As we bid 2022 adieu, the New Year of 2023 has arrived. Not everyone welcomes the New Year in the same manner. The variety of holidays celebrated around the world will astound you. While some nations celebrate the new year by shattering crockery, other nations welcome the new year by hanging onions from their front doors.
Here are a few unusual ways people celebrate the new year around the globe:
Consume 12 grapes
The vine producers in the Alicante region of Spain started a custom wherein exactly 12 grapes are consumed at midnight in the hopes of bringing luck and success for the upcoming year.
White flowers into the water as a throwaway
In Brazil, locals go to the seaside to honor Yemoja, the Goddess of the Sea, whom they think is in charge of the ocean. Locals dress in white for the New Year and throw candles and flowers into the water.
Onion-hanging on doors
Due to the fact that onion roots are seen as a symbol, it is common to see a bunch of onions hanging outside of doors in Greece during the New Year.
Shattered plates
Danish people traditionally hurl plates at their neighbors’ or friends’ doors to celebrate the New Year, so in addition to hearing fireworks, you can hear people breaking plates in Denmark. The Danish think that more luck is symbolized by a huge heap of shattered crockery.
Up to 12 meals per day
As these numbers are regarded lucky in Estonia, eating up to seven, nine, or twelve meals in a day on New Year’s is said to bring good luck for the remainder of the year.
Putting salt on the front step
In Turkey, people sprinkle salt on their doorsteps at midnight because it is thought that doing so will bring prosperity and peace for the upcoming year.
