New Year Traditions Around the World

Every culture has unique traditions around the world of ringing in the new year! In many countries, food is the biggest symbolism, such as eating 12 grapes in Spain or 12 different fruits in the Philippines; or instead of eating, in places such as Greece, they hang an onion on their front door, or in Switzerland, where they put whipped cream on the ground. However, only some cultures are centered around food! You may see people in Denmark smashing old plates, Ecuadorians burning effigies, and Italians wearing red underwear!

As poet Rainer Rilker once said, “And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.”