Ten Strange New Year's Traditions From Around The World

http://www.neatorama.com/2015/12/31/Ten-Strange-New-Years-Traditions-From-Around-The-World-2/

A few of my favorites...

1. In Ecuador They Burn Effigies-

In Ecuador it is traditional for people to burn effigies of their enemies on New Year's Eve, to destroy the bad energy from the previous year and start the new year off with a clean slate...on which to write names of new enemies.





2. In South Africa They Throw Old Appliances Out The Window

South Africans carry on traditions they brought to Africa with them from Europe, including one smashing good tradition they share with the Italians of throwing old household goods out the window.

It's not uncommon to see old appliances and furniture being thrown out of windows in Johannesburg, signifying it's time to throw out the old and usher in the new.


4. In Russia They Drink Their Wishes-



The Russian New Year's tradition is probably the most normal entry on this list, but it's still strange compared to your run-of-the-mill eating some grapes or kissing a loved one traditions.

Russian celebrants write their wish on a piece of paper, then they burn the paper with a candle and scoop the ashes into their champagne, drinking it down to make sure their wishes come true.



5. In Mexico They Wear Red Underwear And Carry Around Empty Luggage-

Mexico has lots of strange New Year's traditions they share with other countries in Central and South America, because of their common Spanish heritage.

Two of the most colorful traditions are the carrying of an empty piece of luggage around town, to bring lots of travel in the new year, and wearing a new pair of underwear in an appropriate color, with red signifying luck in love and gold signifying prosperity.


8. In Germany They Watch "Dinner For One" On TV

The oddball German tradition of watching an old British TV comedy sketch called "Dinner For One" on New Year's Eve is said to have begun in 1972, but the origins of this tradition are unknown.

But that doesn't stop eager Germans from working the obscure short film into their New Year's Eve schedules every year, eagerly reciting the lines from a short few remember.



9. In Scotland They Hurl Balls Of Fire-


The Scottish people are fiery folks, so it makes sense that their New Year's tradition would involve a warlike ceremony and the hurtling of something that's on fire.

One of the most spectacular parts of the Hogmanay celebration in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire is the swinging of a fireball, made from chicken wire and newspapers.

The townspeople walk down the street swinging the fireball, ending the ceremony by hurtling their fireballs into the harbour.