Starting The New Year On The Right Foot – Traditions around the world!

Welcoming in the new year can give a breath of fresh air, providing an opportunity to think about the future and to wonder what the next year will bring. New Year’s is celebrated in many countries around the world, although some countries celebrate the New Year at different times. But what are the different traditions around the world?

Lucky shapes and colours

In Brazil, masses of crowds wear white on New Year’s Eve, the colour represents peace and wearing it is supposed to bring luck for the new year.

In China, which celebrates Chinese New Year in February, red is the colour of good luck and it is worn throughout festive events. The colour can be seen everywhere, in clothing and in decorations on the streets, and on the famous “lucky money” envelopes that are given as gifts. During the new year, it is tradition to write well wishes and blessing words on the red paper envelopes.

In the Philippines, polka dot patterns are worn and featured in decorations. This is because circular shapes represent money- and so the tradition goes that polka dots will bring financial luck into the new year.

Fortunate foods

Food is a big part of any festivity, but some dishes have specific meanings and traditions attached to them.

In China, fish is eaten because it represents prosperity and dumplings which represent wealth.

Some countries have special dishes served during New Year’s. In Korea, Tteokguk, a rice cake soup is served that is supposed to grant good fortune and one more year of life to the person who eats a bowl of it.

In Germany, marzipan pigs called Glückschwein are given as gifts to loved ones to bring good fortune.

In Spain and Latin American countries, it is tradition to eat a grape with each strike of the clock at midnight on Dec 31. The 12 grapes are believed to bring a year of good luck.

Midnight to-do list

In some countries, household objects are broken or thrown out on New Year’s Eve. In certain parts of Italy, it is common to toss old furniture or other objects out of the house to make for a fresh start in the upcoming year. In Denmark, dishes are broken on a friend’s doorstep to bring them good fortune.

Turkey and Greece have a particularly messy New Year’s tradition, where pomegranates are smashed against the front door! The fruit symbolises prosperity and abundance.

In certain parts of the British Isles, most commonly in Scotland, the first person to enter a household on New Year’s is said to bring good luck. Generally the “first-foot” is a dark-haired male

who isn’t already in the house at midnight, and should be bringing symbolic gifts. This tradition was more common in the past, but many people still do it today, particularly in small towns across the British Isles.