Interesting New Year Traditions Around The World

The year 2010 is nearly coming to an end; it’s just a couple of days for the new year to come. In general, we greet everyone we see with a warm smile by saying “Wishing you a very happy New Year,” but different countries have different traditions or customs when it comes to New Year. How about taking a look at some of these unusual and interesting New Year traditions around the world?

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Dolls and coins – Bolivia: 

Bolivians have various unique and interesting tradition; these include: 

1. Hanging dolls made of straw and wood outside their house; they believe this will bring good luck.
2. Coins will be placed inside sweets and whoever finds this coin will be prosperous the entire year.
3. Leave three stones outside the house signifying health, wealth and love.

Wishing animals – Belgium:

On the New Year’s Day, farmers of Belgium wish their animals to get their blessings for the forth coming year. Greeting animals, doesn’t this an interesting New Year tradition? They also exchange gifts and celebrate it as St. Sylvester Eve.

Breaking of old dishes – Denmark:

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This is an unusual and interesting New Year tradition of people of Denmark. They save old dishes all through the year and break them at the doors of their friends or neighbors. The more broken dishes mean the more friends you have. 

Eating grapes – Ecuador: 

Image via channelone

There are four interesting New Year traditions in Ecuador; they include: 

1. Burning of effigy of political characters or leaders whom they have disagreed with on the last day of the year.
2. Eating 12 grapes making one wish with each grape.
3. Wearing yellow underwear as this symbolizes attracting positive energies.
4. Walking around with a suitcase as they believe that this will fulfill the dreams of the person.

First Footing – England:

People of England have an interesting New Year tradition. They follow a custom called first footing. The first visitor must be a male, must enter the house after midnight and should be carrying some presents like money, bread or coal. The significance of these presents is that the family will not run out these needs in the coming year. The visitor should enter through the front door, but must exit through the back door. The person entering the home first should not be a woman; a blond or red-haired and should not be empty-handed as these signify bad luck.