Every New Years Eve party consists of staples such as fireworks, drinks, and friends. However, when it comes to celebrating the New Year, each country has its own way of doing things. Here are a list of countries that have unique ways of celebrating New Years Eve.
1. France
New Years Eve is referred in French as La Saint-Sylvestre or Le Reveillon du Nouvel An. New Years Eve is typically spent with friends rather than family. It is also traditional to serve turkey or goose at a party. The special dinner is meant to bring prosperity and good luck. The Southern part of France participates in a parade like event with dancing and singing throughout the streets. Another tradition includes Poisson d'avril which means April fish. People who do not celebrate New Years on January 1st are made fun of. People send the so called "fools" fake invitations and New Year presents.
2. Mexico
New Years Eve is referred in Spanish as nochevieja or año nuevo. There are many traditional celebrations that people in Mexico celebrate that bring good luck, good fortune, and good prosperity. A famous tradition includes leaving lentils outside the front door or eating lentil soup which brings prosperity. This next tradition is super unique; Depending on what you want for the next year, you wear that color underwear. So if you want more money, you should wear yellow underwear. If you want to find love, you should wear red underwear. Another cool tradition is the eating of the 12 grapes. The 12 grapes are basically 12 wishes. If you eat them all in the 60 second countdown before midnight, then the 12 wishes are said to come true.
3. Denmark
Yes, Denmark is a small country, but it is no exception;Denmark has many rituals of its own. The New Years Eve meal is a very important part of the celebrations. For dinner, boiled cod is served with homemade mustard and the trimmings. For desert, a tower of marzipan rings are served. It is also tradition to smash plates in front of your friend's house to show your friendship. Apparently, the bigger the pile of broken dishes, the more friends you have. As midnight approaches, is it tradition to climb on chair to jump into the New Year. It symbolizes the overcoming of potential challenges in the upcoming year.
4. Japan
The celebrations in Japan extend until January 3rd. Also, New Years Eve consists of a quiet family events with no fireworks, unless you live in Tokyo. Certain dishes are made to bring good fortune. Toshikoshi soba is basically buckwheat noodles, ozoni is a savory soup, and osechi ryori is a box full of Japaneses food that is just to be eaten during the New Year time. A few minutes before the New Year, some temples ring a large bell 108 times as part of a ritual called joya no kane. The ritual is supposed to purify the souls and minds of the people for the upcoming year.
5. Brazil
The New Year is referred to as Reveillon. Brazilians usually wear white which symbolizes that the next year will be better than the passing year. Also, watching fireworks by the beach is a tradition most families follow. After the clock hits midnight, people go to the sea and jump over seven waves which symbolizes good luck. Also, lighting candles near the water and throwing flowers into the water represent good luck. The people are appeasing to the water goddess Lemanja. She will bring peace, good luck, and prosperity to the people.
