A quick look at some different traditions around the world for New Year’s Eve:
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SCARECROW BURNING (ECUADOR) – Over in Ecuador, many citizens set fire to scarecrows filled with paper at midnight on New Year’s Eve, as well as burning any old photographs that represent bad memories. According to age-old tradition, it’s thought doing so helps to banish any ill-fortune or bad things that have happened over the last 12 months.
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BROKEN PLATES (DENMARK) – on New Year’s Eve the Danes throw unused plates that have been saved up throughout the year at the front doors of family and friends for good luck. The more plates you find outside your house, the more luck you’ll have in the New Year, apparently.
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108 BELLS RINGING (JAPAN) – This Buddhist tradition is believed to banish human sins, bringing good luck to all.
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WEARING COLOURED UNDERWEAR (SOUTH AMERICA) – Those who want to find love wear red underpants for New Year, whilst those hoping for wealth should opt for yellow. If you’re just looking for peace, white pants should do the trick.
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ROUND THINGS (PHILIPPINES) – The Filipinos hope to bring prosperity and wealth to the coming year by surrounding themselves with round things on New Year’s Eve. From coins to grapes, each item represents wealth and success.
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THROWING FURNITURE OUT OF THE WINDOW (ITALY) – Over in Italy, many locals throw old furniture (soft items, you’ll be pleased to know) out of the window to symbolize a fresh start for the upcoming year. From cushions to blankets, anything that no longer brings them joy will be chucked outside.
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TOSSING PAPER OUT OF THE WINDOW (ARGENTINA) – After shredding all of their old documents and papers, the Argentines then throw them out of the window to look like clouds of confetti. According to custom, they shred everything before the curtain falls on the year, to symbolize leaving the past behind.
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TALKING TO ANIMALS (ROMANIA) – farmers spend their New Year’s communicating with their livestock. Apparently, if they succeed, good luck comes their way.
- TWELVE GRAPES OF LUCK (SPAIN) – In Spain and some Latin American countries, one New Year’s tradition is to eat 12 grapes, one for each month of the coming year, to secure prosperity.
- POURING LEAD (GERMANY) – people melt small pieces of lead in a spoon over a candle, then pour the liquid into cold water. The bizarre shapes from the Bleigießen (lead pouring) are supposed to reveal what the year ahead will bring. If the lead forms a ball, luck will roll one’s way, while the shape of a crown means wealth; a cross signifies death and a star will bring happiness.
- FIRST FOOTING (SCOTLAND) – In Scottish folklore, the “first-foot,” also known as quaaltagh or qualtagh, is the first person crossing the threshold after midnight. A tall, dark-haired male with gifts like coins, coal, bread, salt, and a “wee dram” of whiskey, is thought to bring the best luck for the house. The tradition probably dates back to the Viking days when big, blond strangers (commonly armed with axes and swords) at the door meant trouble, and in some places, first footing by a fair-haired male is still regarded as unlucky.
- MASS KISSING (VENICE) – on New Year’s Eve in Piazza San Marco, tens of thousands of locals and tourists gather for fireworks, a light show (which sees “hearts” raining down), and “a kiss in Venice.”
- POTATO DROP (BOISE) – the people of downtown Boise will welcome the new year by dropping a giant spud from the sky.
- MISTLETOE AND BREAD (IRELAND) – Single women in Ireland sometimes place mistletoe (a berry associated with fertility in European mythology) under their pillows. They then burn it in a fire the next day in the hope of luring in love over the year.
- CARP SCALES (GERMANY) – People in Germany enjoy a traditional meal of Silvesterkarpfen (or ‘New Year’s Carp’) on New Year’s Eve. It’s also considered lucky to keep a scale from the carp in your wallet throughout the year to bring wealth and luck. However, removing the scale is seen as removing the luck.
These traditions make our tradition of eating Thai food and watching Family Man kind of boring.
But it’s our tradition, and I’m sticking by it…
Sources:
I suspect for most people throughout the world, their tradition is to go to bed a few hours before New Year’s, and sleep through the whole darned event.
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You’re speaking of the curmudgeon majority?
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Yes, I’m speaking for the curmudgeons, the maladjusted, and the just plain apathetic.
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The crotchety old men and women of the world need a leader!
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too bad Andy Rooney is no longer with us…
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That reminds me of my grandparents. I don’t remember ever really watching him. I was more of a Paul Harvey man.
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I am not as familiar with Paul Harvey. But to me, Rooney was the epitome of a curmudgeon…
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I found Paul Harvey to be an optimist. I don’t remember Andy Rooney very well but I do remember him to be as you say.
