What will you be doing on New Year’s Eve? A New Year fills people with so much hope, and they want good luck, wealth, to find love or change their lives in some way. This desires to a lot of traditions that you can learn from so you can make your 2026 wishes come true.
While in many African countries people may be spending the New Year in church praying or, as they say, “crossing over”, these are some New Year’s Eve traditions from around the world. 
1. 12 Grapes of Luck – Spain
In Spain, they eat 12 grapes at each clock strike until midnight for prosperity; sweetness predicts wealth and fortune in the new year. Some women do it in hopes of finding love.
2. Mistletoe and Bread – Ireland
Single ladies who are looking for love can place mistletoe under pillows in hopes of finding Mr Right. However, if you want to chase away bad luck, the Irish people bang bread against walls.
3. Smashing Plates – Denmark
Imagine your neighbour smashing plates against neighbours for good luck? Well, that means you live in Denmark. Larger broken pieces signify more luck and friendship.
4. Scarecrow Burning – Ecuador
In this country, they burn effigies of notable figures at midnight to cleanse ill-fortune from the previous year.
ALSO READ: 7 Countries That Don’t Celebrate New Year on January 1st
5. Wear Colourful Underwear – Latin America
Can underwear bring good luck? Well, in Latin America, the colour of underwear attracts specific fortunes, with red for love, yellow for wealth, and white for peace.
6. Tossing Furniture Out of the Window – Italy:
Be careful if you live in Italy. A couch may be hurled on your head. They throw old furniture from balconies to signify a fresh start, but they primarily throw small items to avoid injuries.
7. 108 Rings (Joya-no-kane) – Japan
If you hear a lot of bells ringing as you count down to the New Year, congrats, you are in Japan. Ringing bells in Buddhist temples at midnight to dispel 108 evil passions and cleanse sins from the past year.
8. Round Things – Philippines
Surrounding oneself with round items like grapes and coins to symbolise wealth for the new year.
9. First Footing – Scotland
The first person to enter a home after midnight brings gifts for luck; traditionally a dark-haired male is chosen.
10. Carp Scales – Germany
Here’s how the Germans ensure they have a steady flow of wealth: eating carp on New Year’s Eve and keeping a scale in the wallet; removing it is considered unlucky.
Which one of these traditions will you be trying out?
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