"At midnight, the world unites in celebration, each culture welcoming the New Year with unique traditions and shared hope for a fresh start."
As the clock strikes midnight on 31 December, New Year celebrations begin around the world, with the timing varying across different time zones. Each country welcomes the new year in its own unique way, shaped by local customs, traditions, and culture.
Though the celebrations differ, the core theme remains the same. People everywhere see the new year as a chance to make wishes and leave behind the negativity of the past. Let’s take a closer look at how different cultures mark the arrival of the new year.
Ireland: Banging Bread on the Walls
In Ireland, one of the unique traditions at New Year’s involves a custom passed down through generations. On New Year’s Eve, families often bang bread on the walls and doors of their homes as the clock strikes midnight. This practice is believed to protect the house from evil spirits and bring good luck for the year ahead.
While bread is the traditional item, some people choose to bang pots, pans, or wooden spoons instead. The loud noise is thought to drive away bad luck and negative energy. This custom highlights the strong belief in spiritual protection within Irish culture, helping families start the new year with hope and security.
Greece: Hanging and Smashing Pomegranates
St. Basil’s Day celebration on January 1st marks the Greek equivalent of New Year’s Day. As part of the festivities, a pomegranate is often hung at the entrance or near the home door. The pomegranate symbolises good fortune, fertility, and abundance, representing hopes for a prosperous year ahead.
On New Year’s Day, the head of the household, or sometimes the youngest member of the family, takes the pomegranate and smashes it on the ground. The number of seeds that spill out is believed to determine the level of luck and prosperity the family will experience in the coming year. The more seeds that fall, the greater the blessings expected for the household in the new year.
Colombia: Potatoes and Empty Suitcases
A unique New Year tradition in Colombia called agüero, involves placing three potatoes under each family member’s bed. One potato is peeled, one is unpeeled, and the last is partially peeled. At midnight, everyone picks a potato with their eyes closed. The potato they choose is believed to predict their year: a peeled potato suggests a financial struggle, an unpeeled one represents good luck, and a partially peeled potato means a mix of both.
Another tradition is to carry empty suitcases around the block at midnight. This brings a year filled with travel and adventure. Walking with an empty suitcase symbolises a wish for new experiences, especially those involving trips. These customs reflect a blend of hope and superstition for the year ahead.
Philippines: A Tradition of Round Fruits and Polka Dots
In the Philippines, a popular New Year tradition is to serve 12 round fruits, such as apples, grapes, and plums. The round shape of the fruits is believed to symbolise prosperity, as it resembles coins. Each fruit represents one of the 12 months of the year, and having them on the table is thought to bring good fortune and abundance throughout the year.
Another custom is wearing clothes with round patterns, like polka dots, during the New Year. This is believed to promote prosperity and attract good luck for the year ahead.
Panama: Burning Effigies of Well-Known People
The most exciting New Year tradition in Panama is the burning of effigies, called muñecos. These effigies often represent well-known people, such as celebrities, political figures, or television characters that were prominent throughout the year. This custom is called La Quema del Año Viejo (The Burning of the Old Year).
The effigies are typically made from old clothes, straw, and various materials, sometimes filled with firecrackers or fireworks. On December 31st, at midnight, the effigies are set on fire to symbolically burn away the negativity, mistakes, and bad experiences of the past year. This act is seen as a way to let go of past troubles and make a fresh start for the new year, bringing hope and renewal for what lies ahead.
Brazil: Wearing White and Honouring Yemanjá
Wearing white clothes on New Year’s Eve is a common tradition, symbolising peace, purity, and renewal. Many believe dressing in white will bring good luck, happiness, and prosperity for the year ahead. This custom is part of the larger celebrations, which often take place at the beach, especially at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most popular spots to welcome the New Year.
The beach is filled with people enjoying fireworks, music, dancing, and parties. A significant part of the celebration is paying tribute to Yemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea. People offer flowers, candles, and small gifts by the ocean, hoping for blessings in the new year. These offerings are often placed in the water, hoping that Yemanjá will bring peace, love, and prosperity.
Japan: Visiting Temples and Eating Soba Noodles
On New Year’s Eve in Japan, a popular tradition is visiting temples to participate in Joya no Kane, the ringing of the temple bells. Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times, symbolising the clearing away of 108 worldly desires or sins believed to cause human suffering. This ritual is an important way to welcome the new year by letting go of the past year’s troubles and preparing for a fresh start.
Another tradition is eating toshikoshi soba, a dish of soba noodles, often served with toppings like tempura, green onions, or a tasty broth. Eating these noodles on New Year’s Eve is thought to help people “cut off” the past year’s hardships and start the new year with a clean slate.
Denmark: Throwing Old Plates
In Denmark, a New Year tradition involves family and friends gathering together to throw old plates, cups, and other dishware at the doors of their loved ones’ homes. The more dishes that break, the more good luck it is believed to bring for the year ahead.
Although it may seem chaotic, the tradition is done with a sense of fun, and the clean-up is usually a group effort. Throwing the dishes is a symbolic way to release negativity and start the new year fresh, with positive energy and good luck.
Cuba: Throwing a Bucket of Water
At midnight, people in Cuba throw a bucket of water out of the front door or from a window. While a bucket is typically used, sometimes just a smaller amount of water is thrown. The tradition is thought to wash away any misfortune, bad luck, or negative energy from the past year. Doing so makes room for new opportunities and blessings in the year ahead. It’s a simple yet meaningful way to start fresh and positively welcome the new year.
Italy: Wearing Red Underwear
In the southern regions of Italy, there is a well-known tradition of wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve. This custom has spread across the country, with many people choosing to wear red undergarments as a way to start the new year on a positive note. Red underwear is often given as a gift to friends or loved ones in the days leading up to December 31st.
The colour red is believed to symbolise vitality, passion, and energy. It is thought to bring good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year, particularly concerning love and relationships. Wearing red on New Year’s Eve is seen as a way to attract good fortune and ensure a fresh, fortunate start to the year ahead.
Romania: Dressing Up as Bears
Romanian folklore plays a big role in New Year celebrations, with traditions like the “Ursul” (Bear) and “Capra” (Goat) rituals. These customs, believed to bring good luck and prosperity, are common in the countryside. In the “Ursul” tradition, men dress in bear costumes made from sheepskin or fur and perform a ritual dance to drive away evil spirits and bring fortune to the community.
The dancers, known as Ursari, visit homes, performing in exchange for food, drink, or money. The bear’s movements symbolise the renewal of life and the protection of crops, livestock, and health for the year ahead. Similarly, in the “Capra” tradition, people dress as goats and perform dances to promote fertility and prosperity.
Russia: Making a Wish in the Final 12 Seconds of the Year
As the year ends, Russians often pause in silence for 12 seconds, each second representing one of the 12 months of the year. This quiet moment is seen as a time for reflection, where individuals think about the year that has passed and mentally prepare for the year ahead.
After these 12 seconds of silence, the countdown to midnight begins, leading to cheers, toasts, and the traditional “First Footing” ceremony. This custom involves greeting the new year with wishes for health and happiness to set a positive tone for the months ahead.
As we’ve seen, New Year celebrations differ worldwide, with each country having its own special customs and traditions. But no matter where you are, the New Year is a time to look forward to better things and make new memories with the people you care about. Here’s to making 2025 our year!
