Celebrate New Year’s Eve: Traditions Around the World

Soon it will be time to say, “Happy New Year and Guten Rutsch!” Are you still looking for new activities to spice up your New Year’s Eve? Let these global traditions inspire you! Curious about how New Year’s Eve is celebrated in China, the USA, and Spain? Read on.

1. Take the Leap

In Denmark, many people leap off a chair at the stroke of midnight to jump into the New Year. We can’t help but wonder—are their emergency rooms busy on January 1st? 😊

2. Red and Yellow

In Spain and Italy, wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve is a must. Red symbolizes love, success, and health. The catch? The underwear must be new and must be discarded on January 1st.

In some Central American countries, the color of choice is yellow—yellow equals wealth!

3. The Twelve Grapes of Luck

In Spain, Portugal, and Argentina, a special tradition involves eating 12 grapes at each of the 12 chimes of midnight. Typically, people gather in large city squares for this ritual. With each grape, you can make a wish. If you want to try this yourself, opt for seedless grapes—otherwise, choking or miscounting could bring bad luck for the year ahead. Fun fact: this tradition is even broadcast on television. So, buena suerte!

4. The Mandarin Matchmaker

In China, there’s an old tradition where unmarried women throw mandarins into the sea to find a partner. Some even write their names on the mandarins to make it easier for potential suitors to find them. While charming, it seems this tradition has faded in popularity—our Chinese colleagues hadn’t heard of it!

5. A Lucky Coin

In Greece, the New Year brings a sweet surprise—a coin hidden inside a loaf of bread. The person who finds the coin is said to enjoy good fortune and wealth in the coming year. Just be careful not to bite down too hard! 🪙

No matter how you celebrate the New Year, the entire RAU Cosmetics team wishes you a fantastic start to the year. Happy New Year and Guten Rutsch! 🎉