As the year draws to a close, people across the globe prepare to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. New Year’s Eve is one of the most universally celebrated occasions, but how it’s celebrated varies significantly depending on where you are. From fireworks to food, from dancing to superstitions, each culture has its unique way of ringing in the new year. In 2025, whether you’re celebrating in a crowded city square or the comfort of your home, it’s the perfect time to explore some of the fascinating New Year’s Eve traditions around the world.

Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing and meaningful customs that help people across the globe celebrate the arrival of a new year.

1. Watching the Ball Drop in Times Square (USA)

For many, New Year’s Eve wouldn’t be complete without watching the iconic ball drop in New York City’s Times Square. This tradition, which started in 1907, is a spectacle that millions of people tune into every year. The ball, a 12-foot geodesic sphere weighing nearly 12,000 pounds, is covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles and illuminated by more than 32,000 LEDs.

At the stroke of midnight, the ball descends, signaling the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. The event is broadcast to an estimated one billion viewers worldwide, making it one of the most-watched live events. If you’re ever in New York for the occasion, it’s an unforgettable experience, as the crowd’s excitement and the energy in the air are palpable.

2. Eating 12 Grapes (Spain)

In Spain, it is tradition to eat 12 grapes at midnight—one for each stroke of the clock. This practice is believed to bring good luck for the upcoming year. The grapes are eaten as quickly as possible to ensure that each chime is followed by a grape, and some say that the grapes should be eaten in a specific order, based on their significance. The ritual dates back to the late 19th century and is still widely observed across Spain.

In many regions, the tradition is accompanied by a lively celebration with fireworks, music, and parties, making it a joyous way to usher in the new year.

3. Fireworks and Bonfires (Brazil)

In Brazil, New Year’s Eve is called “Reveillon,” and it is one of the country’s most significant holidays. Millions of people flock to the beaches to celebrate with fireworks, music, and dancing. One of the most well-known customs in Brazil is wearing white clothes to symbolize peace and renewal.

In addition to the fireworks, many people also make offerings to Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea in Afro-Brazilian religions. These offerings, often flowers and candles, are placed in the ocean as a way of asking for blessings for the year ahead. Revelers believe that jumping over seven waves—one for each of the divine spirits of the Umbanda religion—will bring them good luck for the year.

4. Smashing Plates (Denmark)

In Denmark, it’s tradition to smash plates on New Year’s Eve. People gather with friends and family to throw old, unused plates against each other’s doors. The bigger the pile of broken dishes on your doorstep, the luckier and more loved you are thought to be. This quirky tradition is a way of banishing bad luck and starting the new year fresh. It’s a fun and somewhat noisy custom, though the cleanup the next day is less glamorous.

5. Jumping from a Chair (Denmark)

In Denmark, there is also another tradition of jumping off a chair at midnight. The leap is symbolic, representing a “jump” into the new year. It’s believed that if you fail to jump, you’ll bring bad luck upon yourself for the coming year. While this might sound a bit strange, it’s an exciting way for Danes to usher in the new year with a sense of renewed energy and optimism.

6. Kissing a Loved One at Midnight (USA, UK, and Germany)

A common tradition in many Western countries, including the USA, the UK, and Germany, is kissing a loved one at midnight. This romantic gesture is believed to ensure that your relationship will remain happy and prosperous in the year to come. The tradition stems from English and German folklore, which believed that the first person you encountered after the stroke of midnight would determine the course of your year. Thus, a kiss from someone you care about is seen as a symbol of a positive and loving year ahead.

7. Eating Round Foods (Italy and the Philippines)

Eating round foods is a popular tradition in both Italy and the Philippines, as round shapes are thought to symbolize coins, wealth, and prosperity. In Italy, lentils are often served as a symbol of good fortune, as they resemble small coins. The tradition goes that the more lentils you eat, the more prosperous the year will be.

In the Philippines, the custom is even more specific—people eat 12 round fruits, one for each month of the year. The round shape represents coins and is said to bring abundance in the coming year. The fruits often take center stage on the table for the “media noche” or midnight meal, which is one of the most important meals of the year.

8. Packing a Suitcase for Travel (Colombia)

In Colombia, there is a unique tradition where people take an empty suitcase and run around the block at midnight. This quirky ritual is believed to ensure that the coming year will be filled with travel and adventure. If you want to have a year full of exciting trips and journeys, this tradition encourages you to literally “run” into the new year. Whether or not you believe in its power, it’s a fun way to start the year on a light-hearted note!

9. Hoppin’ John (USA – Southern States)

In the southern United States, a dish called Hoppin’ John is often served on New Year’s Day. This dish is made from black-eyed peas, pork, and rice, and is believed to bring luck and prosperity for the year ahead. The peas represent coins, the pork symbolizes progress (as pigs root forward), and the rice signifies abundance. In some variations, families add extra pork or place a coin under the dish for an added boost of good fortune.

10. Hitting Bread Against the Walls (Ireland)

In Ireland, an unusual but fascinating tradition involves banging bread against the walls of the home on New Year’s Eve. The loud noise is meant to chase away bad spirits and bring good luck for the year ahead. This tradition has its roots in ancient superstitions, where the noise was thought to drive out negative energy and make room for good fortune.

11. Wearing Colorful Underwear (Latin America)

In many Latin American countries, including Mexico, Brazil, and Ecuador, the color of your underwear on New Year’s Eve is believed to influence your year ahead. Wearing red underwear is said to bring love, yellow is for wealth and good luck, and white is for peace and harmony. It’s a fun and colorful tradition that adds a bit of excitement to the celebrations.

12. Making a Resolution (Global)

The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions dates back more than 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. They believed that the gods would watch over their promises and help them fulfill them in the coming year. Today, people worldwide continue the tradition of making resolutions to improve themselves in the new year, whether it’s to lose weight, learn a new skill, or save money. These resolutions are a way of setting intentions and goals for personal growth in the year ahead.

13. Lucky Charms (Germany and Austria)

In Germany and Austria, it’s common to exchange lucky charms on New Year’s Eve. These charms are small trinkets, such as pigs, horseshoes, or clovers, that are believed to bring good luck. Marzipan pigs, for example, are often gifted as a sweet token of luck. The charm’s symbolism varies from country to country, but the underlying theme is always the same: wishing others a prosperous and fortunate year ahead.

14. Open Doors and Windows (Scotland)

In Scotland, one New Year’s Eve tradition involves opening the doors and windows of your home at midnight. This symbolic act is meant to allow the old year to leave and the new year to enter unimpeded. The Scots believe that it’s important to start the year fresh, and opening doors and windows is a way to ensure that only good things come your way.

Conclusion

New Year’s Eve is a time for celebration, reflection, and hope for the future. Around the world, people celebrate the arrival of the new year with unique traditions, each carrying its own cultural significance. From jumping waves in Brazil to smashing plates in Denmark, the variety of customs highlights the diverse ways in which people connect with their past and look forward to a new beginning.

Whether you’re seeking luck, prosperity, or love in the coming year, these time-honored traditions remind us that New Year’s Eve is a shared moment of joy and renewal, regardless of where we are in the world. So, as you prepare to ring in 2025, why not try a new tradition or two? You might just find a meaningful ritual to carry with you into the future. Happy New Year!