New Year's Traditions Around the World

 

As 2022 comes to a close, we'll all soon be making plans to celebrate the new year.

 

Whether you go out or stay in, the high point of most celebrations will be the dramatic countdown to midnight, followed by watching the dropping of that giant ball in Times Square, announcing the arrival of 2023. 

 

For Americans, the Times Square ball drop is about the first thing we associate with New Year's Eve and no surprise why: it's been happening your entire life, with the very first ball drop taking place in 1907 -- talk about tradition! 

 

But what about other countries? How do they celebrate the arrival of the new year? 

 

We took a look around and here's some interesting things we found: 

 

In Brazil, you head to the beach! That's because it's summertime there and the tradition is to, right after midnight, jump seven waves while making seven wishes, a tradition rooted in paying tribute to the goddess of water.  No argument there....sign us up! 

 

In Spain, to increase luck and prosperity in the new year, you eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. This tradition has been around over a century but there's a catch: those 12 grapes have to be eaten in the same amount of time as the 12 strokes of the clock marking midnight! 

 

The tradition in Denmark also doubles as a great way to vent your anger. That's because the Danes celebrate New Year's by smashing plates; but who cleans up all the mess? 

 

It's believed to bring good luck to loved ones, to the extent that the more broken kitchenware you accumulate, the better off you'll be. So, if you like to bring in the new year by getting drunk and smashing things, Denmark's the place for you! 

 

The Irish take a slightly softer approach. They bring in the new year by banging loaves of Christmas bread against the walls and doors throughout their homes to ward off evil spirits and make way for a healthy, prosperous new year.  To that, I'll add a Guinness.  Sláinte!

In India, the new year is welcomed with a burning man, but not like the festival you're thinking of. This burning man is an effigy, a rough model, of an old man, which symbolizes the passing of grievances from the old year to make space for the new one. Although India is a place of various faiths and festivals, this particular one unites people across ages and different faiths.  To bring in the new, you gotta get rid of the old.

 

Italy is no different in celebrating a tradition of "out with the old, in with the new" but their take on it is even more ambitious than the plate smashing in Denmark.  In Italy, the new year is brought in by chucking dishware, appliances and occasionally, even furniture, out the window #WHAAAT?

It symbolizes casting out your troubles and welcoming hope in the new year. Sounds like fun, just stay clear of open windows if you're celebrating New Year's there!

 

We'll end here with a tradition that's universally embraced: travel. In Latin American countries, notably Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico, taking an empty suitcase on a walk around the block (or leaving one by your front door) is believed to bring opportunities for travel in the new year. And some believe the longer the walk you take with your empty case, the longer your travels will be! So while it may strike you as odd to see your neighbor walking their suitcase around the 'hood, you might think twice when later they share their travel plans.  Bon Voyage!

 

Circling back to New Year's here, we've got many options for you to celebrate the arrival of 2023 in style! So let's make it a NEW YEAR to remember with parties in Philly and Atlantic City.

 

Begin with those LISTED HERE, and start your own festive traditions!