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| Her: "Meh, seems legit." [source] |
The bringing in of the new year has a long and rather interesting history... yet, it's a very ambiguous eve to date and give a history to, considering that each calender has it's own version of it. January 1 is merely our means to ring in a new start to the Gregorian calender, but in the Chinese calender it falls somewhere between January 20th and February 20th and in Ethiopia it could be on September 12th.
Either way you look at it though, each person and every culture has their little traditions they celebrate on the day. I don't necessarily mean just getting shit-faced, that's one that we all share I imagine, but I mean the strange and slightly obscure traditions and superstitions everyone has.
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| Ahhhh, tradition [source] |
Spain - Eating 12 grapes at 12.
A strange tradition indeed; in Spain you are supposed to gobble down 12 grapes, one with each strike of the clock. Each grapes is supposed to give you luck for a month of the year.
Denmark - Breaking plates.
Slightly more obscure is the danish tradition of breaking plates on your neighbour's doorstep. It is believed the one with the biggest pile of cracked-up crockery is the luckiest, having the biggest number of loyal friends.
Philippines - Polka Dot Bikini's... and dresses... and blouses... and shirts... and whatever has polka dots.
If you're in the Philippines over the great new year the best way to fit in is to get yourself a polka dot dress. In fact, it goes a hell of a lot further than just polka dots; the circle represents prosperity (maybe because it resembles a coin, maybe not...) so just about anything that has circle print on it is welcome. They also have a tendency to eat round fruits (no, not fat idiots, we're talking apples, oranges and the like).
Germany and Finland - Melt stuff.
Our friends over in Germany and Finland both share an interesting, albeit slightly dangerous tradition... divination by molten metal (known as Bleigiessen in Germany). That's pretty hardcore if you ask me. Now you can finally break out the home-size smelter your granddad got you for Christmas. The idea is to melt some lead (or any soft readily available metal) and let it drip into, what is essentially, a bucket of water. The shapes would foretell your future for the next year... i.e. a ring or heart-ish shape would signify a wedding or a love relationship.
Germany - "Same procedure as every year"
Another very interesting tradition of the Deutsch resonates with one we South Africans also have (although not entirely to the degree they do it). If you're in the German borders on the 31st of December, it's quite likely that you'll be seeing a lot of Dinner for One. It's extremely popular there, becoming a phenomena around 1972, playing on just about every television channel somewhere on the day ever since. Some even host Dinner for One parties for the New Year.
Panama - More burning stuff...
Burning things seems to be a popular trend throughout the world when it comes to New Year traditions. Bonfires, fireworks, metal, and in Panama effigies of famous people. The puppets, or muñecos, could resemble anyone from pop stars including Michael Jackson, and they are burnt on New Years Eve to ward off evil spirits for the year to come.
An article with some pics here at PanamaNews
Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico - Wear bright britches.
Citizens of many South American states (but predominantly Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico) usher in the new year with very brightly coloured undies. Red and yellow are predominantly worn to catch the good luck for the next year, representing "an amorous love life" and "a desire for wealth and prosperity" respectively.[insert corny wishes and underwear related one-liner here].
Japan - Yep, a music TV show...
The Japanese... you've got to love their enthusiasm. Especially when it comes to really bad Japanese Pop music. On New Years viewers swarm to their Televisions to see a show called "Kouhaku Uta Gassen" (Literally Red and White Singing Contest). It has been held annually since 1951 and features a range of popular Japanese and other Asian musicians, but even Sarah Brightman, Cindy Lauper and Paul Simon have been on the show.
Everywhere - Get shitfaced
One thing that is universal throughout the world, no matter where you are or what your traditions entail you're definitely wanting to have some fun. This will, more often than not, include lots of alcohol if all goes well. Getting wasted is pretty much the one tradition you can take anywhere and you'd always be welcome... So I wish you a Prosit Neujahr, Gullukkig Niuw Jaar, Szczesliwego Nowego Roku and an all-round Happy Friggin' New Beer!
PS and BTW: If you're going to be partying, which I know you are you party-animal you, just don't be stupid and drive or do something idiotic like take that girl to your place (remember what she looked like when you got there). Be responsible, have a jol, care for yourself and your mates and don't end up like these people:
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| Maybe he should cut back on the prosperity a bit... |
Denmark - Breaking plates.
Slightly more obscure is the danish tradition of breaking plates on your neighbour's doorstep. It is believed the one with the biggest pile of cracked-up crockery is the luckiest, having the biggest number of loyal friends.
Philippines - Polka Dot Bikini's... and dresses... and blouses... and shirts... and whatever has polka dots.
If you're in the Philippines over the great new year the best way to fit in is to get yourself a polka dot dress. In fact, it goes a hell of a lot further than just polka dots; the circle represents prosperity (maybe because it resembles a coin, maybe not...) so just about anything that has circle print on it is welcome. They also have a tendency to eat round fruits (no, not fat idiots, we're talking apples, oranges and the like).
Germany and Finland - Melt stuff.
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| Hehehe, melting metalheads... |
Germany - "Same procedure as every year"
Another very interesting tradition of the Deutsch resonates with one we South Africans also have (although not entirely to the degree they do it). If you're in the German borders on the 31st of December, it's quite likely that you'll be seeing a lot of Dinner for One. It's extremely popular there, becoming a phenomena around 1972, playing on just about every television channel somewhere on the day ever since. Some even host Dinner for One parties for the New Year.
Panama - More burning stuff...
Burning things seems to be a popular trend throughout the world when it comes to New Year traditions. Bonfires, fireworks, metal, and in Panama effigies of famous people. The puppets, or muñecos, could resemble anyone from pop stars including Michael Jackson, and they are burnt on New Years Eve to ward off evil spirits for the year to come.
An article with some pics here at PanamaNews
Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico - Wear bright britches.
Citizens of many South American states (but predominantly Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico) usher in the new year with very brightly coloured undies. Red and yellow are predominantly worn to catch the good luck for the next year, representing "an amorous love life" and "a desire for wealth and prosperity" respectively.
Japan - Yep, a music TV show...
The Japanese... you've got to love their enthusiasm. Especially when it comes to really bad Japanese Pop music. On New Years viewers swarm to their Televisions to see a show called "Kouhaku Uta Gassen" (Literally Red and White Singing Contest). It has been held annually since 1951 and features a range of popular Japanese and other Asian musicians, but even Sarah Brightman, Cindy Lauper and Paul Simon have been on the show.
Everywhere - Get shitfaced
One thing that is universal throughout the world, no matter where you are or what your traditions entail you're definitely wanting to have some fun. This will, more often than not, include lots of alcohol if all goes well. Getting wasted is pretty much the one tradition you can take anywhere and you'd always be welcome... So I wish you a Prosit Neujahr, Gullukkig Niuw Jaar, Szczesliwego Nowego Roku and an all-round Happy Friggin' New Beer!
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| [source] |
PS and BTW: If you're going to be partying, which I know you are you party-animal you, just don't be stupid and drive or do something idiotic like take that girl to your place (remember what she looked like when you got there). Be responsible, have a jol, care for yourself and your mates and don't end up like these people:
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