Another year has ended and a new one has begun. It’s the time when the crowds go ballistic and bid adieu to the previous year with glittery fireworks and dropping of the ball . Yet there are certain other traditions that people follow to celebrate the New Year,some zany, some endearing. Some celebrate by eating 12 grapes, while others smash fine china. If you’re looking for a celebration that’s a little off the beaten path this year, check out our list below of eight one-of-a-kind New Year traditions around the world.
Smashing Traditions: Breaking plates in Denmark
Talk about broken things and breaking things on others’ property, Danes take it up a notch.
Smashing things against someone’s house might be considered bad luck, but in Denmark, people hold on to chipped dishes and glasses all year just for New Year’s Eve. That night, they go around to the homes of friends and family and smash them against their front doors. The more shards you have on your doorstep the next morning, the more popular you are.
Eating Traditions : The grapes are not Sour in Spain
Get your New Year’s health resolutions off to a good start, thanks to Spain’s tradition of eating 12 grapes, one for each stroke of midnight. It’s harder than it sounds (people even practice for it), but if you’re successful, tradition says you’ll have a year of prosperity. The place to do it is in the Puerta del Sol in Madrid for Nochevieja (or New Year’s Eve).
Throwing Traditions : It’s Buckets Away in Puerto Rico
In some parts of Puerto Rico they throw pails of water out of their windows to drive away evil spirits.
It’s looking up to the first day of new year in Puerto Rico for an undrenched start !
Casting Traditions : Metallurgical Future Predictions
In Finland, people predict the coming year by casting molten tin into a bucket of water and interpreting the resulting shape. Divination ??
Baking Traditions : Finding a sweet penny in Bolivia
Imagine finding a penny in your mouth while savoring a baked goodie or chomping off a good part of your tooth.
In Bolivia, coins are baked into sweets and whoever finds the coins has good luck for the next year. That’s just baked luck.
Bovine Traditions : Happy Moo Year!
In Belgium, they take their livestock seriously. At least seriously enough that the farmers wish their cows a happy new year!
Dropping Traditions : The Swiss Plop
In Switzerland they celebrate the New Year by dropping ice cream on the floor.Well it’s one thing to eat. Ice cream for it’s cool savoury indulgent taste, Swiss ice cream also serves as floor cleaner.
Travelling Traditions : Travel much?(In Colombia)
In Colombia, they carry their suitcases around with them all day in hopes of having a travel filled year.
Don’t be surprised to find a hundred people with suitcases on a New Year and not in an Airport or Railway Station.
Much to human diversity and it’s crazy fun traditions, it’s another year with great tidings yet to come, with more problems even more opportunities to tackle them.
With grapes in our mouths, Feliz año nuevo!