For REMORANDOM #1 we told you about a New Year’s Day tradition in the Netherlands whereby thousands of brave participants wearing orange beanies plunge into the cold waters of the North Sea or other designated locations around the world. For this issue we would like to flag a handful of other unusual new year’s traditions from around the world. See HERE.
Brazilian tradition involves jumping over seven waves at the stroke of midnight while making seven New Year's wishes. This is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.
In Chile, it's common for people to run around the block with an empty suitcase at midnight. This is believed to ensure a year filled with travel and adventure.
In Denmark, it's a tradition to save up old and chipped dishes throughout the year and then throw them at the doors of friends and family on New Year's Eve.
In Finland, people melt small tin horseshoes on NYE and then quickly pour the liquid into cold water. The shape of the resulting tin pieces predict the events of the coming year.
In Greece, people hang onions on their doors on NYE. On New Year's Day, parents wake their children by tapping them on the head with the onions, symbolising growth and rebirth.
In Italy, it's customary to wear red underwear on New Year's Eve. It is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.
In Japan, many Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times at the stroke of midnight to symbolise the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief.
In the Philippines, one displays and consumes round fruits during New Year's celebrations. Round symbolises coins … believed to bring prosperity and good fortune for the coming year.
In Russia, people write down their New Year's wishes on a piece of paper, burn it, and then mix the ashes with champagne, which they then consume at midnight. Gritty.
In Scotland, the first person to enter a home after the stroke of midnight is called the "first-footer”. It's considered good luck if this person is a tall, dark-haired man. They should come bearing gifts. These gifts can be coins, coal, bread, salt, and a “wee dram” of whiskey.
In Spain, it's a tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on NYE, one for each chime of the clock. It's believed that this brings good luck for each month of the coming year.
In Sweden, it's a popular tradition to watch a Disney special featuring Donald Duck on television at 3:00 PM on New Year's Eve. Families gather around to enjoy this show together.
In Switzerland, there's a peculiar [Ed: and somewhat uncharacteristic] tradition where people drop ice cream on the floor at midnight. It's believed to bring good fortune and abundance for the coming year.
Finally, in some European countries, including Germany and Austria, watching a black-and-white British comedy sketch, recorded in 1962 called “Dinner for One” has become traditional viewing on New Year's Eve. Some die-hards even make the four-course dinner featured in the 18-minute sketch. [Ed: This one is so weird that we’ve decided to feature it separately.]
Story Idea: Remo Giuffré
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References
wikipedia.org/wiki/New Year's_Eve
barcelo.com/pinandtravel/en/weird-new-years-traditions
telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/peculiar-new-years-day-traditions-around-the-world
travel.earth/strange-new-years-eve-traditions-from-around-the-world
Images
1. Nieuwjaarsduik (New Year’s Dive), 2016. Photo Credit: helloamsterdam.nl
2. Eating 12 grapes in Spain. Photo: Jeff Koehler.
3. Plate throwing in Denmark
4. Melting teeny weeny lead horseshoes in Finland. Photo: Pablo Morilla.
5. Hanging onions in Greece
6. Red underwear for sale in Italy
7. Illustration from the article "The First Foot" - A Scottish Custom on New Year's Eve, published in The Illustrated London News on 30 Dec 1882.
8. Tins of exactly 12 grapes for sale in Spain. Photo: Jeff Koehler.
9. Donald Duck
10. Dropped ice cream in Switzerland. Photo: Lew Robertson.
