Pomegranate smashing to wave jumping, new year traditions believed to bring good luck

As the clock inches towards midnight on December 31, Spaniards prepare for one of the most recognisable new year’s rituals in the world, known as ‘Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte.’ When the clock strikes 12, people eat one grape for each chime, a tradition believed to bring good fortune for every month of the year ahead.

In Greece, one of the most significant new year’s traditions is centred around the pomegranate, a fruit associated with prosperity, fertility and abundance. In the days leading up to new year’s eve, pomegranates are hung near the front door. Just before midnight, the lights inside the house are switched off, and everyone steps outside. As the new year begins, a chosen person enters the home first, stepping in with their right foot. Soon after, a pomegranate is smashed at the entrance, and the way its seeds scatter is said to indicate how fortunate the household will be in the coming year.

Another Greek tradition involves hanging an onion by the front door. Dating back to ancient times, the onion symbolises rebirth and regeneration, admired for its ability to grow even when neglected. Hung after new year’s day church services, it is believed to encourage growth, prosperity and protection from negativity throughout the year.

Across the Atlantic, Brazil’s new year celebrations are closely tied to the sea. Many people — particularly followers of the Umbanda religion — dress in white and head to the beach. As midnight approaches, they step into the ocean and jump over seven waves, each representing a heavenly spirit. It is believed that every wave grants a wish.

In Cuba, new year’s eve is about clearing out the past, quite literally. As midnight nears, households throw buckets of water out of their front doors, symbolising the act of washing away bad luck, misfortune and negative energy from the old year. This ritual is preceded by an extensive cleaning of the home, with the water used for mopping and scrubbing saved and flung out at midnight to mark a fresh beginning.

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Colombia’s new year traditions add an element of quiet suspense. Families place three potatoes under beds — one peeled, one unpeeled and one half-peeled. At midnight, people reach under without looking and pick one. The potato chosen is believed to predict their financial fortunes: unpeeled for prosperity, peeled for financial difficulty, and half-peeled for a year of mixed outcomes.

In Russia, just before midnight, people write down a wish, burn the paper, drop the ashes into a glass of champagne and drink it immediately after the clock strikes twelve. The ritual is believed to increase the chances of the wish coming true in the year ahead.

Argentina focuses on beginnings through a simple yet symbolic act. As the new year arrives, many people ensure that their first step is taken with the right foot, a gesture believed to invite good luck, success and positive outcomes.

In the Philippines, new year’s eve tables are carefully arranged with 12 round fruits, each representing a month of the year. Their round shape symbolises prosperity, and the fruits are prominently displayed during the midnight meal to attract abundance throughout the coming months.

In many parts of the world, people mark the arrival of the new year by banging pots and pans at midnight. The noise is believed to ward off evil spirits and negative energy, clearing the way for a peaceful and happy year ahead.

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(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)