Strangest New Year’s Eve Traditions Around the World

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

I think we can agree that New Year’s Eve is a holiday that breeds traditions unlike any other holiday. In America people from all over the country look forward to watching a glittery ball drop from a flagpole amidst chaos and confetti in Times Square. As strange as this tradition seems when you stop and think, just wait until you find out some of the other ways people around the world ring in the new year.

Denmark:  Break some plates

Yep, you read that right. In Denmark it is a coveted tradition for residents to collect a pile of unused dishes up until December 31st, and spend the night going door to door, smashing dishes for friends and family. Apparently the more debris on your doorstep, the more popular you are.

South Africa: Throw Appliances out of the Window While Partying

Taking it a step further from New Years Eve in Denmark, in South Africa some residents celebrate the New Year with friends, dancing, and throwing old appliances out the window (casual). While this represents the expression ‘out with the old and in with the new’, I just really hope no one is standing below a window when the clock strikes 12.

Romania: Bear Costume Parade

While you might spend the night dancing to throwbacks in a bar, in Romania some prefer dressing like a bear and dancing throughout snowy streets to chase away any bad spirits.

Ecuador: Scarecrow Burning

Perhaps one of the more unique traditions, every year a large scarecrow is created and then set on fire when the clock strikes midnight, while people burn photographs from the past year. Despite the dismal vibe of this celebration, it symbolizes starting fresh and living in the moment.

Brazil: Fireworks & Wave Jumping

Now this is one I will definitely be adding to my bucket list. Wearing white to symbolize peace and luck, Brazilians start the evening watching enormous fireworks and then head to the beach to jump over 7 waves all while throwing flowers into the ocean to make a wish. Some even light candles and bury them in the sand, believing that the goddess of the sea will grant them their wish. Truly magical.