New Year's around the world.

My girls were a little more interested in traditions and celebrations for the new year and how it is celebrated around the world so we looked it up and found a lot of really interesting traditions and a few things we found odd but since they do not apply to us, that is okay by me.

We started in Australia since that is our current country of study.

An estimated 1.6 million Aussies will watch a fireworks display over the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor. The fireworks are a symbol of crossing over to the new year and marks the end of the old year.

In Denmark, the New Year is greeted by Danes throwing old plates and glasses against the doors of friends' or relatives' houses. They also stand on chairs and jump off of them together at midnight as they are "leaping" into January.  They believe it helps to banish bad spirits and bring them good luck.  I tried this so we will see.

In Panama, they make Effigies which simply means they fashion a sculpture or dummy (like a scarecrow) that resembles a person they hate and then, they burn them in a bonfire.  This one I like.  They also burn old photographs.

In Spain, they eat 12 grapes, one grape for each stroke on the clock as the clock strikes midnight.  Each grape is supposed to signify good luck for each month of the new year.  They also wear red underwear for good luck.

In Chile, people spend the night in graveyards at the site of loved ones.

The Irish will strike the walls with bread to ward off evils spirits.

In Scotland, they believe the first person who crosses over the threshold of their home should basically bring them a gift for good luck.  The gift usually is a bottle of whiskey.

In Estonia, the people try to eat seven meals that day to ensure an abundance of food for the coming year.

In Thailand, they hold a three day water fight.

In South Africa if you are out in downtown Johannesburg, make sure to keep your head up as many South Africans toss out their old appliances, toss them right out of their windows that is. OUCH!

In Romania, the people try to hear an animal speak (like an animal whisperer).  If they do, it is a bad omen.

In Italy, they also wear red underwear for good luck, and in Venice, they hold a mass kissing session.

In Siberia, Russia, people jump into frozen lakes while carrying a tree trunk in with them.  The point is to go to the bottom and plant the tree for the new year.

We brought in the new year with the traditional black-eyed peas, green leafy vegetables, and cornbread.  We did not wear red underwear, throw appliances out the window, or break all of our dishes afterwards.  I am confident that we can go ahead and cross sleeping in a cemetery off our list too.

Happy New Year!

Read more:
CBC world news
Huffington Post