Last year we gathered to celebrate our New Year’s Eve traditions and bid farewell to 2020 with the hope that 2021 would restore some normalcy to our lives. Yet, 2021 delivered its own array of struggles as COVID lingered far longer than an unwelcome houseguest. So here we are again, hoping 2022 will deliver us from the COVID clutches.
New York is one of the latest cities to announce that its New Year’s Eve celebrations will be scaled back, as countries across the globe struggle to contain the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. In Times Square, the ball will drop but the number of spectators will be significantly scaled back from 58,000 to 15,000. All attendees must show proof of vaccination and wear masks. Also, revelers won’t be allowed to arrive in the viewing areas until 3 PM.
In Sydney, Australia, the renowned fireworks display over the Opera House will go ahead, but attendants will need to buy tickets this year. London canceled the New Year’s Eve celebrations in London’s Trafalgar Square following a surge in Omicron cases in the UK capital. Revelers are encouraged to watch a live TV broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer highlighting the city’s defining moments in 2021.
Since many party-focused plans will once again be scaled back, maybe it’s time to embrace some of these unusual New Year’s Eve traditions from around the world. Here are a few to consider.
Go Round in the Philippines
When New Year’s Eve arrives in the Philippines, the focus turns to one shape—round. To Filipinos, roundness signifies prosperity. As a result, you’ll see folks dressed in polka dots. Pants pockets are filled with coins to be jangled in the hopes of attracting wealth. The round theme continues with the food as 12 round fruits find their way onto the table for the New Year’s celebration. So, round up the cherries, orange, apples and peaches and join the party!
Eating Grapes in Spain
For another fruit-focused New Year’s Eve tradition, we look to Spain. If you’re hoping for a midnight kiss from a Spaniard at the stroke of midnight, you may need to wait a few minutes. With every stroke of midnight, Spaniards eat a grape. That’s 12 grapes stuffed into the mouth in quick succession. The practice (while hard to swallow) is believed to bring good luck and prosperity in the 12 months that follow. Considering the way 2020 turned out, I may be stocking up on grapes in lieu of champagne this year.
Smashing Plates for Friends and Good Luck
In Denmark, unused plates find new purpose as the Danish smash plates and crockery against their neighbors’ door to bring them good luck in the coming year. The bigger the pile of broken dishes around the door, the better. So as you’re sweeping up the mess, remember good luck is on the way.
Communing with Cows
Up for a social distancing New Year’s Eve? In the rural communities of Belgium, farmers take to the pastures to wish their cows a Happy New Year. Romanian farmers also attempt to communicate with their cows. However, in Romania, the farmers hope the cows don’t talk back because if they do, bad luck follows. Here’s wishing Romanians everywhere an evening of silent cows.
Punch a New Year’s Eve Tradition
The annual Takanakuy festivals held in Peruvian villages between Christmas and New Year offer an outlet for dealing with the frustrations of the previous year—fistfights. Residents engage in bare-knuckle brawling overseen by the local police as a means of settling differences. However disturbing it sounds, the fights serve as a way to settle differences and start the new year with a clean slate.
More than fighting, the festival involves food, drinks, music and dancing. Entire towns gather to watch members of the community fight one another. With no limitations as to age or gender, you never know who’ll you see duking it out. Fighting grandmas perhaps?
Choosing the Right Underwear
In many South American countries, choosing the right underwear for New Year’s Eve makes all the difference in the coming year. Seeking increased prosperity? Be sure to wear yellow underwear. Looking for love? Red is your go-to color for New Year’s Eve. And, if you are hoping to travel in the coming year, be sure to carry a suitcase around with you as you celebrate New Year’s Eve. Yes, this does mean that I’ll be wearing a combination of red and yellow undergarments and will not leave my suitcase unattended at any point on December 31st. What about you?
Join Ecuador in Burning Your Enemies
Among the most interesting New Year’s Eve traditions is Ecuador’s “los años viejos” (the old years). Here people make large scarecrow-like dolls, often modeled to resemble people they dislike—including politicians. Some even have signs that detail their transgressions. They beat these dummies and at midnight everyone lights them on fire in an effort to get rid of the bad spirits. Also in Ecuador, men dress as “vuidas” (widows) women and beg for beer money. Kids dress up too and beg for candy.
Wishing You Joy as you Celebrate Your New Year’s Eve Traditions
Whatever New Year’s Eve traditions you choose to honor this year, may you find love, prosperity, and a suitcase to take you away. And may you burn your enemies after you’ve beaten them. I think that should get us off to a lovely start. Happy New Year!