It is time to bid farewell to the year that was. Everyone is looking to celebrate the much awaited end of the year and start afresh. While most of us party till wee hours, some of us may like to follow certain good old food traditions in order to welcome the New Year. Some countries have their own traditions set for ringing the New Year, which may actually date back to ancient times. If you think that your New Year Party is the craziest, wait till you read some of the New Year traditions followed by rest of the world.
1. Broken plates, Denmark
While most of us would send greeting cards to our near and dear ones, people in Denmark may just smash their plates outside their neighbours’ house to show their affection. Those who have the maximum plates smashed outside their house are the most loved ones. This act also shows loyalty towards friends and family.
2. Eating 12 grapes, Spain
At the stroke of midnight, people in Spain pop in exactly 12 grapes, one for each chime of the clock during the countdown. This task became a national tradition, spreading across Portugal and Mexico, symbolizing 12 lucky and prosperous months ahead.
3. Eating round food, Philippines
In Philippines, people ring in the New Year with round things only. They eat 12 round fruits- one for each month of the year. For them, roundness signifies prosperity and wealth as their coins are round in shape. It also symbolizes health.
4. Dropping a dollop of ice cream on the floor, Switzerland
You may hate seeing your ice-cream on the floor, but it is a common New Year tradition to drop a dollop of ice-cream for people in Switzerland. It is believed that doing so may bring in a lot of good luck in the coming year.
5. Gulping down your own wish, Russia
Have you ever wished for something and then gulped that wish down? Weird, isn’t it! Well, that’s what Russians do! They write their wish on a piece of paper, set it alight and drop it into the glass of champagne and gulp all of it down before the clock strikes 12:01 am.
6. Baking a coin in bread, Greece
People in Greece drop a coin wrapped in a tin foil in bread or cake dough and then bake it. Whoever gets the lucky piece with the coin will have good luck through the year. The tradition also honours St. Basil who actually came up with this idea to bake coins into the bread.
7. Eating seven times, Estonia
People in Estonia ring in their New Year with lavish feasts. In this small Baltic country, they eat seven times to celebrate the coming year, considering seven is one of their luckiest numbers. Eating these many times may signify good health, wealth and prosperity in the New Year.
8. Hit the walls with a loaf of bread, Ireland
Irish believe that smacking bread loaves on the wall is the quickest way to drive the evil spirits and negativity out of the house, right before clock strikes 12. They hit the wall with bread and bang on the doors to welcome the good spirits.
9. Sprinkle some salt, Turkey
As soon as the bell rings in the New Year in Turkey, people open their front doors and sprinkle some salt on the doorstep. The act is thought to bring peace and abundance to their houses and businesses.
10. Throwing pails of water, Puerto Rico
At the stroke of midnight, people throw pails of water out of their windows to chase away evil spirits and ensure a clean gateway for good spirits. You might just want to cover yourself up on the streets of Puerto Rico during New Year celebrations.
