What is the first thing that jumps to your mind when you hear about New Year and other winter holidays? It obviously largely depends on the country of your origin and the way you were brought up. Of course, some New Year customs are shared by the majority of the population, no matter where they are from. For example, no one finds sending New Year greetings cards via post or email exotic. If you’re from Russia, you’re used to eating Russian salad and chinking glasses as soon as midnight of New Year’s Eve comes. If you’re Spanish, you have probably always eaten 12 grapes at midnight. Now you can find out more about unique New Year traditions from around the world.
Scottish people are well known for their quirkiness when it comes to celebrations, and New Year is no exception. The most significant custom is waiting for the person that enters the house to bring tradition gifts with them. Scotland is also apparently very fond of fire, as people perform fire shows all across the country.
If you’ve come to visit the Philippines for New Year, you should strictly keep to one tradition: during the celebration choose everything that has a round shape. Filipinos have a strong faith in round objects and them bringing luck. Eat round shaped fruits – the easiest way to do it is to follow into the Spain’s footsteps and eat grapes, and wear dresses with patterns that resemble circles in some way.
Belarusian New Year traditions include a competition for unmarried women that helps them predict who will be the first one to marry. Their married friend has to hide certain objects around the house, and whatever women find forecasts their future love life. Not as easy as clicking the mouse to send carte virtuelle nouvelle année, is it?