New Year’s traditions around the world

1. Spain

For people in Spain, it is customary to eat 12 grapes – one at each stroke of the clock at midnight. Each grape represents good luck for each month of the coming year. In larger cities of Spain, residents gather in main squares. They eat grapes together and pass around a bottle of cava. This tradition dates back to the late 19^th century.

2. Greece

New Year’s traditions in Greece involves hanging an onion from the front door. This is a symbol of rebirth in the New Year. On New Year’s Day, children are woken up by their parents tapping them on the head with an onion.

3. Brazil

Brazil’s New Year’s traditions takes place in the ocean. The people of Brazil flock to the shores on New Year’s Eve to throw white flowers into the ocean. They make offerings to Yemoja, a major water deity who is believed to control the sea.

4. Germany

It is common for people in Germany to celebrate New Year’s Eve with lead pouring. This New Year’s tradition involves using a flame from a candle to melt lead or tin. It is then poured into a container of cold water. The shape of the lead or tin forms is believed to reveal a person’s fate for the coming year.

5. Czech Republic

The Czech use an apple to predict their future for the coming year. On New Year’s Eve, the apple is cut in half. The shape of the apple’s core is believed to determine the fate of the people around the apple.

If the core resembles a star, everyone will find happiness and have good health. However, if the core resembles a cross, someone is expected to fall ill.

6. Ireland

Ireland’s New Year’s traditions involve mistletoe but not in the way you’d expect. Single women in Ireland sleep with mistletoe under their pillow on New Year’s Eve. It is said that sleeping with the plant will help them find their future husband in the coming year.

7. Columbia

On New Year’s Eve, Columbian’s place three potatoes under their beds. One peeled, one half peeled and one unpeeled. At midnight they pull out the first potato they touch. But what do each of the potatoes mean?

A peeled potato means they’ll have financial problems. An unpeeled potato indicates abundance. A half-peeled potato is somewhere in between.

8. Australia

Common New Year’s traditions across Australia are firework displays. The skies across cities and towns are lit up with fireworks. As the holiday falls during Australian summertime, many people arrive hours earlier with picnic baskets. They make the most of the weather before the year draws to a close.

Many people go on holiday to Australia during this period to witness the spectacular displays.

9. Philippines

Filipino culture celebrates the holiday by serving 12 round fruits. The round shapes represent coins. This symbolises prosperity and wealth for each month of the coming year. Apples, melons, oranges and grapes are the most common fruits used.

10. England

People in England mark New Year’s Eve with a kiss. The tradition of kissing at midnight stems back to old English folklore. It is believed that a midnight kiss will set the tone of your relationship for the year.

11. Portugal

New Year’s traditions in northern parts of Portugal are more centred around the children. They go from door-to-door singing carols which are said to bring good luck. In exchange, the children receive coins and treats.

12. America

Since 1907, thousands of people have gathered in Times Square in New York to watch the New Year’s ball drop. The ball descends down a flagpole at 11:59pm and resting at midnight to signal the start of the new year. The ball has undergone many updates over the years.

This sounds like a remarkable thing to witness. 

13. Mexico

Many Mexicans decorate their homes on New Year’s Eve in various colours. Each colour represents their hopes for the new year.

• Red – love
• Yellow – work
• Green – money.

We love the idea of a home being beautifully decorated as we enter a new year.

14. Turkey

We are down to the last of our new year’s traditions. In Turkey, it is common for people to open their doors and sprinkle salt on the doorstep. It is thought that this will bring peace and abundance to their home and business.

More around the world facts

We hope you enjoyed reading our blog on new year’s traditions around the world. If you’d like to know more facts about Christmas around the world, you’re in luck. Check out our blog on Christmas traditions around the world. Or you find out what the Christmas tree means in other countries.

You could turn your newfound knowledge into a quiz and test out what you’ve learnt.

Keep up with Santa Academy!

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From December 1^st to Christmas Day, your child will unlock new areas, buildings, and characters on Lacus Island. Enter a magical island that is filled with fantastic activities for your little ones to enjoy.

Download the app from November 1^st, 2022. School starts December 1^st, 2022.

Find more fun, festive tips and ideas, such as:

• Easy Christmas crafts for kids
• Christmas printables
• Things to do near you for Christmas
• Christmas activity book ideas
• Christmas art ideas
• Christmas party ideas for kids
• Tips for helping kids to read
• Christmas baking for kids
• Christmas countdown ideas for your family
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• And many more!