Atixo NEWsfeed

18.12.2019
New Year's Eve around the world
All years again
Christmas is almost over. Now we panic about what we do on New Year's Eve or simply: a typical 31.12 every year. Either we belong to the group "I already know in October what I do at New Year's Eve" or to the group "Oops Tonight it's already so far." Although our contribution is rather written for the second group in terms of time, we would also ask the advance planners to read it, because:


MOST INTERNATIONAL NEW YEAR'S EVE CUSTOMS DO NOT REQUIRE LONG PLANNING AND/OR IMPLEMENTATION!


We have compiled a list of the most traditional, most romantic, most questionable and/or most interesting New Year's Eve rituals. We think that some of them are worth bringing into our sphere this year, or rather into our household. For the sake of simplicity we have chosen an alphabetical list and given you a possible preparation time should you want to take the custom this year to your New Year's Eve celebration. Let's go:

#Argentina: How we would like to take up this tradition! On the last day of the year, the Argentinians will shred all documents from the year now ending! Just the idea of destroying everything sounds heavenly to us! At noon, these snippets are simply thrown out of the window and away are all the old burdens. Preparation time: 30-120 minutes, depending on the amount of documents.

#Brazil: Brazilians wear white. White over, white under, white everywhere. And new. There must be nothing on the body that has been worn before. This should symbolize a pure, immaculate new beginning into the following year. Some regions also put candles in the sand (on the beach) which should guarantee money, peace and love in the New Year. Preparation time: 8 hours for shoppers, 1 hour for non-shoppers.

#Bulgaria: Here our Grey Velvet team should spend New Year's Day as it seems to us, because blows on the back with the Survatschka, a decorated branch of the cornel cherry tree, should bring health and wealth. On New Year's Eve men in fur costumes walk around as Kukeri monsters and drive away evil spirits. Preparation time: for men up to 7 days, for women 0 days.

#China: A country in search of love as it seems. Traditionally unmarried Chinese throw mandarins into the sea. Alternatively, the nearby river or pond is sufficient. Thus the mandarin throwers hope for the great happiness of love in the new year. Preparation time: 10 minutes

#Czech Republic: Lentils are served here again like in Italy. But since they are then interested in the fate of the coming year, an apple is halved. The core is very important. If the cores form a cross, it means disaster; if they form a star, it means happiness. So that it runs well also financially seen in the New Year, lentils are eaten again at midnight. Preparation time: with food approx. 1 hour, without food 5 minutes

#Denmark: Shards bring luck and a jump from the chair even more so. What we Germans know as "Polterabend" is New Year's Eve for the Danes. The more broken crockery you have in front of your front door, the more luck the New Year will bring you! And with the first beat of the clock of the new year we jump from a chair to double our luck. Preparation time: approx. 10 minutes

#Ecuador: Dolls are made here. These are often filled with firecrackers and can be witch pictures or mascots of unpopular politicians. So they want to get rid of all bad things to make room for the good in the new year. Preparation time: 15 minutes up to 3 days

#Italy: in Italy you save your wallet on the night of the New Year. Traditionally we eat knuckle of pork with lentils. And while you're sitting at the table together, everyone knows what's next to you under your wardrobe: red! Boxer shorts, panties, bra, socks, whatever. The main thing is red. That's how tradition wants it. We think there is worse than imagining your companion in red underwear (in most cases!) Preparation time: with food about 5 hours, without food see Brazil

#Japan: clean! the "old filth" of the houses is cleaned away and decorated with flowers and pines to frighten away the evil spirits. Then, at midnight, the bells of the Buddhist temples strike exactly 108 times. Each chime is supposed to drive away the 108 sins of the people. The New Year's morning of the Japanese is a bit curious, but no risk no fun. Japanese try to eat a Japanese Kloβ named Monchi unchewed. The aim is a long and happy life. During the attempt, however, tragic incidents occur again and again, because people get stuck in the throat of Kloβ. Allegedly even people should have died in the process. Preparation time: more than 8 hours

#Lithuania: Also here it is about the only true and great love. In any case, names are written on twelve small pieces of paper (f/m/d). A thirteenth piece of paper remains unlabeled. These notes are put under the pillow for the bed rest. Without cheating! In the morning a piece of paper is taken out under the pillow, tadaaaa: the name of the great and true love. If there is no name on the note: congratulations, you will remain single in the new year! Preparation time: 10 minutes

#Mexico: Mexicans want to travel and light things on fire. burn, baby, burn. They hope to travel through a suitcase in front of the door. So they just put their own suitcase in front of the front door until New Year's morning (you could just pack it and travel, but that's the tradition). What's more beautiful is that the Mexicans make dolls beforehand and decorate them lovingly before burning them. The doll here symbolizes the past year. Preparation time: 15 minutes up to 3 days

#Russia: Unlike in Western countries, the Russian Orthodox Church does not celebrate New Year's Eve until the night of 12 to 13 January because of the Julian calendar. But back to the custom. You write a wish on a piece of paper and burn it. Attention: Pick up ashes! These ashes are now thrown into champagne (what else). If this glass is drunk now up to point midnight, the burned desire is fulfilled in the coming year. Preparation time: 5 minutes

#Scotland: This is hoping for other people. Shortly after midnight a big young man stands in the best case with a bottle of whiskey (very likeable as we think), a raisin bread and a piece of black coal in front of the door. If you then invite him in, you'll be lucky for the whole next year. Preparation time: none up to 6 hours

#Spain: The Spaniards, the funny people, probably all have big mouths and too many grapes. It is customary here to put a grape, including a secret wish, into one's mouth at every chime that initiates the New Year. Yes, without chewing and swallowing! whoever makes it may hope for the fulfilment of his wishes, whoever does not make it must reckon with misfortune in the new year. Preparation time: 5 minutes

#USA (southern states): Yeah, lenses here too! Since the legumes show a certain similarity to coins, the consumption should bring luck and a money blessing in the new year. In parts of Pennsylvania, where many Germans used to settle, sauerkraut is a traditional New Year's Eve dish. Preparation time: 45 minutes

#USA: nothing goes out! on New Year's Eve nothing is allowed to leave the house, not even the full garbage bag. If you don't stick to it, you're in for bad luck next year. Preparation time: none

#Vietnam: Probably the fish's favourite country on New Year's Eve. Since a god lives in every house and every year, he must somehow come back to heaven to report about good and bad things of the household. There remains only one logical conclusion: Gods ride on carp to heaven (carp get these long, fine moustaches, which remind of dragons, when they get old. Vietnamese therefore believe that carp can turn into dragons). So on New Year's Eve a carp is bought and left to swim in a water. The God can then travel to heaven with joy. Preparation time: 20 minutes


As you can see there are some really beautiful traditions in the world and we certainly don't know them all yet. But we can also find traditions from other countries that are allowed to come to us on New Year's Eve and we are sure to have a lot of fun at the New Year's Eve.

As this was our last contribution this year, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful, perhaps intercultural, New Year's Eve, Merry Christmas and we look forward to welcoming you as readers again next year! All the best, stay lively, healthy and let it crack!

 PS: Fireworks are completely overrated.


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