In Spain, New Year’s Eve is linked to cotillions, red underwear and, of course, grapes. However, this form of celebration is not shared in other regions. Moreover, customs differ greatly from one country to another. We tell you how the end of the year is celebrated in the world.
How the end of the year is celebrated in the world
In addition to the differences in how the end of the year is celebrated around the world, it must be taken into account that not even the date is the same in all countries. What is celebrated here on December 31, in other cultures, such as China, the date is quite different. Leaving that aside, we will tell you about the different ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve around the world.
Philippines: moles everywhere
In the Philippines they have a designated dish that is usually eaten on this great night, and is also shared by Japan. These are long noodles, which on this occasion are called pancit . But that is not the aspect that attracts the most attention when we ask ourselves how the end of the year is celebrated in the world. What characterizes this party in the Philippines is the use of polka dots!
Both in the chosen clothing and in the accessories, these must have polka dots. The reason? They symbolize wealth. So to attract it, during this night the Filipinos make the coins in their pockets ring as a ritual to attract prosperity and abundance.
Russia: drinks full of desire
In Russia it is very cold, we know. And we also know that the habit of drinking alcoholic beverages is quite common, since it is a good resource to withstand the cold temperatures. Perhaps for this reason, it is also present at the end of the year, although it is not the main element.
There, the tradition invites you to write your wishes for the coming year on a piece of paper and burn it later. But there is not everything, the ashes are poured into a glass of champagne, and those who dare, drink it after midnight.
Denmark: a country of crockery
It is curious when we ask ourselves how the end of the year is celebrated in the world, since traditions vary a lot from one country to another. Although the tradition of keeping needles and threads in the blue boxes of Danish cookies is international, in Denmark they have another quite peculiar custom.
It consists of throwing the crockery that they have used for dinner on the floor or against the walls. This practice is already several centuries old, and the meaning is that more broken dishes, more friends. A country in which, seen what has been seen, great value is placed on friendship.
Puerto Rico: water to clean
Although in Puerto Rico they speak Spanish, they do not share the same customs as in Spain. What’s more, their traditions on how the end of the year is celebrated in the world have nothing to do with those of any other country.
On the night of December 31, families throw whole buckets of water out of the windows. And what do they intend with it? Well, get rid of all the problems they have had throughout the year and start again from scratch.
Ecuador: the role as protagonist
Ecuador is also peculiar when we talk about how the end of the year is celebrated in the world. There, they do not boast of just one, but two traditional practices for this date. First, on the 31st, a bill is placed inside the shoe, and it is left there throughout the day and night. The next morning, this is placed in the wallet, where it will remain all year. It is believed that this is how wealth is attracted.
Secondly, another of the ancestral traditions also has the role as the protagonist. But in this case, in the form of a doll 10 meters high. It is also made with wood and firecrackers, which help to burn it to celebrate the entrance of the new year. In Argentina and Uruguay, fire is also a tradition.
India: light to attract the goddesses
India is one of the countries that distances itself the most from the rest when we ask ourselves how the end of the year is celebrated in the world. There, the date does not match, as we mentioned at the beginning. In India, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with the Diwali festival, which takes place in November.
During the days of celebration, families clean their homes and when they have done so they place a lamp outside. The light will serve so that the goddess Lakshmi, to whom they dedicate prayers, sees the house, enters and blesses them with good luck.
