Weird and wonderful New Year’s Eve traditions – Part 1

The coming of a new year often means the bringing about of good luck and fortune. Have a look at our list below of some of the world’s most weird and wonderful New Year’s Eve traditions.

1. Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight, Spain

In Spain, it is believed that if you eat one grape in time with each chime of the clock at midnight, then you will be rewarded with luck and happiness in the coming year.

This tradition originated back in 1909, when there was a huge grape harvest in the country during the festive season, and the King chose to give the surplus of produce to the people to consume on New Year’s Eve.

2. Carrying Empty Suitcases, Colombia

In a hope for a year filled with travel and adventure, it is a tradition for Colombian residents to walk around the block on New Year’s Eve with an empty suitcase.

3. Smashing Plates and Jumping off Chairs, Denmark

It is customary for residents of Denmark to celebrate New Year’s Eve by throwing old plates and glasses against the doors of their family and friends to banish bad spirits.

They also collectively stand on chairs and jump off them at midnight to ‘leap’ into January in hopes of good luck.

4. Interpreting Shapes of Metal, Finland

In Finland, it is believed that people are able to predict the coming year by casting molten tin into a container of water, and then interpreting the shape the metal takes after it hardens.

According to the tradition, a heart, or a ring means a wedding, while the shape of a ship predicts travel. It is also believed that if you see the shape of a pig then you will have a year filled with plenty of food.

5. Burning Effigies, Panama

It is tradition for people in Panama to drive off evil spirits by burning effigies (muñecos) of well-known people such as TV characters and political figures in Panama. The effigies are meant to represent the old year, therefore allowing people to start with a fresh New Year’s start.