We love New Years Eve, and get inspired to see how other people are celebrating around the world. If you're watching the ball drop together (just yourselves, or with a group), and want to put together something new - check out our list! We've compiled some of our favorite traditions from couples around the world, and how they usher in their New Year's Eve. So browse through our little post, and pick and choose what might be festive for you and your sweetie. No matter what you choose, celebrate with the people you love, and share in the global celebration of welcoming 2017.
New Year Celebrations in Sweden
- There is a tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight of the New Year. Also, there is another tradition of eating chocolate with fritters at the end of the celebrations. It is also considered as a symbol of good luck and prosperity to have black-eyed peas and legumes as a part of New Year dish.
- The tradition of Año Viejo is a life size doll made of old clothes and stuffed with straw and newspaper. Just before midnight, people set fire to the Año Viejo. It is burning the old and bad of the past year in preparation for the new.
- There is a ritual of chiming bells and speaking out a New Year verse to the nation on New Year’s Eve. It occurs in the Skansen open-air museum, and is live telecasted to the entire nation. However, there are some who prefer to let the cold air touch their skin, and thus, they move out to have a live view of the fireworks show.
New Year Celebrations in Brazil
- New Year celebrations in Brazil revolve largely around the customs and traditions, a significant one among those customs is to consume lentils and rice on the day. Doing so is considered to confer blessings, good luck, fortune, and prosperity in one’s life.
- Also, there is a tradition of wearing white on New Years day, as it's believed to bring in and sustain good luck for the rest of the year.
- On midnight of the arrival of the New Year, local people residing in and around the beach cities gather at the beach, and jump seven times into the beach water and throw flowers on the beach while wishing for a happy and prosperous year ahead.
New Year Celebrations in Belgium
- The New Years Eve or the 31st of December has a special name in Belgium - the “Saint Sylvester Eve”, according to the name of their Holy Saint. They consider this time to the year to be extremely auspicious and they leave no stone unturned to celebrate with vibrancy, happiness and joy.
- In Belgium, New Year tradition is to spend lots of time with close friends and family. Organized in the house only, these parties are characterized by good food and drinks catered with love and family touch. In some families invitations are given to every individual known and thus there are grand social gatherings.
- A very sweet custom prevails which is followed by all kids. They collect money all year and save it to purchase beautiful decorations for New Years Day. When it comes they use these to decorate their homes and write holiday greetings and good wishes for their elders, especially parents, which they read out as the clock strikes 12.
New Year Celebrations in Amsterdam
- Bars stay open late, and street parties are organized all around the town. Local people and tourists from all over the world come and celebrate New Year. The street parties hold the true soul of the Amsterdam New Year celebrations, as these reflect the true essence of the Dutch tradition. Before heading to midnight New Year celebrations, special dinners for the day are served to the guests.
- People in Amsterdam hold a tradition of consuming special sweet treats on New Years, as well as the entire month leading to it. The special sweet treats go with the name of ‘oliebollen’ and ‘appelflappen’. Oliebollen are round shaped doughnuts coated with icing sugar, and appelflappen are delicious apple fritters. One can easily find vendors and stalls selling these two special sweet treaties.
- There is also a celebrated tradition of lighting firecrackers, which is popular.
New Year Celebrations in England
- In England, there is a tradition of opening the back door of the house as soon as the church bell rings twelve. It is considered to be a reflection of one’s farewell to the old year.
- Then a dark haired man, is asked to enter through the front door with salt, coal, and bread in his possession. Doing so is traditionally believed to bring good luck, and also ensure abundance of food (bread), money (salt), and warm (coal) in the coming year.
What are your favorite traditions?
We have some favorite items we like to add to our night:
