Every country has unique traditions in celebrating the new year. This tradition has been carried out for a long time and has been passed down from generation to generation. They believe that carrying out these traditions will bring good luck in the new year. Even though the traditions carried out are sometimes unusual, they still do it every new year.
Summarizing from the Glamor website, here are the unique traditions of each country in celebrating the New Year. Anything?
1. Greek: Hanging Onions Outside the Door
Greece: Hanging Onions Outside the Door/Photo: freepik.com/Stockings
In Greece, hanging onions outside the door of the house is a New Year’s tradition that is believed to bring good luck for the coming year. For Greek people, onions were a symbol of fertility and growth because onions could sprout themselves. This tradition is carried out after the church service on New Year’s Day.
2. Colombia: Laying Three Potatoes
Colombia: Laying Three Potatoes/Photo: freepik.com/Racool_Studio
Colombia has a unique tradition every New Year’s Eve called agüero, which is the tradition of putting three potatoes under the bed of each family member. The first potato was peeled, the second was unpeeled, and the last was only partially peeled.
Then, at midnight, each person can take one potato while blindfolded. They believe that their luck and financial difficulties in the new year depend on the potatoes they take.
According to Travel Mono, unpeeled potatoes mean you will have good luck and a good year, half-peeled potatoes mean you will have an ordinary year and peeled potatoes mean it will be a bad year.
3. Ireland: Christmas Bread Throwing
Ireland: Christmas Bread Throwing/Photo: freepik.com/Freepik
This unique tradition in Ireland may sound unusual, but this tradition has been believed for quite a long time. The tradition of throwing Christmas bread at the doors and walls of the house is believed to ward off evil spirits so that you can have a healthy and prosperous New Year.
4. Spain: Eat 12 Grapes
Spain: Eat 12 Grapes/Photo: freepik.com/Januari028
A popular tradition in Spain when starting the new year is to eat 12 grapes which are a symbol of the ticking clock. This tradition is called the las doce uvas de la suerte tradition which has been carried out since the 19th century and is believed to ward off evil and increase luck and prosperity in the new year.
Spanish people must be able to finish 12 grapes in seconds before 12 o’clock at night on New Year’s Eve, then luck is believed to be successful in the next year.
5. India: Making and Burning Effigy of an Old Man
India: Making and Burning an Effigy of an Old Man/Photo: india.com/Kent Campbell/ Creative Commons
Making an statue like an old person and then burning it on New Year’s Eve is a unique tradition carried out in India. The burning symbolizes the disappearance of the grievances of the past year and the arrival of a new year. Everyone will gather to watch the burning which will then be followed by partying and various festivals.
6. Japan: Eat Soba Noodles
Japan: Eating Soba Noodles/Photo: freepik.com/jcomps
If you celebrate New Year in Japan, then the New Year’s Eve appetizer is to eat a bowl of warm buckwheat noodles. This tradition has been carried out for a long time, they believe that the noodles are long and thin, hard but easy to bite, which symbolizes letting go of the previous year.
7. Canada: Ice Fishing
Canada: Ice Fishing/Photo: Glamour/Wolfgang Kaehler/Getty Images
New Year is the right time to gather with family. Like in Canada, they will start the new year in freezing temperatures but will indulge in their favorite winter sport of ice fishing. Canadian families will rent a place with heating and cooking equipment to enjoy the party together.
8. Denmark: Throwing Old Plates At Friends’ Houses
Denmark: Throwing Old Plates At Friends’ Houses/Photo: Pinterest/Kids Hagh
The next unique tradition is in Denmark, namely they will throw old plates on New Year’s Eve at the doorsteps of friends or neighbors’ houses, this is believed to bring good luck to loved ones. The more broken kitchen utensils collected at the door, the better the situation will be.
So, those are the Beauties, 7 unique traditions every new year in various countries around the world. In your family, what unique traditions do you have to welcome the New Year?
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