As the last evening of 2025 falls, clocks all over the world start moving towards 2026 simultaneously. Somewhere fireworks color the sky, somewhere there is music and parties, and somewhere people bid farewell to the old year sitting with their families. But the interesting thing is that the celebration of New Year is not the same in every country.
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Different cultures have unique and fun traditions to mark new beginnings. Come, let’s go on this global journey of the New Year and know how 2026 is welcomed in different corners of the world.
New Year in Denmark is a bit noisy. Here people keep old plates and utensils throughout the year. On New Year’s Eve, these utensils are broken at the doors of friends and neighbours. The more broken the door is, the stronger it is considered to be a sign of friendship and good fortune. Here, broken plates are not a sign of quarrel, but a sign of love and affection.
In Scotland the celebration of New Year is known as ‘Hogmanay’. Here the first person who steps into the house after midnight is called ‘first foot’. It is believed that this person decides the fate of the whole year. If he is a man with dark hair and brings coal, bread or whiskey, then prosperity and happiness come to the house.
In Spain, as soon as the clock strikes midnight, people get ready with 12 grapes placed on their plates. One grape is eaten at each strike of the clock. The belief is that each grape represents a month of the coming year. For those who eat all the 12 grapes on time, the whole year is filled with happiness and good fortune. This scene is so funny that many people are seen laughing and counting grapes.
