Your family might have an unusual or funny tradition that you enjoy every New Year’s Eve, such as cooking a certain dish or watching a particular movie, or perhaps you like to go to a party with your friends and tie one on until the sun comes up.
However, how do your local festivities compare to these strange New Year’s traditions from around the world?
Dangerous Danish Customs
In Denmark, the thing to do on the stroke of midnight is to climb up on the nearest chair and leap off into the air. It is believed that this will banish bad spirits who are trying to follow you into the year ahead.
Just make sure that you are careful where you land or you could kick off the New Year with a broken bone.
Another destructive thing to do in Denmark on New Year’s Eve is to throw plates, glasses and other crockery at the front door of your best friend. This brings good luck, and the family who has the most broken dinnerware in front of their house is considered very lucky because they have the most loyal friends.
The Dead are the Life of the Party
Even if you are dead, you can still join in on the New Year’s Festivities in Chile. The people of Talca, Chile are known for celebrating the New Year in the cemetery with their deceased relatives.
They set up the graveyard with decorations and candles, and everyone socializes amidst the tombstones.
Love under the Mistletoe
In Ireland, unmarried women place the leaves of the mistletoe plant under their pillows because it helps them to attract the love of their life. They also believe that it will bring them good luck in the New Year.
Let Your Underwear Do the Talking
If you are celebrating the New Year in Brazil, Mexico, or Bolivia, you will want to put some thought into the color of your underpants. People here wear undergarments of particular colors on the last night of the year to signify what they wish for in the New Year.
For example, wearing unmentionables of red will bring an exciting love life, and yellow underpants grant the wearer economic prosperity.
These are just a few of the fun and unusual New Year’s Eve traditions that are celebrated around the world!