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I think Andy Rooney may be most remembered for his eyebrows…
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Wasn’t he the “Did you ever notice…” guy?
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yes, he was…
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I’d run for the job, but all their previous leaders ended up being tarred and feathered.
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Is that how inaugurations are held in the organization?
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Yeah, but they’re spontaneous inaugurations. They decide to tar and feather their current leader, then instantly elect a new leader. The one who brings the most tar and feathers tends to be the one who gets elected.
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Oh, so that’s how that goes down.
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Yes. It could be nice on a winter day, though. I imagine the warm tar, coated with feathers, would keep a person nice and warm.
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maybe this could be a new way for people to stay warm during the winter…
I wonder how long one coat of tar stays warm, and if it could be rewarmed…
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Tar is rather flammable, so I’m sure it can be rewarmed with a well-placed match.
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there you go…
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I guess the leaders don’t have much a of a chance to work on their platform…
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No, they don’t even bother to bring along a hammer and nails anymore.
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bringing the nails could be dangerous; the crowd could add them to the tar and feathers…
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That would make a sticky situation even stickier.
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and thornier…
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crotchety people are like tha…
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It’s an occupational hazard.
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I think he is…
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I often think about going to bed before midnight on NYE, but I don’t think I’ve missed a countdown yet…
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I was watching TV last night and when I checked my clock it was 12:15AM, so I missed it.
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now you have to wait a whole year for the next celebration…
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I haven’t missed watching the ball drop in Times Square in years. But right after Frank Sinatra finishes his song, I go to bed. Which is shortly after 9:00 pm, my time.
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I like the Sinatra song, but I preferred Guy Lombardo playing Auld Lang Syne…
What is the big countdown people in California watch at midnight?
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I don’t know what people in California watch at midnight. I’m sleeping at that time.
I think most of us just watch the ball drop in Times Square. In fact, my wife used to fool her daughter into thinking it was midnight, by turning on the TV to the ball drop, and then changing the hands on the clock when she wasn’t looking.
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A good trick, as long as someone remembers to change the hands back…
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It work for kids up to a certain age, depending upon their level of intelligence.
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or how drunk someone might be…
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I wonder if it’s been tried in bars.
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you wonder which way the bar would like to turn the clocks – maybe delay the showing of the countdown to sell more beer…
or they may just want to get people out fo the bar…
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If I was the bartender, I’d be wanting to get rid of the patrons so I could go home early.
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same here…
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Yes sir! Nothing says happy new year like rockets blowing up in the sky!
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indeed, it is quite a tradition…
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…and an explosive and loud tradition at that.
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I celebrated the New Year by waking up this morning.
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it doesn’t get any better than that! 🙂
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I go with placing money outside before midnight in order to bring wealth into my home in the new year.
One of my neighbors both sweeps out the old year (and bad luck) and takes suitcases outside (something about traveling in the new year).
Since I didn’t bother with the cleaning today, I’ll aim for lunar new year!!
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I hope you bring some wealth into your home this year! And when is the lunar new year?
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Feb 1!
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thanks for the info!
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I would have been here sooner, but I was out communicating with animals. Perhaps communicating is too strong a word. They look at me in curiosity while the neighbors are considering charging admission.
I like the idea of winging out furniture. I don’t know if they do this back east, but for some reason, people just put out all of their used furniture here and hope somebody takes it. I guess it’s to prevent a trip to the dump, but it’s gotten pretty ridiculous.
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you sound like Dr. Doolittle!
and yes, we have people leave furniture outside, hoping somebody will take it. Admittedly, we’ve done both!
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These are sure interesting traditions. Loved the piece 👌
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thanks; glad you enjoyed it!
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What I found interesting about these is that so many involve destroying things, or throwing them out of windows. Definitely not a night to be taking a stroll! I’m guessing that the South American underwear one also has a category for those who just want a piece of action: don’t wear any underwear at all…
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we are a destructive bunch, aren’t we?
I guess that would fall into the category of either skin-colored or transparent underwear…
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It is the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition to eat a meal of pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day for good luck. Not sure how it works on luck, but it is delicious! Entertaining post, my friend!
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we use to do that growing up, but I was never a big fan of it, particularly the sauerkraut! I much prefer Thai!
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I am a huge fan of global and cultural traditions and thanks so much for sharing these, you’ve made my new year start off with a smile. in some asian cultures, you open the front door at midnight to let out the bad things from the past year and to let in the good ones. happy new year to all no matter what color of underwear you are wearing.
