New Year's Eve customs

The last day of the year is celebrated extensively in almost all countries of the world. But the traditions could not be more different. While red underwear is an absolute must in one country, grapes or lead pouring play an important role in another. We have researched and summarized the most original New Year's Eve customs.

Italy - red underwear If you want to have luck and success on your side in the New Year, you have to wear red underwear on New Year's Eve. It doesn't matter if you wear a sensual lingerie with lace, boxer shorts or just plain, bland red underwear, but red it must be. Lingerie shops and department stores do the big business on New Year's Eve.

France - friends and good food In France, people end the old year with culinary delights. Champagne and foie gras are part of the celebration. At midnight on the Champs-Elysées, "Tout Paris" wishes each other a "Bonne année".

Spain grapes are said to bring good luck. Therefore, at midnight, a grape berry is shoved into the mouth at every stroke of the bell. Bad luck comes in the new year to those who miscount. Shortly before the turn of the year, bags containing twelve grape berries are sold at exorbitant prices.

Czech Republic - Casting lead In the Czech Republic there is a custom of casting lead to look into the future. Another custom is to cut an apple in half in order to read the fate at the core. If the cores form a cross, it means bad luck, a star shape means good luck. A midnight meal of lentils is also said to bring good luck. The lentils symbolize money.

Greece - Gambling At the turn of the New Year, people in Greece gamble. It doesn't matter if it's a dice game, a card game or a casino. Whoever wins that night is supposed to be lucky throughout the new year. Whoever loses can still hope for luck in love. So the Greeks win either way.

Russia - 10 days of parties The New Year is celebrated for 10 days. The beginning of the big party time is New Year's Eve. On New Year's night, Father Frost (Santa Claus) and his companion Snegurochka (Snowflake) bring the presents. The families sit together around the yolka (fir tree) and eat. Then they toast the New Year. Russians with a Russian Orthodox Church do not celebrate according to the Gregorian calendar, but according to the Julian calendar. Therefore, Christmas is not until January 7 and New Year is on January 13.

China - Days of celebration with many customs In China, the Chinese calendar determines the New Year and is not always the same according to ours, the Gregorian calendar. The next Chinese New Year will begin on February 5, 2019. Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for the Chinese and the celebrations last for 6 days. Millions of Chinese around the world set out to travel home for the festive season. There are three public holidays when almost all businesses are closed. People mainly visit family and friends. And the New Year is greeted loudly with fireworks, just like in our country. The celebrations are accompanied by many traditional customs. E.G.

• Before the New Year, clean the house/apartment thoroughly. Dispose of all things that are no longer needed. No more cleaning is allowed during the New Year, otherwise happiness will also be swept out of the home immediately.
• Hair should not be washed on the first day of the new Chinese year, otherwise the new luck will be washed out right away.
• Open windows and doors wide. This will bring good luck and new energy into your home.
• Settle debts and liabilities before the new year. This creates a positive climate for new negotiations
• Do good and speak positively. Talk to your family only about beautiful things and fond memories. All topics during the New Year celebrations should be avoided at all costs. Also, do not pronounce the number 4, because in Chinese it sounds similar to the word "death".
• Decorations. During the Chinese New Year, all houses are lavishly decorated. Everything is in red: lanterns, banners with New Year wishes and garlands and lucky charms. Red is considered an auspicious color.
• Food and drink: On New Year's Eve, the whole family celebrates together with a feast symbolizing family happiness, prosperity and abundance. The feast varies by region.
• Sweets. The Chinese believe that if you are sweet, you will have a sweet time.
• Wearing new clothes. On Chinese New Year's Day, people wear only new clothes, in China, of course, in the color red. These are still unencumbered by negative stories.
• Take care of knives and scissors in the drawers and only use them again after the New Year holidays. Otherwise one would cut off the good skill.