Spain – eat 12 grapes (while wearing red underwear)
When the clock rings in the new year in Spain, Spaniards wishing for good luck in the coming year must eat a green grape for each toll of the bell, not so easy after one or two! Oh, and they have to do it while wearing red underwear. Supposedly the tradition comes from when wearing red outwardly was not permitted, too much of a devilish colour apparently, and well there was just lots of grapes due to a surplus.
Ireland – hang upside down and kiss a rock
Ireland is the home of a lot of good luck traditions, from shamrocks (the four leafed clover) to the leprechaun and his pot of gold. Nowadays, good luck comes in a bit of a different form with the advent of online betting a Dublinbet Promo Code might be the modern day equivalent! Anyway, one Irish lucky legend you might not have heard of is the tradition of kissing the Blarney stone. Inconveniently located, visitors to Blarney castle seeking good luck must lie down and lean backwards, holding on to the special rails provided, in order to kiss the stone. Just try not to think about all the other people who’ve kissed it before you…
Mexico – burn the grandpa
It’s not as gruesome as it sounds, don’t worry. Quite a common tradition in Latin American countries on New Year’s eve, it involves making a life size dummy called el viejo or ‘the grandpa’ who symbolizes the old year, then setting him alight to make way for the new one.
Romania – keep your money under the carpet
Forget ISA’s, in Romania the best way of ensuring a prosperous year ahead is to hide it under the carpet until the clock rings in the new year. For extra good luck try wearing red underwear (a recurring theme it seems) and smashing some glasses while chanting ‘Happy New Year’.
Scotland – swing some fireballs
You’ve all heard of Hogmanay, but did you know the traditional festival in Stonehaven involves ‘fire-wingers’ swinging flaming balls of fire round their heads and into the sea? It’s thought to date back to pre-Christian rituals.
Brazil – throw flowers into the sea
A somewhat nicer offering to the sea than a paraffin soaked ball this time, one tradition in Brazil is to throw white flowers and candles into the sea. The practice is said to appease the Goddess of the sea and bring good luck to mothers and children.
