New Year's Eve Traditions

With New Year’s Eve this year passing with more of a fizzle than a bang we thought it might be nice to look at some of the weird and wonderful New Year traditions from around the world. Who knows, these New Year's good-luck traditions might just work...

Food:

In Japan just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, the Japanese eat “Toshikoshi soba” which translates to a “year-crossing”, a delicious buckwheat noodle dish that the eating of signifies a letting go of the past year’s regrets.

In Spain, with 12 seconds remaining until the New Year, they eat 12 green grapes to bring good luck. Sounds easy? Take my word for it, it isn’t. It is however great fun to try.

In France, they usually ring in the New Year with a meal called le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre. It includes such delights as foie gras, oysters, lobster, and escargot. Not a great start to the New Year’s diet.

In Brazil seven is seen as the lucky number on New Year’s Eve, to celebrate they eat seven pomegranate seeds which bring financial prosperity, and seven grapes to bring good fortune for the rest of your life.

Good Luck:

In Denmark they have a tradition of smashing plates on their neighbor’s doorstep, the more broken crockery at your door the better your luck will be that year.

In Switzerland it is tradition to drop a dollop of cream on the floor on New Year’s Day to bring luck, probably not that good luck for the person who has to clean up.

In Scotland, the tradition of “first footing” sees the first person to cross the threshold in the new year bringing good luck, with additional luck if they are tall dark, and handsome, obviously!

Colours:

Wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve is thought to bring you love, luck, and prosperity according to Italians.

In Brazil white is seen as the colour of luck and every year thousands of Brazilians throw white flowers into the ocean as an offering to the goddess of the Sea, whilst making a wish.

Bolivians believe that yellow underwear will bring them luck and good fortune, whilst in Argentina, they wear pink underwear to attract love in the new year.

In Mexico the colour you choose represents what you are wishing for in the new year, red is for love, green is for money, and yellow for work.

At cinch, our New Year’s tradition is faff-free motoring. If you are looking for a new red car for love, or a yellow one for work, or just a white one for good luck!