From ‘first-footing’ in Scotland to eating grapes in Spain, discover the less well-known New Year’s traditions carried out around the world
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As the clock strikes midnight on 31 December, millions across the world will welcome in the New Year. While you may picture fireworks illuminating the skies above as a typical celebration, there are many more traditions that nations around the world carry out. For example, in Estonia, it’s a common tradition to over-eat and indulge in up to twelve meals on New Year’s Day. In Colombia, carrying an empty suitcase on New Year’s Eve is believed to bring good fortune, while in Türkiye smashing pomegrantes is a long-standing ritual.
Read on to find out five very different New Year’s traditions from all corners of the globe…
1) ‘First-footing’ in Scotland
First-footing in Scotland is a Hogmanay tradition, referring to the first person to cross the threshold of a house after midnight on New Year’s Day. The first-footer must not have already crossed the threshold before midnight – meaning they must be either a new visitor, or have left the house before midnight and come back in.
Gifts are in tow alongside the first-footer to bring a token of luck for the New Year. Often, this is shortbread or whisky, but traditionally, coal was given. In keeping with tradition, a particular type of first-footer is requested: dark-haired men. Fair-haired men were considered to be unlucky, a superstition thought to stem from the Viking invasions.
2) Different coloured underwear in South America
Depending on what you want the New Year to bring, it’s common in South America to wear different-coloured underwear correlating to specific good fortunes. Yellow underwear is for money, while red is for love. Meanwhile, in Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, pink is the colour of choice.
The tradition also still exists in parts of Spain.
3) 12 grapes in Spain
As the clock approaches midnight on New Year’s Eve, many Spaniards carry out a tradition thought to be hundreds of years old. Known as ‘uvas de la suerte’ or ‘grapes of luck’, Spanish people – as well as those in some parts of Latin America and the Caribbean – will eat a grape and make a wish on each of the 12 clock chimes before midnight, to welcome in the new year and bring good luck.
Many individuals eat their grapes in large celebrations in Spanish plazas or watch coverage on TV.
Last year, the tradition caught the attention of TikTok users, with many participating in the trend in hopes of meeting a new partner in the New Year.
4) Bell ringing in Japan
On New Year’s Eve in Japan, many carry out the tradition known as‘joya no kane’, the tolling of 108 bells on New Year’s Eve. The festivity is rooted in both Buddhist philosophy and Shinto ritual, and begins with stringent preparation. Monks ensure the huge bonshō is well-cleaned on the temple grounds, before the ceremony begins.
The act of striking the bell is often performed by priests or monks. At other shrines, people may queue to strike the bell in quick succession. Ringing the bell is said to cleanse desires and negative emotions, which are said to hinder spiritual growth.
5) Melting tin in Finland
Hailing back to the eighteenth century, the casting of tin is a Finnish New Year’s Eve tradition used to predict what the year ahead will hold for individuals. First, tin or alternatives – such as melting beeswax or sugar – are melted in a small pan over a crackling fire. Once molten, the material is poured into a bucket of ice cold water, instantly solidifying. Consequently, random shapes are formed, which tradition then interprets to predict the year ahead.
For example, a wave-shape suggests big changes are coming, while an anchor means the year will be filled with commitment. A gun may symbolise a break-up, while a sun suggests an optimisitic new year.
The surface of the shape can also be revealing to what the year ahead may hold – a smooth surface correlates to an uneventful year, while a lot of holes suggests lots of success and opportunities ahead.
