Posted by Grant Paice on Jan 03, 2019

Celebrating New Year around the World

One example of the amazing diversity we are fortunate to experience on Plant Earth is the quite varied ways that different cultures celebrate the arrival of the New Year. 
 
Some interesting examples include:
 
In Denmark it means good luck if a friend has smashed a plate on your doorstep.
 
In Brazil there is a tradition to eat lentils at New Year as these represent money meaning good fortune.
 
In Scotland people go "first-footing" where they aim to be the 1st person to step foot in their friends or families homes after the clock strikes 12.
 
When the clocks hit midnight in Spain you'll find people reaching for grapes and eating one for each of the 12 strikes.
 
In Romania, there's a tradition for people to dress up as dancing bears to chase away any evil spirits.
 
In some South American countries people walk around with an empty suitcase on New Year's Eve as it means a year full of adventures ahead.
 
Wishing you all safe journeys and best wishes for coming year.
 
Grant & Mary-Lynne Paice