Buzz
Each country around the world has a unique tradition to welcome the new year, each unlike any other.
During the New Year, each country celebrates with special traditions. Some hold festivals, burn effigies, or throw bread for good luck. While we are familiar with traditional Tet days in Vietnam, how is New Year celebrated in other countries?
1. Ice Plunge (Siberia, Russia)
In Siberia, people often celebrate the new year by... taking an icy plunge into frozen lakes and hugging wooden logs.
2. Overnight Cemetery Stay (Chile)
In Chile, families often spend a night beside the graves of their loved ones on New Year's, choosing to sleep at the cemetery.
3. Conversations with Cows
In Belgium, there's great reverence for domesticated animals. At the start of the new year, livestock farmers engage in conversations with their cows. This tradition is also present in Romania, aiming for good fortune in the coming year.
4. Plate Smashing (Denmark)
In Denmark, they hold onto unused plates and dishes. On December 31st, they shatter these plates outside the homes of friends and family, following the peculiar tradition of the country.
5. Burning Effigies (Ecuador)
In Ecuador, people celebrate the new year by burning effigies of bù nhìn at midnight. Additionally, they set fire to pictures taken in the previous year to dispel misfortune and usher in good luck.
6. Eating 12 Grapes (Spain)
In Spain, the New Year's tradition always includes grapes. If you can fit 12 grapes in your mouth at the stroke of midnight, you'll encounter a lot of luck in the new year.
7. Circular Objects (Philippines)
In the Philippines, it's believed that everything used in the new year must be circular, symbolizing coins and bringing prosperity home. Food, clothing, and items are all transformed into circular shapes.
8. Colorful Underwear (South America)
In some parts of South America, people wear vibrant underwear on New Year's to attract luck. Red symbolizes love, yellow for wealth, and white for peace.
9. 108 Bell Chimes (Japan)
In Japan, citizens ring bells 108 times during the New Year. According to Buddhist beliefs, these 108 chimes bring purification, tranquility, and luck to everyone.
10. Takanakuy Festival (Peru)
This traditional festival is popular in a small region of Peru, where people organize wrestling matches. This way, they can start a new year without the constraints of the past year.
11. Dropping Ice Cream (Sweden)
In Sweden, many people celebrate the new year by deliberately dropping ice cream on the floor.
12. Coin Toss (Romania)
In Romania, people toss coins into rivers to seek luck and wealth in the new year.
13. Water Pouring (Puerto Rico)
In certain areas of Puerto Rico, residents throw buckets and water pitchers out of windows to cleanse their homes and ward off evil spirits.
14. Baking Coins (Bolivia)
In Bolivia, coins are baked along with sweet pastries. According to their belief, anyone who finds these coins while eating will encounter unexpected luck.
15. Waffle Delight (France)
The French appreciate simplicity, especially when it comes to pastries. On every New Year's occasion, they buy and indulge in plenty of waffles.
16. Carrying Luggage (Colombia)
In Colombia, during the New Year, people carry their luggage all day, hoping for a year filled with journeys.
17. Flour Tossing (Thailand)
In addition to splashing water on each other, in Thailand, people also use flour to toss onto each other or apply on their faces.
19. Bread Tossing (Ireland)
In Ireland, locals use bread and breadcrumbs to throw against walls, aiming to ward off evil spirits and wish for a peaceful new year.
20. Discarding Belongings (South Africa)
Following the tradition in some countries of South Africa, people throw old belongings out of windows to welcome the new year.
