Explore New Year traditions worldwide, from Spain's 12 grapes to Japan's 108 chimes. Discover meanings and easy rituals to try at home for a lucky start.
New Year is a holiday the world over. People take stock, make wishes and hope the next twelve months turn out kinder. The ways we mark the moment couldn’t be more different: some keep it intimate with family, others flood the streets for an all-night celebration. We picked out memorable traditions from around the globe—some may be worth adopting at home.
In Spain, New Year’s Eve is known as Nochevieja, essentially Old Night. The best-known ritual is eating 12 grapes at midnight, one with each chime of the clock. It is believed to bring luck for every month ahead. The custom dates back to 1909, when grape growers, facing a bumper harvest, devised a way to sell more fruit—and the habit stuck.
Many also put on red underwear, seen as a nudge toward romance. Celebrations usually begin at home, but after midnight people pour into the streets and gather in central squares—Puerta del Sol in Madrid is a favorite—to welcome the year together.
Italians call New Year Capodanno. Red underwear shows up here too, worn for good luck. In some regions, people once threw old belongings out the window to bid farewell to the past; it happens less now, but the spirit of clearing space for what’s next remains.
There is also a belief that kisses at midnight on a bridge or by the water help love along. The night itself is joyous—fireworks, long dinners, dancing until dawn—an easy reminder that celebration can be a promise to yourself as much as a party.
In Greece, New Year coincides with the day of Saint Basil, who brings gifts to children. Families serve vasilopita, a special cake with a coin baked inside. Whoever finds it is considered the luckiest in the coming year.
Another custom is to smash a pomegranate on the doorstep to invite happiness and abundance—the more seeds that scatter, the better. Many also spend the night playing board games and cards, where an early win is taken as a promising sign.
In Scotland, New Year’s festivities are known as Hogmanay. A tradition called First Footing says the first person to cross a home’s threshold after midnight brings luck. Ideally, that guest is a dark-haired man carrying a treat, a coin and a piece of coal.
Scots love firelit processions and fireworks, and they sing the song Auld Lang Syne, a nod to times gone by. Edinburgh stages the celebrations on a grand scale, with thousands packing the streets.
In Denmark, friends smash plates at each other’s doors on New Year’s—a pile of shards at your threshold is read as a sign of affection and respect.
Before midnight, people tune in to the queen’s speech. At the stroke of twelve, they jump off a chair to quite literally leap into the new year, then serve a marzipan cake shaped like a tower, considered a symbol of happiness.
In Japan, New Year is a deeply important family holiday. Before it arrives, homes get a thorough cleaning to clear out anything negative. At midnight, people head to temples for 108 bell chimes, each tied to a human desire to be released.
Festive osechi dishes are served, each with its own meaning. New Year’s postcards are sent so they arrive precisely on January 1. In the first days of the year, many visit shrines to make wishes and buy charms for good luck.
The Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, usually landing in late January or February. The centerpiece is a family reunion dinner with dishes like dumplings, fish and rice balls, each symbolizing something—wealth, luck, unity.
Children receive red envelopes with money. Red and noise—fireworks, firecrackers—are meant to drive away evil spirits. Streets fill with parades featuring dragon and lion dances.
The festival lasts 15 days and concludes with the Lantern Festival, when people release glowing lanterns into the sky with their wishes.
In the Philippines, round shapes and loud sounds are thought to invite wealth and ward off bad luck. Homes are adorned with circular items, tables set with 12 round fruits, and outfits often feature polka dots.
At midnight, people bang spoons on pots, set off firecrackers and whistle. Children jump to grow taller. Doors and windows are opened to let good fortune in, and some jingle coins in their hands for prosperity.
In India’s cities, January 1 arrives with unabashed festivity—parties, dancing, fireworks. People exchange sweets and flowers, share greetings and wish one another well.
Across the country, many regions also observe their own New Year festivals tied to harvests and faith. In the south it is Pongal, in the north Vaisakhi, in the east Pohela Boishakh. Homes are dressed with flowers and candles, colorful rangoli patterns appear on the floor, festive dishes are prepared and prayers are offered in temples.
However you greet the turn of the year, one thread runs through it all: hope. Some sing, some pray, some make joyful noise and dance, but everywhere the aim is the same—to leave the old behind and start with a clean slate. Trying a new ritual at home can set the tone for the months ahead; who knows, it might even bring a little luck.