New Year’s Eve is a time for reflection, celebration, and new beginnings, but how people welcome the coming year varies dramatically across cultures.

From symbolic foods to festive rituals, New Year’s traditions reveal the unique ways different countries prepare for the future while honoring their heritage. Here’s a deeper look into some extraordinary cultural customs, along with additional traditions that illustrate the diversity of celebrations across the globe.

Chile – A Fresh Start for a Fresh Year

For many people in Chile, New Year’s Eve is all about cleansing—both figuratively and literally. It begins with a thorough cleaning of the house, symbolizing a desire to wash away the negativity and challenges of the past year. But the process doesn’t stop there. Chileans often take it a step further by burning items they no longer need or want, items that represent aspects of the past they’re ready to leave behind.

This powerful act of release reflects a cultural emphasis on renewal and new beginnings. By creating an uncluttered space, both physically and emotionally, Chileans prepare themselves to welcome prosperity and positivity into the coming year. Additionally, thousands gather in cities like Valparaíso to watch spectacular fireworks displays that light up the summer sky—a stark contrast to the wintry scenes associated with New Year’s celebrations in the Northern Hemisphere.

Philippines – Polka Dots and Prosperity

New Year’s traditions in the Philippines are steeped in symbolism, with circles playing a central role. Wearing polka dots is believed to bring good luck and wealth, as the circle evokes the image of coins, a symbol of prosperity.

This playful and colorful tradition is often accompanied by another financial ritual—filling wallets and purses with money before midnight to invite abundance in the year ahead.

At the stroke of midnight, noise fills the air as fireworks and firecrackers ward off evil spirits, a belief rooted in superstition. Other families may bang pots and pans or blow horns to amplify the noise. For Filipinos, New Year’s Eve is a boisterous, joyous time when traditions blend hopefulness with fun.

Another popular practice involves serving a table full of twelve round fruits, further symbolizing prosperity, and creating dishes made with sticky rice—believed to strengthen family bonds in the coming months.

Scotland – Hogmanay and First-Footing

Scotland’s New Year’s celebrations, known as Hogmanay, are legendary, spanning multiple days and brimming with tradition. One of the most iconic customs is first-footing. According to this tradition, the first person to enter your home after the clock strikes midnight should ideally be a dark-haired male, bringing symbolic gifts such as coal (a wish for warmth), whisky (celebration), and shortbread (food and prosperity).

This practice is deeply rooted in history, believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead. The origins of first-footing stretch back to ancient Viking invasions, as it was thought that a blonde visitor might signify danger. Since then, the tradition has evolved into a cheerful and thoughtful way of welcoming neighbors and friends into the new year.

Scotland’s Hogmanay festivities also include fire ceremonies, such as the Stonehaven Fireballs procession, where people swing blazing fireballs above their heads while parading through the streets. The fire symbolizes purification and the burning away of the old year to usher in the new. Music, dancing, and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” complete the celebrations, a heartwarming reminder of Scotland’s contributions to global New Year’s customs.

Japan – Oshogatsu and Symbolic Foods

The Japanese welcome the new year with Oshogatsu, a holiday centered around family, reflection, and goodwill. Preparation begins before January 1st, with many people thoroughly cleaning their homes to remove bad luck from the past year—a practice similar to Chile’s.

During this time, people may also hang shimekazari, rope-shaped decorations made of straw, at doorways to ward off evil spirits and invite good fortune.

Once the clean slate is ready, the focus turns to food and meaningful practices. The first meal of the year typically includes osechi ryori, a beautifully arranged bento box of foods, each carrying symbolic meaning. For example, black beans are eaten for health, shrimp signify longevity, and herring roe represents fertility.

Another cherished tradition is the ringing of Buddhist temple bells 108 times, a solemn and meditative act meant to cleanse participants of human vices such as greed or anger. This ritual, known as Joya no Kane, prepares people to step forward into the new year with clarity and peace.

Spain – Luck in Every Grape

Spaniards have one of the most charming—and time-sensitive—New Year’s traditions in the world. Known as Las doce uvas de la suerte (the twelve lucky grapes), this tradition requires eating one grape for every chime of the clock at midnight. Each grape represents a month of the coming year, and the act of eating them successfully within the twelve strokes is believed to bring good fortune.

Though it sounds simple, many people struggle to finish their grapes on time, resulting in laughter and good-natured competition. This beloved custom dates back to the early 20th century, when grape growers in Spain’s Alicante region promoted the practice to sell surplus crops. Today, it remains a delightful and meaningful way for Spaniards to unite and welcome the new year with optimism.

Brazil – Jumping Waves and Wearing White

On New Year’s Eve in Brazil, cities buzzing with energy draw millions of revelers to beaches like Copacabana for dramatic firework displays and festive celebrations. Many people wear white outfits to symbolize peace and harmony, while others jump over seven ocean waves, one for each wish or resolution they have for the new year.

This tradition is rooted in Afro-Brazilian religious practices honoring Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea. Flowers and gifts are offered to the waves as people seek Iemanjá’s blessings for a prosperous year.

This powerful combination of spiritual reflection and cultural celebration makes Brazil’s New Year’s traditions a joyous, colorful spectacle.

Italy – Red Underwear and Lentils

Italians have their own quirky New Year’s custom—wearing red underwear on December 31st. The color red symbolizes love, passion, and prosperity, making it a popular choice for starting the year on a positive note. This lighthearted tradition is often paired with another important ritual—eating lentils at midnight.

Lentils, shaped like tiny coins, represent luck and wealth in Italian culture. Families often serve them alongside cotechino (a spiced pork sausage) or zampone (stuffed pig’s trotter), as pork is associated with progress and abundance. These hearty dishes reflect the Italian love of blending symbolic meaning with delicious food.

South Africa – Tossing Away the Old

Few traditions are as literal as South Africa’s custom of throwing out unwanted furniture and belongings come New Year’s Eve. This practice, prominent in certain areas like Johannesburg’s Hillbrow neighborhood, symbolizes purging the bad memories and struggles of the year gone by.

While this ritual can sometimes escalate into extreme and even hazardous displays, for many South Africans, it carries a liberating sense of renewal. Alongside these unique acts, the country also celebrates with fireworks, music, and dancing, blending tradition and joy.

Celebrating the World’s Diversity

From the grape-filled dining rooms of Spain to polka-dotted parties in the Philippines and Scotland’s fiery Hogmanay festivals, New Year’s Eve is a truly global celebration of hope and renewal. These cultural customs reflect the universal desire to welcome the future with positivity while honoring past traditions. Each country adds its flair to this turning-of-the-page moment, reminding us of the beauty and diversity that define our shared humanity.

Wherever and however you celebrate, may the coming year bring prosperity, health, and happiness—along with a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of global traditions that make New Year’s so unique. Cheers to new beginnings!