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I enjoyed reading about these traditions as well. I wonder if there’s any chance that Asian tradition could work in reverse? Myabe people should wear multi-colored underwear so that they get all the benefits 🙂
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Happy New Year Jim 🎈🎉🎈 First footing still goes on in Scotland. The tradition also says you can’t turn away anyone who appears at your door after midnight. That’s why they have a 2 day holiday!!
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thanks, Val. it sounds like a wonderful tradition – and it kind of exciting to see who may show up after midnight!
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Usually a very drunk dark haired man!
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as long as people know to expect such a guy… 🙂
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True! Otherwise it’s very scary 🤣
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🤣
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Fun things to learn! I may eat 12 grapes today.
Do you remember the old comedy Perfect Strangers? We watched that last nigbt while eating pork and sauerkraut. Gotta eat that on New Year’s for luck. We had it on Christmas too, thought we would double the luck. 🙂
Happy New Year Jim!
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I do not remember Perfect Strangers – I’ll have to look it up. Anotehr blogger, Brad, also mentioned the pork and sauerkraut. I hope you do double your luck. I’ll be buying a Powerball ticket today, so that’s what I’m counting on for the New Year!
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Its funny! Our kids like it so that tells you something. Usually my son is like, “Why are you watching that?” LOL!
Brad is right, a Pa Dutch tradition. 😊
Thanks and good luck to you! Just think a Beach house could be yours this year!
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that is a good endorsement if your kids like it!
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This was fun to read! Most of these traditions are super… except throwing the plates at front doors. Today we’re celebrating the tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut for good luck.
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you are the third person to mention the pork and sauerkraut! Enjoy!
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Hubby is from York, PA, with a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Heaven forbid we didn’t have pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day! I’m glad three of us mentioned it.
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I am a fan of traditions as well!
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Yahoo! The pork and sauerkraut dinner was delicious.
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I’m happy to hear that! the tradition continues…
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😀
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The idea of coloured underwear intrigued me but I if you were looking for love whether you should wear the red undies on the outside.
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true. why be subtle? 🙂
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Humans love superstition! Your tradition of staying home, eating Thai food and watching Family Man sounds like a good one. My tradition is boring — just watching the Dick Clark and/or CNN telecasts .
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it was fun listening to Anderson Cooper giggling… 🙂
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Interesting traditions. We only watch the countdown around the globe. 🙂
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I remember doing that back in 2000; have not done it since. But it was fun to watch…
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My husband and I like to watch at least several countries, such as Australia where he was born, London where he lived for two years, Hong Kong where I came from and a few more where we have friends and relatives.
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it is fun to watch, and to think about how connected our world is…
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Yes, we watched, then talked with family about it.
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was there a celebration that was your favorite?
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I’m not so sure I would want to clear up broken plates on New Years Day. Hope 2022 is amazing.
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I had the same thoughts; why would you want to create such a mess that you just have to clean up? I hope you have a great 2022 as well, Tandy!
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Amazing traditions!!
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they were fun to read about…
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Yeah
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So many different traditions I’m with you, Jim…Thai food and a good film …x
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that does seem like a combination you would enjoy. or some thai food and a little Rod Stewart in the background 🙂
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Sounds good to me it seems you know me quite well, Jim x
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🙂
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All very interesting traditions.
Although as an Irish resident I’ve never heard of that mistletoe tradition 🤔
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that’s interesting to note about Ireland; I wonder if it’s fading away…
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Plate throwing in Denmark made me laugh lol that would mean something TOTALLY different over here 🤣🤣 They’re such fun people there!
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I usually think of plate throwing as part of an argument that has gotten out of control!
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I used to do some of them a while back. Thanks for reminding me. Some of those were actually kind of fun! Maybe I should restart the traditions.
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there are some fun traditions here. Next year, for the Christmas holiday I want to buy some crackers and pop them open, like the British do…
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There ya go 😛
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and the best part might be that I get a blog post out fo it 🙂
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Recognise a few of these, Jim. First footing still goes on here, but not as much. Back in the day people would roam the streets with a kerry oot looking for a party, Heady days.
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I hadn’t hear the phrase kerry oot. Is that the actual spelling, or is that just what carry out sounds like in Scotland?
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ha ha, I know you like a wee bit of Glasgow vernacular. Kerry oot, carry out, alcohol bought from the off sales, maybe six cans and a half bottle. Where’z the perty?
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yeah it’s been nice because tradition of new year around the world is great
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six cans and a half bottle, count me in!
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😀
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