New Year customs in various countries

Germany: Put fish scales in your wallet and climb high to pray for good luck

Germans attach great importance to New Year's Day. They believe that whether they spend New Year's Day well is directly related to their luck in the next year. On New Year's Eve, people will light up lights and set off fireworks and firecrackers to "suppress demons and eliminate demons" and bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. Before the New Year's bell rings, many Germans will climb on a chair. When the bell rings, they jump down and run behind the chair to throw away the disaster. There is also a custom spread in rural Germany - tree climbing competition. It is said that the higher you climb, the better your luck. The person who climbs the highest every year will be hailed as the "New Year's Hero" and will be envied by others.

Germans still have the custom of wearing new clothes on New Year's Day. They believe that if you wear new clothes on New Year's Day, everything will go well; In addition, they will also put a few fish scales in their wallets, because fish scales are New Year's mascots and herald wealth; many people also nail horseshoes to the wall to "ward off evil spirits."

Britain: Fighting for water from wells to welcome relatives and friends late at night

In the UK, when midnight falls, people begin the traditional New Year greeting event, and every family opens the door. Take out the small brown bread that has been prepared for guests. The first guest is usually considered to be a symbol of luck in the new year. If the first guest is a black-haired man, or a happy, happy and wealthy person, the host will have good luck throughout the year; if the first guest is If the guest is a woman with fair hair, or a sad, poor, or unfortunate person, the host will have bad luck and encounter difficulties and disasters in the new year.

Drawing water from a well during the New Year is a long-standing custom in rural areas of central England. It is said that the first person to draw water from a well is blessed in the new year, and the water drawn is auspicious water. So early in the morning on New Year's Day, people rushed to carry buckets and headed for the well.

France: Drinking to bid farewell to the old year and predict the future

New Year's Day in France was originally April 1st every year. It was not until 1564 that King Charles IX changed it to January. 1st. On New Year's Eve, French families gather together and drink champagne around the table. According to tradition, every family must drink all the wine on this night to avoid bad luck in the coming year; everyone should get drunk so that the New Year's Eve There will be a new beginning in the year. Early in the morning on January 1st, parents will give "New Year's money" to their children to show their care for their children.

The French believe that the weather on New Year's Day heralds the future of the year. In the early morning of New Year's Day, they go to the streets to check the direction of the wind to predict fortunes: if the south wind blows, the weather will be good, and the year will be safe and hot; if the west wind blows, there will be a good harvest for fishing; if the east wind blows, there will be a high yield of fruits; if the north wind blows, then the year will be safe and hot. It's a bad harvest year.

Brazil: Climb the mountain to find happiness and pinch your ears

After the New Year’s bell rang, Brazilians held torches high and swarmed up the mountain. They rushed to find the golden birch fruit that symbolizes happiness. This The event is called "Looking for Happiness." It is said that only those who are not afraid of hardships can find this rare fruit. In rural areas, there is a unique custom during the New Year period - tugging each other's ears. When people meet on New Year's Day, they will tug each other's ears vigorously to express blessings.

Belgium: People pay New Year greetings to their livestock

In Belgium, the first thing people do early in the morning on New Year’s Day is to send New Year greetings to their livestock. Belgians will go to cattle, sheep and their own When you are around pet cats and dogs, greet them in a serious way: "Happy New Year!"

Italians believe that making loud noises on New Year's Eve can drive away evil spirits and bring happiness in the new year, so people keep setting off fireworks that night. He also smashed everything that could be broken, from dishes to jars, and threw all the pieces into the street. On New Year's Day, every household must light a fire in the house, which must not be extinguished for the whole day. Italians believe that fire comes from the sun. If the fire is cut off on New Year's Day, it will not see the sun in the coming year, which will bring bad luck.

Mexico: Don’t laugh before the New Year

The New Year custom in Mexico is a bit strange. People are forbidden to laugh when New Year’s Day arrives. Mexicans divide the year into 18 months, each month has about 20 days. According to traditional custom, if you want to get good luck, you cannot laugh during the last five days of the year.

The United States is a country of immigrants that does not have a long history, so New Year’s Day folk celebrations are relatively dull compared to other countries. Apart from partying, eating and drinking, most people stay at home and watch TV or sleep in.

However, the New Year's Day celebration in California is unique. When the New Year comes, roses are placed everywhere in the streets and alleys, and dozens of flower-decorated floats carry young girls in formal dresses slowly passing by. During the festival, people will choose the Rose Queen and Rose Princess of the year and welcome the New Year in appreciation of beauty.

Spain: Everyone is vying to eat grapes

In Spain, when the bell starts to ring at 12 o'clock on New Year's Eve, people are vying to eat grapes. If you can ring the bell, Eating 12 grapes in one sound symbolizes peace and happiness in each month of the New Year, and each grape has a different meaning, such as the first "seeking peace", the fifth "harmony", and the sixth "refuge". , the seventh "disease cure"...

On New Year's Day, Spanish parents are particularly "kind" and will meet all their children's requests, because according to local customs, children curse, fight and cry. It's an ominous sign. At the same time, most Spaniards will carry a gold or copper coin with them to show good luck.