There are many exciting customs associated with the turn of the year and New Year’s Eve in Europe. As well as the classic midnight kiss, there are many different ways to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one.
Today, we would like to introduce you to a few of these, because each phase of New Year’s celebrations has its own meaning: the farewell, the turning point, and the first day of the new year.
Many countries have distinct traditions for bidding farewell to the old year. In Germany, for example, wax is poured to symbolically melt away the old and mold it into new shapes for the future. And another German tradition on New Year’s is to watch “Dinner for One”. In Iceland, bonfires are lit in many places to burn away the worries of the old year symbolically. The people of Italy wear red because it is the colour of love, thereby carrying the love of the old year into the new.
The moment, midnight, the end of the old and the beginning of the new year. One thing that is probably the same almost everywhere is the congratulations. People wish each other a happy and healthy new year.
Fireworks are now also very widespread, being set off at midnight sharp and lighting up the sky with colourful lights.
But in some countries, there are other traditions for this special moment. In Austria, people eagerly await the striking of the “Pummerin,” which is the largest bell in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and when it rings, everyone dances a Viennese waltz together. In Denmark, people climb onto chairs and, at midnight, jump from them into the new year. And in Spain, people eat 12 grapes, one for every chime of the clock. They do this to symbolise having at least 12 lucky moments in the new year.
On the first day of the new year, various customs vary across countries. A long walk with family and friends is on the agenda for Italians and Germans. To walk together and make the next steps together, not only symbolically, but also in reality.
In Poland, for example, people try to spend as little money as possible so that prosperity will continue throughout the year. And in Great Britain, they welcome the first people to visit them, because they have the tradition of the “first footing”, which means that the visitors will bring good luck into the house.
These are just a few of the many New Year traditions of Europe. In some places, there is a New Year’s swim to start the year clean, in others, a pomegranate is smashed, for good luck,. In general, Europeans bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, and they often celebrate this with a party. Even if not as famous as New York’s Times Square, Europe offers unforgettable ways to celebrate the New Year.
So, what are you waiting for? Come here, and celebrate with us.
