10 Crazy New Year’s Traditions From Around the World

If your New Year’s traditions consist of trying to find someone to kiss at midnight and breaking a few resolutions, you are seriously missing out. Where is your lucky colored underwear? Why didn’t a tall good-looking dude bring you whiskey for good luck? And why didn’t you throw dishes at your best friend’s door? There are some incredible New Year’s traditions out there and we’ve rounded up the best from around the world:

Spain

Stop whatever you’re doing at midnight and get out your grapes. In Spain, revelers eat 12 grapes, one for each chime of the clock. They bring good luck for the 12 months of the new year.

Scotland

The first person to walk through your door on New Years sets the tone for the rest of the year. At least, according to the Scottish tradition of “First footing.” The best luck will come from a tall, dark and handsome man bringing you a gift- preferably whiskey.

Netherlands

Time to clear out the Christmas tree by dragging it into the streets and lighting it on fire. Supposedly, this gets rid of the old before ringing in the new, but mainly it just looks like dangerous fun.

Brazil

If you’re in the vicinity of Ipanema beach, you can fill a boat with candles and flowers and push it out into the water. Make a wish, and if the tide takes the boat out to sea, your wish will come true.

Japan

Start laughing! Think of something funny at midnight and let loose. Ringing in the new year with laughter brings good luck.

Denmark

Hope you’ve been saving your old plates, because it’s tradition to throw them at friend’s doors! The more broken dishes you find outside, the more friends you have. Then, at midnight, Danish partiers get on top of their chairs and jump off as a way of leaping into the new year.

Philippines

Dots are in! Circle shapes are seen as good luck (think coins!), so put on your best polka dot outfit and start eating round fruit. 12 fruits at midnight to be exact.

Central and South America

If you want to get lucky on New Years, you better remember your lucky underwear! In some South and Central American countries, bright underwear is considered good luck for the new year. Red skivvies will bring love and put on some yellow lingerie if you’re hoping for money.

Ireland

Get out the bread and start hammering it against the walls. The bread ensures plenty of food for the next year and banging on the walls drives out evil spirits.

Germany

If you want to celebrate German style, leave a little of the food you eat for dinner on your plate to ensure plenty of prosperity for the new year. Then get out the flame and all your extra tin because it’s time to drop molten metal into ice water. You can interpret the shapes to learn something about the coming year. For example, a blob that looks like a heart or a ring means marriage!

You got that? Put on your red underwear, then your polkadot pants. Place 12 grapes in your pocket for later and set your Christmas tree on fire. Then, find a good looking dark-haired male and get him to bring you whiskey. Next, stop by your friend’s house and hurl dishes at their door before heading home to drop molten metal into ice water. If you have any extra time, slam bread against the walls and make a wish over a boat filled with flowers. At exactly 12 am, jump off a chair while laughing hysterically. Don’t forget to kiss someone at the stroke of midnight and you’re sure to have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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