When you think about it, New Year’s Eve is kind of a bizarre holiday. What better way to celebrate the coming of the new year than by waiting for a light-up ball to drop, macking on each other, and drinking weird carbonated wine from France, right?
But there are some New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations out there that make those rituals sound normal. Take these, for example.
In Mount Olive, North Carolina, the New Year’s Day pickle is dropped at the stroke of midnight.
In Ecuador, they burn scarecrow effigies that represent the end of the old year.
On News Year’s Eve in Denmark, it’s normal to throw unused plates at people’s doors.
In Mexico, Peru, and Argentina, the color of the underwear one wears on New Year’s Eve will determine their fate for the next year. One seeking love should wear red undies, for instance.
If you stuff 12 grapes into your mouth in Spain, the next year is sure to be a good one!
In Brazil, jumping over seven waves on New Year’s Day will bring you good fortune for the next year.
In Japan, bells are rung 108 times on New Year’s Day to bring “cleanness” to the country.
It’s traditional for everyone in Peru to straight-up fight each other when the holiday rolls around.
Part of New Year’s Eve celebrations in Switzerland involves dropping ice cream on the floor.
As much as I roll my eyes when my German mother puts the traditional pork on the table for New Year’s dinner, I’m thankful that I don’t have to fight my dad. Have a safe and happy new year, everyone!
Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/new-years-traditions/
