippines, the tradition of wearing a round-themed dress is said to be good luck and to bring prosperity full circle into the coming year. 8. Watch the Ball Drop. New ...
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Dec 15, 2023 · Courtesy of Alexandre Barbosa/Unsplash. 4. Brazil: Wearing white while jumping into the ocean. Wearing white on New Year’s Eve has long been a tradition with roots in Africa. In Brazil, the Festa de Lemanjá takes place on this night to celebrate the goddess of the sea (Lemanjá).
