A couple of days ago I talked about some of the more famous “drops” that occur on New Year’s Eve. But it occurred to me that I’ve welcomed in the new year in lots of places over the years and a lot of those places have some odd traditions.
Here in the U.S. we tend to celebrate with fireworks, parties, festive food and booze and of course a lot of people think its’s necessary to sing Auld Lang Syne. But in some parts of the world the new year is celebrated with their own traditions — many of them handed down for many years, but still practiced. A few of these traditions I’ve witnessed in person and some I’ve heard about from others…. I thought it might be interesting to mention a few.
I remember in the Philippines they had what I thought was strange tradition — on New Year’s Eve round was the king. Round fruits were consumed, and clothing with round patterns (circles or polka dots) were worn. The shape was thought to bring good luck. Coins are round, and those represented prosperity.
The Greeks have a new year tradition of hanging an onion on their door. It’s said to symbolize rebirth, as the onion peels away to revel many layers. They also have a tradition that parents should gently bop their kids on the head with an onion to wake them up on New Year’s Day.
I’ve never witnessed it, but effigies of famous people, newsworthy politicians, and cartoon characters are set on fire on New Year’s Eve in Ecuador. The effigies are usually of a relevant figure representing the year that’s past — the burning represents cleansing the bad and welcoming in the good.
If you’re in Japan at midnight on December 31, you’ll hear bells ring 108 times. It’s a practice called Joya-no-Kane. The bells are rung from Buddhist temples all across the country. The number 108 represents what is known in the faith as the “Earthly temptations.” I haven’t been there in a number of years, but I’d bet that tradition is still followed.
Finland has a really unique New Year’ Eve activity that has a fortune-telling aspect to it….
Finns melt a mini tin horseshoe in a pan until it completely melts and turns to liquid. Then they pour the metallic goo into a cold bucket of water, that instantly cools it and it becomes solid again. Whatever shape the melted horseshoe takes is said to represent what’s to come in the new year. I would guess they’d wish for a heart, or four-leaf clover or something like that….
We were with our friends the Oxforts for number of years on New Year’s Eve and they shared a German tradition — in Germany (especially southern Germany) everyone ate a Berliner doughnut (Called Krapfen, I think) on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. They are frosted doughnuts that were once reserved as a festive treat — the Oxforts usually used melty chocolate or vanilla cream. They’re really good with champagne, by the way.
There is an old tradition in Ireland of banging specially-baked Christmas bread against the walls. On New Year’s Eve the bread is thrown against doors and walls in your house. It’s supposed to help bat away lingering bad spirits and make some room for the good ones. Some of our friends from Ireland said it was a very old tradition and not practiced much today — but it does sound like fun.
In Scotland, they have a tradition known as “first-footing.” The first person to cross the threshold of a home after midnight should bring gifts like coal, shortbread, or whisky, symbolizing future prosperity.
A tradition in Czechoslovakia involves cutting an apple in half to reveal the future. If there is a star in the core it suggest good fortune.
And Russians write their wishes on paper, burn them, and mix the ashes in champagne, symbolizing the infusion of hope and dreams into the New Year celebrations.
Everyone celebrates and starts the new year a little differently, but every tradition has it’s own charm and significance. I think it’s great that these customs bring people together and symbolize hope, renewal and joy for a fresh start.
So here’s to the New Year — my favorite toast goes something like, “May the tears you cried this year water the soil of next year.”
Happy New Year to all!!
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