
New year is coming!
Have you prepared various knick-knacks, food, fireworks, and snacks to welcome
the new year? Yes, in Indonesia, in general, year's eve celebrations are always
synonymous with fireworks. Usually every family or closest person and friends
will gather to enjoy various foods, play games, and watch fireworks.
Not only in
Indonesia, other countries also have their own New Year's traditions which
might feel unique and interesting because we have never met them in Indonesia!
Come on, see the various unique New Year traditions in various parts of the
world.
The Most Unique New Year Traditions
1. Burning Scarecrow and Running with an empty suitcase – Ecuador
In Ecuador,
people often celebrate New Year's Eve with the tradition of burning scarecrows
in the middle of the night. In addition, they also burned photos taken last
year. These things are believed to bring good luck in the new year, you know!
You will find
sights of people running around housing blocks with empty suitcases, this is common
when celebrating the new year in Ecuador. The tradition of 'maleta vacia; What
is considered strange is believed to be able to make people visit more holiday
destinations.
Ecuadorians
also have another unique tradition during the new year, namely 'Champana'. This
tradition is shown by pouring champagne all over on New Year's Eve to symbolize
prosperity in the new year.
2. Put 12 Grapes in Your Mouth – Spain
Want to get
more luck in the new year? If so, maybe Timoti's friend can try this New Year's
tradition from Spain. In Spain, they believe that if you can put 12 grapes in
your mouth at midnight on New Year's Eve, luck will come your way throughout
the new year.
3.
Ring
the Bell 108 Times – Japan
In Japan, at
the turn of the year each shrine will ring its bell 108 times. In Buddhist
belief this will cleanse everyone because the 108 ringing bells represent the
108 dirty thoughts of humans.
4.
Overnight
in the Grave – Chile
Starting from
a family who broke through the cemetery fence in order to spend the night with
the family who had died on New Year's Eve, this later became a New Year's Eve
tradition in Chilli. The government has begun to open the fences for burial
places or graves so that everyone can spend New Year's Eve with the families
who have left them.
5. Jump into the Frozen Lake – Siberia
For Timoti's
friend who can't stand the cold, lucky you because you don't have to spend New
Year's Eve in Sibera. This is because in Siberia there is a New Year's Eve
tradition where people jump into frozen lakes holding onto a tree branch.
6.
Gift
from First Guest – Scotland
In Scotland,
every first guest to your home is required to give a gift to the host.
Friend Timoti
also has to do the same thing when visiting other people's homes. So,
immediately prepare a new year's gift before visiting a friend's or family's
house, yes.
7.
Eat
Up to 7 Times a Day – Estonia
Like to eat?
If yes, you will love the Estonian new year tradition because here people will
eat 7 times a day during the new year to symbolize abundance during the new
year.
8.
Everything
is Round – Philippines
New Year's
Eve tradition in the Philippines is synonymous with the shape of the moon.
People believe that the round shape symbolizes fortune and luck. So, on New
Year's Eve they will serve a variety of round foods. Fruits that are round in
shape, and also wearing clothes that have round patterns in them.
9.
Pink
Panties – Argentina
For timoti's
friends who are still single, in Argentina they believe that wearing pink
underwear on the new year can bring a soul mate, you know!
In addition,
if you want to get lucky at work, Argentineans will usually eat green beans on
the new year.
10.
New
Year's Bread with Coins – Greece
The tradition
of celebrating the New Year in Greece involves a bread in which coins or a
traditional amulet have been placed in it, called the Vasilopita. The head of
the family will cut bread and distribute it to all family members to bring good
fortune to all family members.
11. Throwing a Plate at the Door – Denmark
Every year
the Danish people will collect plates that are not used throughout the year.
These plates will then be tossed at the doorstep of a relative or closest
friend on New Year's Eve.
More plates
thrown at your door means how many friends you have this time of year.
12.
Melting
Tin for Fortune Telling – Finland
Who is not
curious about what will happen throughout the new year? The Finnish people have
their own way of predicting what will happen in the new year by melting a tin
plate in a basin of water.
The shape of
the tin formed is believed to symbolize a major event that will occur such as
if the tin is shaped like a heart or a ring will mean marriage, the shape of a
ship symbolizes a long journey and the shape of a pig means abundant fortune.
13.
Hanging
onions on the door of the house -Greek
New Year or
Protochronia became the moment for the Greeks to hang onions on the door of the
house. This tradition signifies birth and regrowth.
This unusual
tradition uses sea onions that can grow back by releasing new shoots and
leaves. By hanging onions on the door, the Greeks believed they could bring
good luck in the new year. The next morning, parents would wake their children
up by beating onion bulbs to worship at church.
14.
Second
New Year – Macedonian
In Macedonia,
celebrating New Year's Eve doesn't seem like just once. On January 14th,
Macedonian people celebrate New Year's Eve once again. On this night, generally
adults will give gifts to children.
15.
Throwing
White Flowers into the Ocean – Brazil
On the first
day of the new year, Brazilians throw white flowers into the ocean. This is
done as a tribute to the Goddess of the Ocean. They also believe, the wishes
and hopes that they chant when throwing this white flower can also come true.
16.
Dropping
Ice Cream – Switzerland
Ice cream is
one of my favorite cold snacks. Unfortunately, on New Year's Day in Switzerland
people will drop ice cream on the floor as a symbol of a lucky new year
celebration.
17.
Sprinkling
Salt at Doors – Turkey
If Timoti's
friend celebrates the new year in Turkey, always prepare salt every new year's
celebration. This is because right after the new year's bell rings, Turkish
people will open their doors and sprinkle salt on their doors. It is believed
to bring good luck and abundance to the house.
18.
Colorful
Panties – South America
In Mexico and
several other Latin American countries, your luck will be affected by the color
of the underwear you wear. The red color symbolizes a mate, yellow symbolizes
fortune, and white symbolizes serenity and peace.
Those are
some very unique New Year's traditions from various parts of the world, it may
sound strange and ridiculous to us Indonesians who have never seen or practiced
such traditions. Hopefully in the new year of 2022 all the hopes and
resolutions of my friend Timoti can be achieved. Happy New Year!
1 Comment(s)
Happy new year
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