New Year’s Eve is a time for exuberant celebrations, whether at home with family or out with friends. It’s also a time of year when individuals worldwide celebrate their distinctive New Year’s traditions, some of which may surprise you. Here are six of the world’s most unusual New Year’s Eve traditions.
- Spain: Grapes Abound
In Spain, as the clock strikes twelve, many people eat twelve grapes, one for each watch chime, to symbolize good fortune for the following year.
- Plate Smashing in Denmark
It is customary in Denmark to smash dishes and plates against the front doors of friends and family. This is designed to demonstrate how much you value those ties, with more shattered plates signifying a stronger bond.
- Brazil: Offering Services
People in Brazil toss flowers and jewels into the ocean as offerings to the goddess Yemanja, who is said to have the power to grant new year’s desires.
- Belarus: Immersion
It is common in Belarus to pour water over each other in the new year as a sign of purification and rejuvenation.
- Round Objects in the Philippines
People in the Philippines eat round-shaped fruits to symbolize wealth and prosperity in the next year.
- Toshikoshi Soba, Japan
Eating Toshikoshi Soba at midnight is a huge deal in Japan. People consume soba noodles, either intoxicated or sober, with the former referring to it as “year-crossing speed soba” because it is thought to assist them in easing into the new year.
Although some of these customs may appear bizarre and unusual, they uniquely demonstrate how different cultures and areas commemorate the anniversary.
If you’re looking for something different and unforgettable to do this New Year’s Eve, the Thames Party Boats in London could be the perfect alternative. The boats offer spectacular views of London’s fireworks display and may accommodate up to 205 or 140 passengers depending on availability. You may be sipping champagne, dancing, and viewing London’s beautiful skyline while celebrating New Year’s Eve in a new way.
In conclusion, New Year’s Eve traditions vary significantly worldwide, but they all embrace the spirit of new beginnings and fresh starts. If you are fortunate enough to be in London, try out Thames Party Boats for a magnificent ride on the Thames