The year 2024 is about to end and the world is getting ready to welcome the new year with amazing enthusiasm. Each year, people celebrate the end and the beginning of a new year in different ways. Some people like to party and others simply like to have dinner with their loved ones.
However, some people have strange new year traditions in different parts of the world. They are normal for them but super strange for the rest of the world.
In this article, I am going to discuss 20 weirdest new year traditions that you would love to know. Let’s start.
You may also like to read about the Bizarre Birth Customs Around the World Still Exist
20 Weirdest New Year Traditions:
The details of these traditions are given below:
1- The 12 Grapes of Luck (Spain)
I’m going to begin the list with a strange yet interesting Spanish tradition of the 12 grapes of luck. In the local language, it is called the las doce uvas de la suerte. This is a superstitious tradition where people have to eat 12 grapes when the clock hits 12 on New Year’s Eve. People have to finish all the grapes before the 12 chimes of the clock.
This tradition was started back in 1909 and is tied to the prosperity of the upcoming year. In other words, if a person follows the tradition and finishes the grapes on time, he will have a good upcoming year.
2- Smashing Plates (Denmark)
Danes have always been famous for having weird traditions historically. One tradition that still lives in their culture is smashing plates or crockery at the beginning of a new year. This tradition, like many others, is supposed to bring prosperity as well.
People gather their unused crockery of the whole year and smash it against the front doors of neighbors. Smashing will supposedly bring happiness to the neighbors. Danes try to keep the pile of crockery as big as possible. The bigger the pile the more happiness will the neighbors get.
3- Jump Seven Waves (Brazil)
Brazilians, as well, are famous for having wonderful and weirdest New Year traditions. One of these traditions is jumping seven waves of the sea. It is tied to the new year and is performed on the Eve. At this time, people gather around at the beach and try to jump over seven sea waves.
Each wave is believed to grant a wish to the person. As you jump over it, make a wish and it will come true in the upcoming year. This tradition also has religious roots and people love to take part in it.
4- Dining by Numbers (Estonia)
The Estonian New Year tradition is related to foods and cuisines. Estonians, each year, prepare a specific number of foods. This number is seven, nine, or twelve. According to tradition, these numbers are tied with good luck and prosperity.
People have to eat these meals on the Eve and they are supposed to make them stronger for the upcoming time. Estonians also believe in the presence of spirits. So, they leave some food outside their houses so that spirits can eat it as well. Sounds very spooky, right?
5- Scarecrow Burning (Ecuador)
Things get a little blazing and equally scary in Ecuador at the beginning of the year. This part of South America celebrates a weird tradition of scarecrow burning. Locals call it the Año Viejo.
In this tradition, people make scarecrows and make them look like prominent figures including politicians and celebrities. The whole body is filled with flammable stuff like newspaper and a mask is placed at the head. Then, people burn it to bring prosperity for the new year.
6- Smash the Peppermint Pig (America)
Americans follow an interesting ritual related to smashing the peppermint pig. It is one of the weirdest New Year traditions which is followed in different parts of the country. People associate it with bringing happiness in the upcoming year.
The candy pig is placed in a velvet bag and is passed around to the people joining the tradition. Each person gives a whack to the candy and shares any beloved memory. After each person has had his turn, people eat the smashed peppermint pig together.
7- First Footing (Scotland)
Scottish are second to none when it comes to following old traditions and first footing is one of them. This tradition, just like the other ones, is also tied to bringing happiness to a household.
The idea of this tradition is that the person who enters a household first after midnight is supposed to bring gifts for prosperity. These gifts can be coins, bread, etc. superstitiously, a dark-haired and tall man brings prosperity. On the other hand, a blond stranger with an axe and swords entering the house first will bring trouble.
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8- Carp Scales (Germany)
Another weird New Year tradition tied with food is celebrated in different parts of Germany. People are meant to eat a meal that includes fish in general. It doesn’t sound very weird until the role of a carp scale comes in.
The basic idea behind this tradition is to keep a carp scale with you after finishing the meal. This carp scale will stay in your wallet for the rest of the year to bring happiness. Removing the carp from the wallet means you’re stopping happiness from coming into your life.
9- Tossing Furniture Out of The Window (Italy)
In another part of the world, there’s also a tradition going on which is related to getting rid of household things. But instead of crockery, like in Denmark, Italy sees the throwing of furniture out of the window on this day.
Italians believe in getting rid of the old while entering a new chapter of your life. So, they throw out unused furniture from the windows. Some people only prefer throwing small objects to avoid the risk of injury. Still, it is a tradition practiced widely in different cities including Naples.
10- Round Things (Philippines)
Unlike many other cultures, Filipinos only care about money when it comes to celebrating a new year. People want and expect wealth and follow the tradition of round things. It is an interesting and superstitious tradition where people surround themselves with round things.
