What are special New Year's Eve customs in different countries?

Brazil:On New Year's Eve, locals in Brazil dress in white and release white flowers and candles into the sea to pay tribute to Iemanja, a goddess of mothers and children in African mythology.

On New Year's Eve, locals in Brazil wear white and throw white flowers into the sea to the goddess in the hope that she will bring them luck and happiness.

Denmark:In this country, broken dishes are considered lucky. Therefore, people often smash cracked or unused dishes and drop them on the steps of relatives or friends to bring good luck.

Greece:Greek New Year's gifts are stones found on the road. The larger the stone, the richer and more prosperous the recipient will be in the year.

Hungary:People in this country often welcome the new year by burning an effigy or sacrificial object called “Jack Straw”. Burning this effigy means to dispel bad luck and welcome good luck in the new year.

In Hungary, people often welcome the New Year by burning an effigy or sacrificial object called 'Jack Straw.

IDEA:In Italy, on New Year's Eve, no one goes out because of the custom that once the clock strikes 12, people will throw all their old things, broken furniture, even broken beds, onto the streets. According to the old custom: if you throw away all your old things at midnight, then in the new year, you will be able to buy those things brand new.

There is also an interesting custom in Italy that dates back to the Middle Ages. Italians believe that wearing red underwear on the first day of the new year will bring good luck throughout the year.

Scotland:The night before New Year's Day, every Scottish family sprinkles some gold coins right in front of their door. According to the custom here, sprinkling gold coins in front of the door before New Year's Eve, the next day when the New Year comes, opening the door early in the morning and seeing the gold coins will bring good fortune, meaning "seeing prosperity".

New Year's Eve in Scotland is also known as "Candle Night". In preparation for the New Year, people often clean their houses and burn juniper branches and then smoke them throughout the house as a ritual to purify the living space.

On New Year's Eve, the Scots celebrate Hogmanay, a festival in which men parade through the streets carrying large torches, tossing them between their hands and blowing on them. It is believed that these flames will bring light and purity for the new year.

Poland:On this occasion, Polish youth often gather in groups, going to each house to sing Kolota. At the head of this joyful group of young people is always a young man with a black face, holding a guitar, while those who follow are dressed as animals, gods and demons. In many places, the custom is still maintained: girls hold sticks and knock on the houses they meet to drive away all evil and misfortune.

Ecuador:People in this country make effigies and burn them. This tradition is believed to destroy all the bad things of the old year and move towards a brighter, better new year.

Red is the color of luck, prosperity and love. Therefore, Turkish people often buy red underwear to give to their loved ones on New Year's Day.

Wearing red underwear in Türkiye:Wearing red underwear symbolizes good luck for yourself and your loved ones. This is especially popular in Türkiye, where red underwear stores spring up like mushrooms in the last months of the year and are consumed by people at a dizzying rate.

Mass Kissing in Venice:The New Year's Eve custom in St Mark's Square, Venice is known not only for its elaborate and magnificent fireworks displays but also for the mass kissing festival here. Family members, friends and especially couples will flock to St Mark's Square and exchange passionate kisses. Signaling a new year full of happiness.

St Mark's Square is not only known for hosting a huge fireworks display over the square's basin, but it also hosts an exciting and novel mass kissing scene in the square.

Bear dance in Romania:Dancers and people in Romania celebrate the New Year by dressing up as bears and dancing from house to house. People here believe that bears are powerful creatures and have the ability to ward off evil spirits, bringing good luck and prosperity for the new year.

The custom of hanging foxes in America:According to the custom here, people will lock a possum in a cage decorated with flashing lights and hang it high to welcome the new year. Previously, this town was called Possum Snout. This custom has met with strong opposition from animal lovers, in recent years the live possums have been gradually replaced with models of possums.

Celebrating New Year in a cemetery in Chile:In Talca, a small town in Chile, there is a very strange and quirky custom during the New Year. People in Talca celebrate the New Year with their deceased relatives.

In Chile, New Year's Day is the occasion for the entire family of the living to gather at the cemetery to celebrate the New Year with their grandparents and ancestors.

The cemetery doors are opened at 11pm and people bring traditional lamps and candles to create a cozy atmosphere. Talca people believe that the deceased want to celebrate the New Year with their loved ones. This tradition began in 1995, when a local family celebrated the New Year near the grave of their deceased father.

"Smashing" plates at neighbor's door in Denmark:A very strange New Year's tradition in Denmark is to smash plates at the neighbors' doors. This makes them feel happy rather than annoyed. The family with the most broken plates at the door is considered lucky, because it means they have many friends.