From fireworks to group singsongs, late bedtimes for kids and lie-ins for sore heads the next day, the UK loves a celebration. But while we clasp hands and sing an out-of-tune rendition of Auld Lang Syne, how does the rest of the world celebrate the new year?

South America

Have you got a pair of lucky pants? Well, if you live in Mexico, Brazil or Bolivia, NYE is the day/night to put your fave undies on to determine your fortune for the year ahead. Those hoping for a bit of wealth should wear yellow pants, while others hoping to find love need to don a pair of red knickers. White pants are all about inner peace and calm.

Spain

At the stroke of midnight, many Spanish people will chow down on grapes – 12 to be exact. The aim is to eat the grapes before the clock stops chiming so you can enjoy a lucky year ahead. If you don’t finish the grapes before the last chime, you might as well go to bed as tradition states you won’t have a good year to come.

Denmark

While we know our Greek friends like to smash plates at weddings, it’s also a New Year tradition for folks in Denmark. They smash plates outside the homes of friends, family and other loved ones to bring luck. The more smashed ceramics someone has outside their home the next morning, the more luck they will have.

Some Danish people also jump off chairs at the stroke of midnight, literally leaping into the new year.

Italy

There are lots of weird and wonderful traditions carried out by Italians, and one of the strangest is in Naples, where people throw furniture out the window or off the balcony. Most people stick to soft furnishings (thank goodness), as hurling them out of the home symbolises starting afresh for the next 12 months.  

Greece

You can’t start your NYE celebrations in Greece until you’ve hung a string of onions outside your house. Onions are ancient symbols of fertility as they’ll sprout new roots if they don’t make it into your curry or salad. So, hanging onions represents rebirth and starting afresh for the new year. 

Happy New Year to all our readers from the team at Cooke & Co Estate and Letting Agents .

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