Nervous about the new year? You’re not alone. Around the world, there are countless new-year’s traditions centered on one shared hope: Make it a good year — please. Humanity’s tried-and-true superstitions come in all different forms, from house cleanings to warding off bad spirits, to eating certain foods or jumping around in a specific way because … well, it could work.
Here’s a look at some beloved new year’s traditions worldwide.
Eat 12 grapes at midnight: This tasty tradition originated in Spain and is now practiced across Central and South America, from Mexico to Cuba. Each grape represents good luck for one month of the year. Each grape must be eaten with each stroke of the midnight clock — i.e. 12 grapes in 12 seconds — in the first challenge of the year.
Pick underwear wisely: In Central and South American countries, such as Brazil and Ecuador, underwear color can say a lot about what kind of year it could be: Yellow ones signify that good luck is coming, red ones love, green ones money and well-being, and white ones peace.
Eat lentils: Lentils are a new year’s super food. Italians often pair their lucky lentils with sausage or other pork dishes to signify a bountiful future. Brazilians and Chileans dine on lentils in the hope that the coin-shaped legume will bring good fortune. In Colombia, people fill their pockets with them on New Year’s Eve.
Run around with an empty suitcase: Hoping to travel this year? Then embrace this Colombian and Ecuadoran tradition of taking a lap around the neighborhood with an empty suitcase to will it to happen.
Bang bread against the wall:
In Ireland, people bang bread against the wall to ward off evil spirits, and to ensure there’s plenty of it for the coming year.
Blow up an effigy of last year’s bad things: Grab an Ano Viejo (Old Year) doll, attach fireworks or light a match at midnight, and watch all the bad parts of the past year burn away. It’s a tradition found across Central and South America. These effigies are traditionally dressed in old clothes and made to represent a politician or another displeasing figure.
Eat special soba noodles: In Japan, toshikoshi (year-crossing) soba noodle soup is traditionally cooked up on New Year’s Eve. These prized noodles are long and thin and can be easily cut, symbolizing a clean break with the past year, as well as a lengthy and prosperous life.
Eat bread or cake with a coin in it: There are many ways to go with this one. There’s vasilopita, a sweet bread made in Greece in honor of St. Basil, or banitsa, a Bulgarian egg and cheese phyllo dough pastry. The only trick is to look out for the slice that comes with the lucky coin baked in.
Eat anything round or coin-shaped: In Denmark and Norway, people dine on Kransekage or Kransekake, meaning wreath or doughnut cake, which is a marzipan-based tower cake built from stacked concentric rings and decorated with icing.
