Throwing crockery at your neighbors: we also want these foreign New Year’s Eve traditions in Zoetermeer

Throwing dishes at your neighbors

Say what?! Yes, you read that right. In Denmark they literally ring in the new year with a bang: on New Year’s Eve they throw their old crockery against the front doors of friends and neighbors. This tradition symbolizes friendship and happiness. The larger the pile of shards at your front door, the more luck you will have in the new year. Many Danes keep old crockery all year round especially for this occasion, so if your front garden is full of shards on January 1, you know you are loved!

Eating grapes

Something different from oliebollen: when the clock strikes twelve, in Spain and Argentina you eat a grape with every chime. The goal? Twelve grapes in twelve seconds! Each grape represents a month of happiness in the new year, and whoever makes it is said to have a prosperous year. This tradition, ‘Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte‘ (The Twelve Lucky Grapes), started in Spain around 1909 and is a New Year’s Eve staple in many Spanish and Latin American households.

Flowers in the sea

In Brazil they celebrate New Year in a special way: dressed in white, Brazilians stand on the beach and throw roses and other flowers into the sea. This ritual pays tribute to Iemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea and protector of fishermen and sailors. By throwing flowers into the waves, Brazilians ask for protection, luck and prosperity for the new year. The beaches turn beautiful white and red, and the atmosphere is magical: the perfect start to the new year!

Fifteen days of celebration

Someone says party? In China, from the end of January to mid-February you have the opportunity to celebrate the New Year extensively, for no less than 15 days! The Chinese New Year is all about ending the old year on a good note: the house gets a thorough cleaning, debts are paid off, and everyone puts on new clothes to celebrate the new beginning. Red clothing is a must because the color represents luck and prosperity. During these weeks, towns and houses are decorated with red and gold. The celebration ends with the impressive Lantern Festival: a magical end to the new year.

Noise, noise and more noise

Not averse to a little noise during New Year’s Eve? In Australia they like to grab a pan, pot and spoon on New Year’s Eve to loudly ring in the new year. This jovial noise is more than a tradition, it is seen as a way to attract good luck and keep evil spirits at bay. After the noise, enjoy the famous fireworks display at the Sydney Harbor Bridge, one of the largest fireworks shows in the world.

A year full of travel

In Colombia they have a special New Year’s tradition, especially for real travelers: ‘Año Viejo’. Exactly at noon, Colombians grab an empty suitcase and walk around the block with it. The idea? The further you walk with that empty suitcase, the more wonderful trips you will make in the new year. So do you want to go on holiday more often next year? Maybe a walk with your suitcase at midnight is worth a try!

Colored underwear

In many places in the world, New Year’s Eve is the time to boost your luck for the new year with the right outfit. In many countries the color of your clothing plays an important role. In Brazil, white clothing is a must to scare away evil spirits, while in China they wear red clothing for good luck. But the color of your underwear is perhaps the most decisive, as they find in Italy and Spain. There they use this color guide for the right luck:

• Blue for health and tranquility
• Yellow for prosperity and wealth
• Red for love and passion
• White for peace and harmony
• Green for well-being and connection with nature
• Pink for love and harmony

And, will you follow one of these traditions, or will you stick to oliebollen and the Top2000? Anyway, have fun!