As we bring 2020 to a close, get to know more about different New Year Traditions from around the world. From midnight kisses to hanging onions, there are so many different ways to bring in the New Year. Here are some traditions from around the world which you may not know about.
Spain - 12 Grapes
One of Spain’s New Year traditions is to eat 12 grapes, each symbolizing a month of the new year. This tradition is to bring in luck and prosperity to the new year. If you aren’t able to finish your grapes by the 12th second of the new year, it is said that you won’t have a lucky year ahead.
While this may sound easy, it is more difficult than you imagine. In Spain, most grapes contain seed in them and if you are not used to them, it might slow your speed down. Most Spaniards would buy “12 grapes” that have been specially packaged for this tradition, or personally peel and take out the seeds of their grapes before midnight.
Scotland - First Footing (Hogmanay)
In Scotland, as the clock strikes midnight, many across the country will start heading for the homes of their families and loved ones to be the first footer — the first person to enter a home in the new year. This tradition, also known as Hogmanay, is believed to have originated from the invading Vikings during the 8th and 9th centuries. It is believed that to ensure good luck, the first foot should be a dark-haired male, bringing symbolic items such as coal (for warmth), shortbread (for hunger), salt (for wealth), and whisky. This is as during the Viking days, when a blonde stranger arrives at your door with an axe, it means trouble.
Netherlands - Eating Oliebollen
One tradition that the Dutch do on New Years is eating Oliebollen. An Oliebol is an oil ball — a dutch dish made out of deep fried dough balls. This dish is usually served with powdered sugar or raisins and usually consumed on New Years Eve. Variations of this dish exist in multiple countries, such as a lard ball in Belgium and croustillons in France.
This tradition is believed to appease the Germanic goddess, Perchta, and her evil spirits. It was said that her and her evil spirits would fly around looking for something to eat, and might even slice up stomachs of some who had already eaten. Tradition said that eating this Oliebollen would protect those from her and her evil spirits as the fat absorbed from the cooking oil would not allow Perchta to slice up those stomachs.
Greece - Hanging Onions
In Greece, it is important to hang onions outside your home — not to sway away vampires but to symbolise good health, fertility, and longevity. Onions are used as its layers and ability to sprout after removing from the Earth is a symbol for rebirth and growth. For Greeks, onions are usually received after their New Year’s Day church service and hung outside their house, usually with the bulb wrapped in foil, and taken down at midnight. In the morning, the onion is used to tap the heads of the children in the family in order to wake them up. This onion will then be kept in the house until the next New Year, in order to bring health, longevity, and luck.
Japan - Toshikoshi Soba
On New Year's Day, it is a tradition in Japan to eat a piping hot bowl of Soba noodles to melt away the hardship of the previous year and welcome the new year ahead. This tradition is called Toshikoshi Soba and has been a tradition since the 13th and 14th century. This soba dish is easy to make, with ingredients such as buckwheat soba noodles, hot dashi broth and finely chopped scallions. Some of the many symbolism of this tradition includes having a peaceful life, to break free of the past, to gather strength and to grow your fortune.
Although this soba is called ‘New Year’s Eve noodles’, it is known to be bad luck if you eat it right at midnight. This is as when eaten at midnight, there might be an overlap of the old and new year, and thus not being able to ‘break off’ the previous year’s hardship but instead carry them over to the new year. Toshikoshi soba is usually eaten after the New Year’s celebrations altogether.
Germany - Lead Pouring (Bleigießen)
This tradition of lead pouring is celebrated in Germany for prophecy and predictions of the new year. For this tradition, a small amount of lead (or tin) will be melted in a spoon over a burning candle. When the metal liquifies, it is then poured into cold water for a shape to form. There are various shapes that can be formed which mean multiple things, such as a car will mean a promising venture, and a cow means a cure from sickness. These shapes that will form will allow one to get a glimpse of the future year. Since lead became illegal in 2018, this tradition has since been replaced with tin or candle wax. This tradition is an ancient form of divination used for thousands of years in multiple cultures.
