New Year’s Traditions Around the World!

Host Bee on Monday, December 26th, 2011

New Year’s Eve Traditions Around the World!

Noisemakers and champagne comprise the basics of a New Year’s Eve celebration at my home, along with a moment or two for remembering the past year and its special moments. But it’s really interesting to see how this same event is celebrated around the world!

I recently wrote about the South’s tradition of serving the dish Hoppin’ John, which includes black-eyed peas to represent coins or wealth and pork for prosperity. But there are many more fun and interesting traditions from every part of the globe! Perhaps you already observe one of these “good luck” practices in your home or are looking for some new ways to welcome in the New Year!

Holland – Doughnuts are the required food to remind us that we have come “full circle!”
Peru – residents of this country walk around their neighborhood with an empty suitcase to insure travel in the coming year! This would be a pretty funny sight to see!
Portugal/Spain - twelve grapes are eaten, one at each strike of the clock at midnight, for a year’s worth of good luck! Martha Stewart’s clever twist on this tradition is to thread the 12 grapes on a bamboo skewer and serve each in a glass of champagne just before midnight!
Germany – dessert is a marzipan pig, again a symbol of prosperity!
Greece – again to dessert, St. Basil’s Cakes, sweet cakes named for a bishop who was known for his generosity, are served. A coin is baked inside the cake and whoever finds the coin in his slice is said to have good luck in the coming year!
Norway - rice pudding with one lucky almond hidden inside is what this country eats for luck!