Same procedure as every year? New Year's Eve traditions around the globe

Every year the same, yet somehow different—the planning for New Year’s Eve. And many people once again ask themselves: Should we ring in the new year comfortably at home, or should it be something special this time? Maybe an exclusive party in a trendy metropolis or an exquisite dinner with friends? Why not think about traveling and experiencing New Year’s traditions up close at well-known or new destinations?

In Germany, people still love to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, although increasingly more are traveling over the holiday. In 2022, only about four percent traveled abroad between Christmas and New Year’s, but this number has risen to seven percent in 2023. Popular travel destinations in a recent study for this year include London, Istanbul, Barcelona, Paris, and Madrid. Outside of Europe, Bangkok is highly favored, followed by Dubai, New York, or Cape Town. The typical travel duration is between one and two weeks, providing enough time to relax, have new experiences, and start the new year with fresh energy.

There are many New Year’s Eve customs and countries that want to be explored and experienced at this special time. For example, in Argentina, people not only celebrate with huge firecrackers and fireworks but also with cleaning activities inside their homes, resulting in tons of paper. Old documents, photos, and anything that hasn’t brought good luck are shredded and sprinkled as confetti from windows at midnight. Buenos Aires is the hotspot for this custom, so much so that the city seems to sink into a paper snowstorm on New Year’s Eve. Barbecuing, called asado, is also traditionally part of the Argentine New Year’s Eve celebration and is often celebrated on the streets.

In Brazil, the color white symbolizes purity and peace, and is also considered a lucky color for the new year. It is the color of the sea goddess Yemanjá, who represents female fertility. She is especially honored by women during the New Year’s celebrations, who bring flowers to the beach and throw them into the sea.

In Spain, however, red is considered a lucky color for New Year’s Eve. Those who wear red underwear (both on the day and night of New Year’s Eve) are believed to have good luck in love. Another very popular tradition in Spain is attending the bell ringing at the Plaza del Sol in the heart of Madrid (either on-site or via live broadcast) and eating one of twelve grapes with each bell chime. If successful, good luck is promised for the new year. But be careful, this tradition sounds easier than it is and can be tricky. Each bell chime lasts only 3 seconds, so practicing beforehand is recommended.

In neighboring Portugal, there are similar rituals. However, here, raisins are eaten with each bell chime on New Year’s Eve. To drive away the old year and evil spirits, broken dishes and pots clashing against each other make a lot of noise. Underwear also plays a role here (it should be new and ideally given as a gift), and in Portugal, the color can be chosen according to the wishes for the coming year: blue brings luck, red symbolizes love, brown is for career success, green for health, and white for peace. A coin held in the hand at midnight is also believed to bring luck.

In Italy, couples toast to the new year with a golden ring in their champagne glasses as a good omen for their relationship. Just like in Spain, wearing red underwear is said to bring good luck in love—so red lingerie should not be missing on a New Year’s trip to Southern Europe! A tradition that may sound German but is an old Italian custom for the new year is eating pork with lentils. The lentils symbolize coins and are believed to bring wealth in the new year, while the pig, like in Germany, stands for prosperity.

Further north in Europe, in Scotland, shortly after the New Year, young men go through the streets carrying whisky, raisin bread, and a piece of coal. Those who let them in are said to have good luck in the new year. It’s a popular tradition that provides plenty of entertainment.

Traveling further east, you can experience many customs up close in Japan. Here, the New Year’s festival Oshogatsu is celebrated from December 29th to January 3rd. Unlike in China, Vietnam, or Korea, where the new year starts in February according to the lunisolar calendar, the Japanese celebrate based on the Gregorian calendar. The multi-day Oshogatsu festival is full of traditions, including the popular eating of as many mochi (small rice cakes made from glutinous rice) as possible, as it is believed to bring luck and health. The Japanese New Year also includes New Year’s gifts, cleaning, and sending New Year’s cards. Visiting a temple on New Year’s Day is also obligatory.

For those who are looking for spectacular fireworks in an impressive setting, New York, London, Dubai, Hong Kong, or Sydney are great options. Here, the pyrotechnic shows are often planned months in advance and last between 10 and 20 minutes.

And how is New Year’s Eve celebrated in Germany? People often look into the future with lead or wax pouring, enjoy a glass of Feuerzangenbowle (a traditional German drink made with red wine, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, lemon and orange peels, and a sugarloaf soaked in rum, set on fire), or raise a glass of sparkling wine at midnight—according to a 2023 Statista Global Consumer Survey, for 51% of Germans, this is an important part of the celebration. Fireworks also light up the night sky to chase away evil spirits and welcome the new year with vibrant colors. Many Germans also enjoy traditional foods like Berliner (jelly-filled doughnuts), carp, raclette, or fondue at a table decorated with streamers. And what is an absolute must in German New Year’s tradition? Of course, watching the cult sketch Dinner for One on the last day of the old year. According to the 2023 Statista Global Consumer Survey holiday special, 33% of respondents indicated this as an important New Year’s Eve tradition.

Each tradition is unique, yet they all have one thing in common: people thank the old year and greet the new one with hope. It’s the perfect opportunity to travel, learn about other customs, broaden your horizons, and find happiness in the little things in life, no matter where you are.

Sources:

Same procedure as every year? New Year’s Eve traditions around the globe