New Year’s Eve around the world

New Year’s Eve is a universal celebration, but each culture and place in the world commemorates it with very particular rituals, traditions and parties. From eating grapes at midnight to throwing old objects out the window.

Do you want to know how it’s celebrated around the world? We’ll tell you!

Catalonia and Spain: twelve grapes.

In Catalonia and Spain, the tradition consists of eating twelve grapes to the rhythm of the twelve chimes that announce midnight on December 31. Each grape symbolizes a month of the year that we are starting and eating them all without stumbling guarantees good luck.

Italy: lentil dinner.

In Italy, eating lentils during New Year’s Eve dinner is a widespread tradition. These legumes are said to bring wealth and prosperity.

Philippines: circle of Prosperity.

In the Philippines, people believe that round objects symbolize wealth and abundance. So they dress in clothes with moons or circles, and tables are filled with round fruits like grapes, apples, and oranges.

Japan: bells and noodles.

In Japan, New Year’s Eve is known as “Oshōgatsu.” Buddhist temples ring bells 108 times to symbolize the purification of 108 earthly desires. It is also typical to eat “toshikoshi soba,” a noodle soup that represents long life and breaking free from the hardships of the year that is ending.

Brazil: offerings to the sea and fireworks.

In Brazil, New Year’s Eve is celebrated on the beaches, especially in Copacabana. People wear white to attract peace and good fortune and throw flowers and small offerings into the sea in honor of Yemayà, the goddess of the sea. Fireworks light up the sky as people dance and celebrate.

Denmark: broken plates and jumping from chairs .

The Danes have a peculiar tradition: breaking old dishes in front of friends and family’s doors to bring good luck. The more broken dishes you have, the more loved you are. Also, at midnight they jump off chairs to literally “enter” the new year.

Vol de Coloms: flying in a balloon.

In addition to the grapes at Vol de Coloms, we also say goodbye to the year with an early morning hot air balloon flight. We have to say goodbye to the year from high up.

You know, then:

CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE IN THE BEST WAY

New Year’s Eve from the balloon here!

Give the gift of a hot air balloon ride here

More information on where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Spain here!