Each country has its own New Year traditions

“How you will meet the New Year – so you will spend it!” – a well-known belief. And in different countries differently meet this cheerful holiday. Some, sometimes amusing, New Year traditions are firmly entrenched in the culture and have become an integral part of the celebration.

For example, in Italy, on the eve of the New Year, it is customary to throw away everything old and unnecessary. Straight from the windows. Walking the streets is even dangerous. A vacant place in the house, according to popular beliefs, will take on new, better things. For Italians it is extremely important who they will meet first in the new year. If you meet a hunchbacked grandfather – fortunately, but to encounter a monk, a priest or a small child is a bad sign.

In South Africa, with regard to junk went further. From the windows of houses in this country in the New Year are falling refrigerators. Such a specific tradition was repeatedly thwarted by the authorities. There are leaflets urging citizens to make out. Whole blocks are closed to avoid injury. But the people do not succumb to “provocations”, because the happiness of the next year is worth it!

Spaniards love to dress up for this holiday in a spicy red underwear. Moreover, the rule applies to both sexes. Enamored couples even exchange this element of the wardrobe. Another well-known  tradition in Spain is to eat 12 grapes, each with another bite of chimes.

Japan, too, attaches special importance to numbers. Battle of the bell in the New Year hits exactly 108 times. It symbolizes getting rid of the six basic human vices. The Japanese believe that each of them has its own 18 shades. And on the facades of houses hang out arms of straw to drive away evil spirits.

In Nepal, perhaps, fans of the most colorful celebration. On this day, in the morning, people, painted with bright colors, come out onto the square. Dances, songs, and general merriment characterize the New Year traditions.

“Lantern Festival” in China. On New Year’s Eve thousands of small flashlights are lit. They believe that their sparks are driven away by a dark force. Lamps are given a different shape. Basically, these are figures of twelve animals, symbolizing the months of the year according to the lunar calendar.

In Scandinavia, greeting the New Year, it is customary to grunt under the table. Again, in order to ward off troubles.

And in Austria it is believed that for this you need to eat meat from the pig’s snout.

In Vietnam, create a huge rake size. Unlike Russian-speaking countries, there it does not symbolize repeated mistakes. Rakes in Vietnam should “rake” happiness. Accordingly, the more rake, the more fortunate the new year will be.