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Between curious and life-threatening Weird New Year's Eve customs from around the world

Sulamith Ehrensperger

31.12.2024

Many countries have their own customs and traditions for New Year's Eve.
Many countries have their own customs and traditions for New Year's Eve.
Picture: Getty Images

Jumping off a chair, putting poppy seeds in your shoe or going for a walk with an empty suitcase: There are many unusual customs at the turn of the year. But they all have one thing in common: they are supposed to bring good luck.

Denmark: Jumping off the chair into the new year

As we slide into the new year, people in Denmark are jumping. It's not because you might already be buzzed, it's simply an old tradition.
As we slide into the new year, people in Denmark are jumping. It's not because you might already be buzzed, it's simply an old tradition.
Picture: Getty Images

The New Year's Eve cake Kransekage, the Queen's speech and a chair are simply part of New Year's Eve in Denmark. Only after the royal words is the traditional New Year's Eve meal served: stockfish or cod. This is served with aquavit - which means "water of life" - a brandy flavored with caraway seeds. However, if you drink too much of it, you might have a problem later on: At the stroke of midnight, it is customary to jump off a chair or sofa into the New Year. This is said to bring good luck.

Colombia: Around the block with an empty suitcase

Anyone who walks around the house with their suitcase at midnight is said to travel a lot in the new year.
Anyone who walks around the house with their suitcase at midnight is said to travel a lot in the new year.
Picture: Getty Images/Westend61

In Colombia, it is not uncommon to meet people with a suitcase on New Year's Eve, as it is customary to walk around the block with an empty suitcase at midnight. This not only brings good luck, but is also said to mean that you will travel a lot in the coming year. On Corona New Year's Eve, there will probably be a few more than usual.

Russia: ashes in a champagne glass

Not Christmas, but December 31 is Russia's most important secular holiday, when many families celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve at the same time.
Not Christmas, but December 31 is Russia's most important secular holiday, when many families celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve at the same time.
Picture: Keystone

In Russia, people can't get enough of the festive season and celebrate New Year again on January 14 - according to the Julian calendar. Russians obviously take their New Year's wishes seriously: before midnight, they write their wish for the New Year on a piece of paper and set it alight. The ashes of the burnt paper are then poured into a glass of champagne and - happy New Year! - is drunk.

Scotland: Who will get through the door?

"Hogmanay" - New Year's Eve - is one of the most important Scottish holidays of the year with a few classic rituals.

Quelle: Youtube

A popular Scottish New Year's Eve ritual is the so-called "First Footing". It is an old tradition that the first person to step over the doorstep of a house determines their luck in the new year. The quicker the visitor is, the more luck they bring with them. For this important step, true Scots naturally have shortbread and a bottle of whiskey with them. Incidentally, if a man knocks on the door of a single woman, this is said to bring more than just good luck in love.

Japan: Life-threatening fortune cakes

In Japan, the New Year is traditionally rung in with mochi. These are small rice cakes that taste both sweet and savory. At New Year, they are usually eaten in a special soup.
In Japan, the New Year is traditionally rung in with mochi. These are small rice cakes that taste both sweet and savory. At New Year, they are usually eaten in a special soup.
Picture: Keystone

New Year (Oshôgatsu) is the biggest festival in the Japanese calendar and is celebrated in honor of nature and the ancestors. It also stands for special foods, such as mochi, sweet balls made from very starchy rice. They are said to bring good luck and a long life - and they make the headlines every year. Time and again, people have to go to hospital because the sticky balls get stuck in their throats. The press likes to mention the woman who sucked a mochi out of her father's throat with a vacuum cleaner, saving his life. The Japanese authorities therefore warn people every year about the dangers of eating mochi and remind them of the emergency measure: five blows between the shoulder blades.

Poland: poppy seeds in the shoe

Women looking for a partner in Poland put some poppy seeds in their shoes.
Women looking for a partner in Poland put some poppy seeds in their shoes.
Picture: Marc A. Sporys, Unsplash

Polish single women who are looking for a man should sprinkle poppy seeds in their shoes at the turn of the year. The more, the better: because the number of seeds represents the number of future suitors. Perhaps ladies who live large will have better luck?

Incidentally, you should never clean your home on December 31. It is said that cleaning scares away luck. This is expected at midnight: by opening all doors and windows, the good spirits should be allowed into the house.

ISS space station: float into the new year 15 times

The International Space Station ISS will cross the International Date Line up to 15 times on New Year's Eve.
The International Space Station ISS will cross the International Date Line up to 15 times on New Year's Eve.
Image: Getty Images

Those who experience New Year's Eve at around 400 kilometers above the Earth can actually experience something. The International Space Station (ISS) orbits the Earth every one and a half hours, which means that the crew can cross the International Space Station 15 times on New Year's Eve. However, the crew will have to do without champagne: Alcohol is prohibited on board.

USA: When it rains good wishes

When the clock strikes midnight, there is no better place for many than New York's Times Square. Here it rains good intentions and confetti.
When the clock strikes midnight, there is no better place for many than New York's Times Square. Here it rains good intentions and confetti.
Image: Keystone

Hardly any New Year's Eve party is celebrated as frenetically as the one at what is probably the most famous intersection in the world: Times Square in New York.

This includes the famous "New Year's Eve Wishing Wall". People from all over the world write their personal wishes on this wall. You can also take part in this custom online from home. They are collected together with the wish lists on the Wishing Wall on New Year's Eve and rain down together with the confetti over Times Square at the stroke of midnight.

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