New Year’s Eve Traditions from Different Parts of the World

The new year, which we enter with new expectations and many hopes, is always quite special and exciting. The point that brings the New Year excitement to its peak is, of course, the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Every country and culture have different traditions for New Year’s Eve, which is planned and prepared carefully months in advance. We have compiled these traditions for you. Here are the New Year’s Eve celebration traditions from different parts of the world:

Greece

Our neighbor’s New Year’s Eve tradition is quite interesting. Greeks hang an onion in front of their doors before New Year’s Eve. They believe that the onion symbolizes rebirth and the next morning they hit their children with this onion to wake them up. Additionally, Greeks believe that the first person to enter their house on New Year’s Eve will bring them luck. However, for this, the guest must step into the house with their right foot first.

Philippines

The element that is considered sacred in the Philippines is circular symbols. They believe that they will be blessed with many fruits for the whole year thanks to the circular symbols, and they carry them as the new year approaches. Coins, polka dot dresses and round foods are becoming more common as the new year approaches. Also, there must be round fruits on the table on New Year’s Eve. Eating 12 of these fruits is also a New Year’s Eve tradition.

Chile

There are quite different New Year’s Eve traditions in Chile. People consume a spoonful of lentils at midnight on New Year’s Eve. In this way, they believe that abundance and blessings will find them with the new year. Another tradition is to camp around the cemeteries on New Year’s Eve. Chileans who want to start the new year with their deceased relatives’ light candles at the graves and commemorate them with classical music. Additionally, Chilean people believe that when they sweep the house from the inside to the outside, they also drive away the evil spirits of the previous year.

Denmark

Danes jump off chairs on New Year’s Eve to get rid of evil spirits. They celebrate the new year by gathering together and jumping off their chairs, wishing that evil spirits will escape. Danes also have another tradition. According to this tradition, people put plates in their homes before December 31st and wait for their neighbors and friends to break these plates. They believe that the more plates are broken, the luckier they will be in the new year.

Spain

Spain, which has very different traditions such as bullfighting and tomato festival, is another country with an interesting New Year’s Eve tradition. Spanish people welcome the new year by eating grapes. The person who eats a grape every time the bell rings before midnight on New Year’s Eve, keep these grapes in their mouths until midnight. They believe that these 12 grapes represent 12 months and that the grapes will bring them luck for each month.

Ireland

On New Year’s Eve, single Irish women sleep with mistletoe leaves under their pillows. They believe that in this way, they will see the person they will marry in their dreams. Another New Year’s Eve tradition in the country is about the last person to enter the house. ​If the last guest of New Year’s Eve is a tall, dark, and handsome man, the Irish believe that they will be rich in the new year and interpret it as bad luck if a red-haired woman comes to their home.

Brazil

Brazilian people welcome the new year around white colors. Because they believe that white will bring them luck and that this luck will continue throughout the year. The people, who have fun with the celebration called Reveillon on New Year’s Eve, do not forget to present gifts to Lemanja. They believe that the sea goddess will help them by decorating the ocean with white flowers and candles on New Year’s Eve.

The Address of the New Year’s Eve Celebrations of the Republican Era: Pera Palace Hotel

New Year’s Eve was first accepted as an official holiday in our country in 1936. In 1938, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emphasized the importance of New Year’s Eve by publishing his first congratulatory message. One of the places where New Year’s Eve celebrations have been held since the Republic period is Pera Palace Hotel. The hotel, which has been the first address of many important organizations from past to present, hosted a New Year’s Eve ball for the first time in the history of the Republic. You can spend this New Year’s Eve at Pera Palace Hotel, which has witnessed history with its unique architecture, entertaining program, and delightful treats and have an unforgettable New Year’s celebration. You can contact Pera Palace Hotel right away to get detailed information and make a reservation.

 

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