The Most Interesting New Year's Traditions

By: Alexander Sanchez

By: Alexander Sanchez (Grade 6)

Hello, readers! Many people get excited when the "holidays" are around. What about… New Year's Eve? And what wacky ways have humans created to celebrate such an occasion of a fresh start? Let's dig deep into some of the most fun and interesting traditions that people celebrate.

1. Ball Drop

One of the most popular and famous New Year's Traditions is watching a ball drop at the stroke of midnight. This began in 1907 Times Square where an enormous ball would fall from a building. Last year, the ball contained 32,256 LED lights and weighed over 11,000 pounds! That's one big drop…

2. Jump Seven Waves

Perhaps one of the most exciting and action-packed traditions

lies in the home of the word "party", Brazil! If you visit/live on the beaches of Brazil, you might celebrate the New Year's tradition of jumping seven waves on a surfboard. This festivity comes from the Umbanda religion. You jump a wave for each divine spirit. An added motivation is that for each wave you jump, you get to make a wish! Gosh, I didn't know that spirits would hang ten!

3. Smash a Plate

Ever just want to lob a plate on the ground and see what happens? Well, that's what people in Denmark do to celebrate New Year's. Apparently, they obliterate their plates on someone's doorstep to show that they like you. The more shards you have on your doorstep, the luckier and well-liked you are. That is, until you have to clean it up!

4. Decorate your Door with Onions

In Greece, it's tradition to hang up onions on New Year's Eve. Why onions, you ask? Well, this tear-invoking vegetable is a symbol of prosperity. This is because even though no one pays attention to them, they still sprout. Also, some Greek parents lightly bonk their children's heads with a sack of onions on New Year's day. Poor kids… mainly because of the smell!

5. Eat Round Foods

There are several food New Year's-related traditions, but this one

is by far one of the oddest! In the Philippines, many people eat round foods. They do this to ensure a year of abundance. The round foods are served in the middle of the table as the media noche, also known as the midnight meal.

6. Color Code your Underwear

Some countries, usually in Latin America, believe that wearing different colored underwear on New Year's Eve will bring them certain wishes. Here are some examples: yellow brings you luck, red brings you love, and white undergarments bring you peace. What would happen if they were brown?!

7. Eat Twelve Grapes

In Spain, it is believed that you will have good luck if you eat a grape at each stroke of midnight. Count that up, and that would be 12! Watch out,

though, for if you fail to do so, you will have an entire year of misfortune. As you can see, this is a very common occurrence on New Year's Eve. Just watch out with how fast you eat those grapes, because nobody wants to do CPR on New Year's Eve!

After reading about all of these traditions, which one will you celebrate next? Will you surf with the spirits in Brazil, or put on white undies in search of world peace? New Year's is just around the corner, so get ready to have a party! Also, try to make up your own traditions, or celebrate a family one! See you… next year!

Sources:

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/g25360543/new-year-traditions/