It represents coins and people eat different fruits of round shape such as apples. They also wear clothes with round shapes such as the polka dot pattern.
11- 108 Rings (Japan)
In order to welcome a fresh year, the Japanese follow an interesting ritual of 108 Rings. It is a very popular tradition in Japanese culture and is related to the Buddhist religion. On the eve, 12 rings or bells are ringing in the temples to wear off 108 different evil spirits.
The 108 number holds great importance in the Buddhist religion. People believe this religion cleanses their sins of the previous year so that they can have a fresh start. Usually, 107 bells are rung during the day and the last one is rang at midnight.
12- Mistletoe and Bread (Ireland)
Irish people follow two different rituals at the eve to invite love and luck into their lives. Women of Ireland use the mistletoe berry and place it under their pillows while sleeping and burn the berry later on.
The mistletoe berry is associated with fertility in European mythology. Following the ritual helps women dream about their love and brings them to real life as well. The bread tradition, on the other hand, is about bringing luck. A piece of bread is banged against the walls to wear off evil.
13- Dancing Bears (Romania)
New Year’s Eve gets a little furry in Romanian streets as the tradition of dancing bears takes place. it is a cultural practice that is attached to old times. The main idea here is to wear bears’ skins and dance around in the streets.
People these days usually use artificial furs and skins in order to complete the tradition. Following it helps them send evil spirits away. It is followed since the ancestors used to wear real bear skin or even bears themselves to wear off spirits.
14- Carrying Empty Suitcases (Colombia)
Colombians, unlike other nations, hope for a very unique and different thing for the upcoming year which is travel and adventure. In this pursuit, they follow the tradition of carrying empty suitcases.
The name of this tradition is self-explanatory. People, at midnight, carry empty suitcases and run around the block. It is an interesting ritual that is connected with adventure. The empty suitcases that are used symbolize the travel. So, supposedly, performing this practice will bring a lot of traveling.
15- Hanging Onions (Greece)
Greek mythologies are complex, there’s no doubt about that. However, one relevant yet simple ritual that is followed before starting a new year is hanging onions on the front doors.
Onions used to be a symbol of fertility and growth since they continuously grow shoots. Also, its layers represent the passing of and the beginning of a new time. So, you can understand why Greeks follow this tradition. They do it in the hope of finding good luck and growth in the new year.
16- Pouring Lead (Germany)
People love predicting their future and knowing what might unfold for them. To satisfy this desire, Germans use the lead-pouring tradition. It is about pouring lead into the water to predict the future.
First, a small amount of lead is melted and then poured into water. The shape it takes determines how the future will go for the person. There are different shapes and each of them is associated with a certain thing. For example, a round shape tells the person’s luck will flow towards him. Traditionally, lead is used for the ritual. However, people are using wax now due to health concerns.
17- Tossing Paper (Argentina)
Argentines have a specific belief and ritual that is related to tossing paper out of the window after shredding. This tradition takes place at noon on the last day of the year. People gather around their old documents and paper and shred them properly.
After that, they throw them out of the window and create a confetti-like effect. It is an interesting and fun-to-look tradition. However, it has been a point of controversy as well since throwing paper can cause health and cleanliness issues.
18- Animal Whispering (Romania)
The connection between humans and livestock has always been special. However, Romanians take this connection to another level at the end of the year. They attempt to communicate with their animals in hopes of bringing luck and happiness into their lives.
The idea behind this ritual is very simple to understand. If a person succeeds in communicating with the livestock, they will have luck and happiness in the next year. The origins of this ritual are quite unclear. However, it is a simple representation of the connection between animals and human beings.
19- Ball Drop (America)
It is, perhaps, one of the most famous New Year traditions in the world. Each year, on Eve, a giant ball is dropped from the One Times Square building. It is a magnificent sight since the ball sparkles with thousands of lights. This ritual is comparatively new and is done to mark the end and the start of a new year. The ball that is dropped weighs around 5300 kg. However, it is dropped with the help of strong cables for the sake of safety.
20- Make Noise (Philippines)
I mentioned earlier how Filipinos care about wealth when it comes to celebrating a new year. However, another thing they care about is wearing off evil spirits. But instead of using symbolized food or objects, they rely on the noise to send spirits away.
At eve, people gather around and make a lot of noise for this purpose. They do several things for this purpose such as banging pots, setting off fireworks, etc.
Conclusion
A new year is welcomed with great hopes and wishes in every part of the world. However, some parts rely on their superstitious beliefs to bring luck and get rid of all that’s negative from the previous year. Some of these traditions are very weird for the rest of the world.
The above-mentioned rituals are practiced with great passion across different parts of the globe. Although they may sound strange to most, local people follow them properly while starting a new year.
