Global Good Luck Traditions
In Spain, people eat 12 of these at midnight for good luck — one for each month of the coming year.
What are grapes?
In Italy, eating lentils on New Year’s symbolizes this round object associated with wealth.
What are coins?
ew York City is famous for dropping this glowing object in Times Square at midnight.
What is the New Year’s ball?
In many Latin countries, people wear red underwear on New Year’s Eve to attract this.
What is love?
This country celebrates Songkran, a massive water festival marking the New Year in April.
What is Thailand?
In the southern United States, eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day symbolizes this.
What is good fortune / prosperity?
Koreans celebrate the Lunar New Year by eating this rice cake soup that symbolizes a fresh start.
What is tteokguk? "tuck-kook"
In Scotland’s Hogmanay celebration, the first person to enter your home after midnight is known as this.
What is the first-footer?
In Brazil, wearing white symbolizes this — a wish for the year ahead.
What is peace?
This country’s Lunar New Year parade features lion dances, firecrackers, and red lanterns.
What is China?
In Japan, people listen for these 108 bell rings from Buddhist temples on New Year’s Eve.
What are joya no kane?
n Greece, families cut a sweet bread called Vasilopita, which hides one of these for luck.
What is a coin?
In Japan, families send these decorative postcards to arrive on January 1.
What are nengajo? "Nay-n-gah-joe"
In Turkey, opening the door at midnight symbolizes letting this enter the home.
What is good luck?
In Scotland, people celebrate Hogmanay by singing this famous song at midnight.
What is “Auld Lang Syne”?
In Denmark, smashing these household items on someone’s doorstep is said to bring them luck.
What are plates?
In Japan, families enjoy this traditional miso-based soup with rice cakes as part of their New Year celebration.
What is ozoni?
In China, the New Year celebration includes loud firecrackers to chase away this mythical creature.
What is Nian or dragon?
In Italy, people toss this item out the window to symbolize leaving the past behind.
What is old furniture or belongings?
This country celebrates Nowruz the Persian New Year with fire-jumping, special foods, and the “haft-seen” table.
What is Iran?
In Brazil, many people jump over seven of these at the beach to honor the sea goddess Yemayá.
What are waves?
In the Philippines, families prepare exactly 12 of these to attract good luck for each month of the year.
What are round fruits?
In Ecuador, at the stroke of midnight, people burn large effigies called Año Viejos to symbolize this.
What is letting go of the old year?
In several Caribbean nations, people throw buckets of this out the door at midnight to cleanse the home spiritually.
What is water?
Ethiopia celebrates its own New Year, Enkutatash, in this month instead of January.
What is September?