Turn of the year Grapes, animals and drinking games: New Year's Eve traditions around the world
The turn of the year is the occasion for many curious traditions. Where people make a special splash in the last few seconds of the year - and where the clocks tick differently.
31.12.2024, 09:00
SDA
Firecrackers, lead pouring and a "Bussy" at midnight: there are many customs in Germany at the turn of the year. Other countries also celebrate the New Year in a special way - but sometimes on different days.
Royal fun and jumping for luck
For many Danes, New Year's Eve used to involve two things: Queen Margrethe II's New Year's address and jumping off the nearest piece of furniture. For decades, viewers would organize a bingo alongside the speech with typical phrases such as "God forbid Denmark!" or turn it into a drinking game. But last year, the monarch announced her retirement after 52 years during her speech. The second tradition remains: Shortly before midnight, many climb onto chairs, tables or the sofa to hop into the new year at midnight on the dot. A leap into happiness - even if too much aquavit sometimes makes the whole thing risky.
A lucky charm made from skin and hair
In Ireland, it is considered good luck if a guest walks through the door after midnight - preferably a dark-haired man with New Year's gifts such as whiskey, food or money. This custom is called "first footing". In the past, redheads, who make up around ten percent of the Irish population, were considered a bad omen - a discrimination that is no longer accepted today. And if no guest comes by? No problem! A dark-haired family member can simply go out through the garden door and come back in through the front door - then there's a "Happy New Year" after all.
Eating grapes for a while
In Spain's capital Madrid, the Puerta del Sol is the hotspot for the New Year. The central square with its historic bell tower attracts thousands the evening before, when the bells of the famous clock are tested. But be careful: the twelve grapes, which are traditionally eaten throughout the country with each of the twelve televised chimes, may only be eaten on New Year's Eve shortly before midnight - otherwise it will bring bad luck. Those who finish all the grapes in time are said to secure good luck for the New Year.
Vitamin bombs and pot banging
The Philippines is also rich in vitamins. Twelve fruits are served there after midnight. But be careful: the fruit should be halfway round, as this stands for coins and therefore prosperity. And so grapes, mangoes, watermelons and other exotic fruit are piled up in large baskets on New Year's Eve. Culinary superstition is omnipresent on the island nation: pancit (noodles) are said to bring long life, and a lavishly laid table promises a bountiful year. To drive away evil spirits, people rely on a lot of noise - those who don't have firecrackers bang on pots or turn up the music.
Artificial skies
Further south, things get spectacular: against the backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and the iconic Opera House, mega fireworks light up the night sky in Sydney. The now world-famous spectacle attracts tourists from all over the world. Hundreds of thousands of people marvel from the shore and from boats as tons of fireworks paint pictures in the sky. Last year saw a premiere: for the first time, light projections generated by artificial intelligence were on display. According to the city, more than 400 million people around the world watch the event on television or online.
Surfing at risk
At the southern tip of Africa, summer temperatures are around 30 degrees at the turn of the year. People here like to celebrate the New Year with a picnic on the beach. On New Year's Day, hundreds of thousands of South Africans flock to the country's beaches to swim, surf or simply soak up the sun. A tradition that is celebrated by all cultures - whether isiZulu, isiXhosa or Afrikaans. However, there is always a lot of work for sea rescuers on this day: every year, numerous bathers have to be rescued from drowning in the rough waves of the ocean.
Burning notes in a snake's garb
In much colder Russia, the president traditionally addresses the people before the New Year with a New Year's speech, which is broadcast nationwide on television. When the chimes of the clock in the Kremlin's Spassky Tower strike twelve times, things get hectic: many Russians quickly write down a wish for the New Year and burn the note - according to superstition, anyone who manages to do this before midnight will have their wish fulfilled. It is more of a fad than a custom to dress in the color of the animal that is celebrated according to the Chinese calendar. For 2025, that would be green - in the sign of the snake.
Where there are no New Year celebrations on January 1
In China, things remain relatively unspectacular on December 31. This is because New Year is based on the lunar calendar and falls on a different date every year - January 29 in 2025. This marks the end of the Year of the Dragon and the beginning of the Year of the Snake. On the evening of January 28 - the Chinese New Year's Eve, so to speak - there are also celebrations: For many, windows and doors are opened to let good luck into the house. The new year is then welcomed with fireworks, dragon and lion dances.
For Muslims, the New Year celebrations commemorate the Prophet Mohammed's journey from Mecca to Medina in the year 622. The journey marks the beginning of their calendar. The Islamic New Year (1441 AD) begins in 2025 on June 26 - although Muslims do not announce the start of the new year with fireworks.
Jews celebrate their New Year's festival Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: head of the year) on the first two days of the month of Tishri in the Jewish calendar. In 2025, this is the case on September 23 and 24. It is customary for loaves of bread for the New Year to be round rather than oblong. This symbolizes the cycle of the year.
