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December 12, 2024 | 06:46 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The festivity of the year-end holidays is so hyped worldwide that there are a variety of New Year’s traditions around the world, each with fascinating distinction. As part of the gaiety, citizens of these countries are all geared up to uphold decades-old customs when the clock strikes midnight.
Let's explore New Year's traditions around the world below, as highlighted by AFAR Magazine and Time Magazine.
1. Mexico
In Mexico, as in other Latin American countries, people walk around with an empty suitcase on New Year’s Eve to manifest more opportunities to travel the world. Some do it from the comfort of their homes, while others take the longest route across the neighborhood. If neither way is feasible, Mexicans will simply put their suitcase on the front porch of their doors.
2. Philippines
A happy New Year in the Philippines is usually celebrated with a midnight feast with family and friends. At these gatherings, Filipinos will serve twelve round fruits which represent the twelve months of the year in hopes of prosperity and good fortune. The fruits range from lanzones, apples, dragon fruits, mangos, cherries, and many others.
Filipinos also have an unwritten rule of wearing polka dot patterns whether on shirts, skirts, or even ties, during New Year’s Eve celebrations to bring wealth, luck, and prosperity for the coming year.
3. Greece
The pomegranate holds great significance in Greek culture as the fruit is a symbol of prosperity, luck, and fertility. As the year-end holidays roll in, Greeks begin hanging pomegranates above their doors. When the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, the tradition begins. They switch off lights and blindly smash, hurl, and send pomegranates to spill their seeds. Greeks believe that more seeds mean health, luck, and happiness for the coming year.
4. Japan
As a country with numerous heritage customs, Japanese people practice various New Year’s traditions, such as deep cleaning the house, giving out money to younger relatives, or decorating the house. Among the habitual conventions is Joya no Kane, also known as the act of ringing out the old year, as per Kobe Jones.
In Buddhist temples across the country, a large bell called a Kane is rung 108 times before midnight when the new year begins. The ritual aligns with the Buddhist belief that human beings are essentially troubled by 108 types of emotions. Thus, the ringing of the bell is to get rid of the sentiment.
5. Cuba
Locals in Cuba throw a bucket of dirty water outside the house on New Year’s Eve to remove bad omens from the past year. It is pretty common to witness water flying out of the door in Cuban neighborhoods during the year-end celebrations, so watch your steps or you could catch a cold.
6. Denmark
The Danes welcome the new year with such gusto that they literally jump into it. The custom itself has been around for over 60 years and shows no signs of slowing down, so be ready to hop if you visit Denmark during this time. They usually find furniture like tables, chairs, or couches to jump from as a symbol of good luck.
7. Ireland
In honor of a loved one who recently passed away before New Year’s Eve, the Irish will set an additional plate at the dinner table or even leave a vacant spot for them. With freshly cleaned homes, they take a moment into the new year to remember those lost souls.
8. Scotland
Every December 31, Scots celebrate Hogmanay, which is more than just a New Year’s Eve party. Its significance goes beyond the ancient traditions that have been practiced for centuries. Some of the popular rituals include the first-footing, where people across the country go to the homes of their loved ones as the clock hits midnight.
9. Spain
In Spain, it is traditional to eat twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve, munching each one as the clock strikes twelve. It is believed that successfully eating all twelve grapes will bring prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.
10. Italy
Wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve is common in Italy, where it's believed that the color brings luck and love for the coming year. Women hoping to conceive in particular see this as the beginning of their journey, as red also symbolizes fertility.
As the year draws to a close, these New Year’s traditions around the world remind us of the universal joy and optimism that a fresh start of a year brings. Above all, the world truly does celebrate new beginnings in its own fascinating way.
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