12 New Year's rituals from around the world that will bring happiness in the coming year

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

New Year is one of the favorite holidays around the world. Adults and children make the most cherished and sometimes unrealizable wishes on New Year's Eve. Each country has its own traditions so that everything conceived will come true. In Russia, the most famous ritual is to write a wish on a piece of paper while chimes chime, set it on fire, chuck the ashes into champagne and drink it to the bottom. And what rituals bring happiness, love and good luck in other countries?

Argentina

On the last day of the new year, office workers in Argentina throw out old notes, letterheads, newspapers from the windows. During the day, the roads are covered with a huge layer of paper, which sometimes makes traffic difficult. It is believed that in this way they get rid of problems and failures, and it is also a kind of anti-stress for employees. Once a print edition threw the entire archive out of the window.

United Kingdom

“First footing” is a traditional belief in Great Britain, which says that whoever steps onto the doorstep of a house will bring its residents good luck for the whole new year. However, there are exceptions here as well. It is believed that women and people of the same sex, especially blonde and redheads, can bring bad luck. But a handsome young brunette, and even if he is a foreigner will bring happiness and luck for all 365 days. It is also considered a good sign if the first guest brings coal, bread, money, salt or mistletoe, and in order not to part with a loved one in the new year, lovers should kiss under a branch of mistletoe at midnight to the sound of a bell.

Denmark

In the new year in Denmark, it is customary to get rid of everything unnecessary, old, especially the dishes. On New Year's Eve, they happily break her for happiness, and they do this mainly at the doorstep of relatives and friends.

Spain

Now many countries perform such a ritual - to eat one grape with each chime, making wishes. However, this tradition originated in Spain. It is believed that grapes are a symbol of the pursuit of well-being. This explains the eating of grapes in the off-season (harvest season in September). And this is confirmed by the Catalan proverb: "Menjar raïm per Cap d'Any porta diners per a tot l'any" ("Eat grapes for the New Year - there will be money for a whole year").

Italy

The most famous and interesting tradition in Italy is to throw unnecessary things out of the window in the last minutes of the old year. Thus, Italians get rid of not only trash, but also of the negative energy accumulated over the year. Thus, they give a place for everything new and good in the new year. So on New Year's Eve, you need to carefully walk the streets. After all, from the window can fly, not only some piece of clothing, but also furniture or appliances.

Canada

On New Year's Eve, under the chimes in Canada, it is customary to kiss. This helps to maintain good, strong and romantic relationships for the whole year. The brightest Canadian New Year's tradition is “Polar Bear Bathing”. On the first day of the new year, people, regardless of age and gender, put on bathing suits and dive into the icy water. It is believed that everyone who is not afraid of the cold can find prosperity, success, and also gain good health, like that of a polar bear, for the whole next year.

Cuba

Before the new year, Cubans pour water into all containers in the house, and at midnight they throw it out of the windows onto the street. Thus, in Cuba, they get rid of and cleanse themselves of everything bad and wish the new year a bright path. An interesting feature of the celebration of the new year on the cube is that their clock strikes not twelve times, but eleven. The Cubans, as it were, give a rest for hours with them, especially since they believe that the twelfth strike is a border and does not apply either to the past year or to the future.

Mexico

An important traditional entertainment among the Mexicans is piñata - a hollow clay toy, to which they usually attach 7 rays of paper filled with sweets that denote deadly sins. It is believed that everyone who can break it with their eyes closed are cleansed of these sins and they will be lucky for a whole year.

Philippines

For Filipinos, all round things are a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Therefore, a polka dot print is considered the ideal New Year's outfit. Also, round accessories will not be superfluous: rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings. All plates on the festive table should be round. From here, another tradition arose - to fill the pockets with coins. And, the more money a person has, the more financial success he will have in the new year. Filipinos also turn on the lights in all rooms on New Year's Eve to scare away evil spirits.

Chile

Before the new year, Chileans remove all negative energy from their homes. They do this with the help of an ordinary broom, sweeping dirty linen on the street, as well as getting rid of unnecessary trash. And to attract good luck, Chileans recommend eating a spoonful of lentils for each chime.

Ecuador

The main attribute of the Ecuadorian New Years is a stuffed animal of the old new year. They make it human-sized from everything that comes to hand (paper, sawdust, pieces of fabric). To make the scarecrow look like a man, they make him a hat, a cane and a pipe. Be sure to hang on a scarecrow a symbol of a significant event, the personality of the outgoing year. This scarecrow is planted in front of their house and on New Year's Eve everything that was bad for the family this year is read to him. Then this list is thrust into a scarecrow and set on fire. Ecuadorians believe that in this way all misfortunes fly away with the ashes as soon as the scarecrow burns out. Ecuadorians still have rituals for fulfilling desires that must be done while the clock strikes twelve times. If you dream of traveling, manage to run around your house with a huge suitcase; if you want love, put on new red underwear, and if you get rich, then put on bright yellow; waiting for the problems to go away - throw a full glass of water out the window, smashing it to smithereens.

Estonia

Estonians are happy to spend New Year's Eve in the sauna. It is believed that there is no better way to wash off all the troubles and misfortunes of the past year and enter the new year from scratch. In addition, on New Year's Eve, in order to provide themselves with prosperity and wealth for the next year, they eat seven, nine and twelve times, leaving crumbs for good spirits.

Although some of the methods are very simple and sometimes ridiculous, the magical effect of these rituals lies in our faith! If we really want something, then everything will turn out exactly as we planned!