Explore unique and fascinating New Year's Eve traditions celebrated in different countries, from Brazil's offerings to the ocean goddess to Spain's lucky grape ritual.
2025 is almost here! Embracing the arrival of a new year often involves unique customs and celebrations worldwide. The diverse ways of ringing in the New Year is a good reminder to think about hopes, beliefs and aspirations for the year ahead.In Brazil, the New Year arrives with a vibrant white-clad crowd congregating on the beaches. It’s a celebration steeped in tradition, honouring Iemanjá, the ocean goddess of Afro-Brazilian faiths.
Along the shore, gifts are placed on boats and set adrift as offerings. Participants leap over seven waves, expressing gratitude for the year’s blessings. And as the ritual concludes, they walk away from the ocean only when their feet remain dry, avoiding the chance of unwelcome luck.In Spain, welcoming the New Year involves a unique grape-related tradition. As the clock strikes midnight, Spaniards participate in a ritual of consuming 12 grapes, each grape in sync with the chimes, signifying hopes for good fortune in the upcoming year. These aren’t just any grapes; they’re the delicate, late-season, pale green variety harvested in late November or December. This long-standing tradition, dating back over a hundred years, marks a cherished practice to invite prosperity into the year ahead.In Japan, the arrival of the New Year is marked by a tradition called Joya no Kane. As the clock nears midnight on New Year’s Eve, Buddhist temples across the country join in with the sound of bells ringing 108 times. Rooted in Buddhist beliefs, each toll of the bell is symbolic, aimed at dispelling the 108 earthly desires recognised in Buddhism. The term ‘Joya’ signifies the transition from the old to the new, while ‘Kane’ represents ‘bell.’ This ritual, known for its tranquility, embodies a spiritual journey of shedding the past and embracing the possibilities of a fresh start in the year ahead.In Greece, the onset of the New Year is greeted with a unique tradition full of symbolism and hop
NEW YEAR BRAZIL SPAIN JAPAN GREECE TRADITIONS CUSTOMS BELIEFS HOPE PROSPERITY
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