While Britons traditionally celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks, drinks, and singing “Auld Lang Syne,” other countries have unique and eccentric customs. Travel experts at My Baggage have unearthed some of the most unusual traditions from places like Ecuador, Japan, and Denmark. These customs range from burning scarecrows to throwing crockery and engaging in bizarre rituals.
For instance, Ecuadorians set ablaze scarecrows filled with paper at midnight to rid themselves of negativity from the past year. Similarly, Danes hurl unused plates at the doors of their loved ones on December 31 as a symbol of friendship and good luck for the upcoming year. In Japan, a Buddhist tradition involves ringing bells 108 times to cleanse sins and bring luck. This practice is known as Joya no Kane and is observed not only in Japan but also in South Korea and at Japanese Buddhist temples worldwide.
Filipinos surround themselves with round objects on New Year’s Eve to attract prosperity, while Italians toss old furniture out of balconies to signify new beginnings. In South American countries like Mexico and Brazil, the color of one’s underwear on New Year’s Eve is believed to influence luck in the coming year. Each color symbolizes different aspects such as love, wealth, and health.
In Argentina, people shred old documents to leave the past behind, while in Romania, farmers try to communicate with their livestock for good fortune. Another Romanian tradition involves dressing up as a bear and dancing to ward off evil spirits. These diverse customs reflect the rich tapestry of New Year celebrations around the world.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.