New Year Traditions
By Anna
@LadyDuck (472024)
Switzerland
December 30, 2015 6:34am CST
Tomorrow is the last day of the year 2015, I want to share with you some European New Year traditions.
Switzerland
it is considered good luck to see a chimney sweep the first day of the year.
An unusual tradition, consists in dropping a spoon of cream on the floor, this brings a year of overflowing abundance.
Italy
in the South, people throw all dishes from the windows, to symbolize that New Year means New Life.
In the North, there is the same "first footing" tradition as Great Britain.
The first male visitor to enter a house, after midnight, brings good luck.
Germany and Austria
There is the "Lead pouring" tradition.
People, melt a small amount of lead in a tablespoon, then they pour the melted lead into a bowl of water.
The figure that shows up in the water, is used to predict the coming year, more or less like people do with the tea leaves.
Do you have special traditions to share with us?
43 people like this
44 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
30 Dec 15
The only one that springs to mind is knocking on the door after midnight with a piece of coal and a loaf of bread. This signifies that the household will have warmth and food during the coming year.
It was extremely popular when I was young, but rarely seen today. My father always went outside before midnight and knocked on the door shortly after midnight.
6 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
30 Dec 15
Wearing red underwear was supposed to bring good luck. I have stopped wearing it as I am happy with my luck so far 
2 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
30 Dec 15
@alberello75 It's the chocolates, not the box, that counts 
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
30 Dec 15
Stopped wearing red undies or undies at all?
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
30 Dec 15
I can't think of any traditions for New Year's.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121663)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Dec 15
Thank you for sharing the New Year's traditions that are celebrated in your part of the world! I don't know if the United States has a unified "traditional" custom, but in the south, where I live, it is good luck to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's. It is a very southern thing, and most of the rest of the U.S. doesn't celebrate that custom. Another one I can think of that might be celebrated here is kissing your loved one at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. Other than that, I think we just party and shoot off lots of fireworks!
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@moffittjc (121663)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jan 16
@LadyDuck Yes, the fireworks definitely scare the animals. But, is it really any different than loud thunder and lightning strikes during storms? Should thunder be banned because it scares the animals? haha
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@moffittjc (121663)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jan 16
@LadyDuck You make a good point! But at the way man is destroying this earth, I think animals have a lot more to worry about than fireworks. Such a shame that we can't figure out a way to live in harmony with the earth and its animal inhabitants.
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@DeborahDiane (40318)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 15
My husband and I enjoy staying home, away from the drunk drivers, and watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve. On New Year's Day, we used to eat black eyed peas on New Year's Day. It was supposed to bring good luck!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472024)
• Switzerland
31 Dec 15
We also prefer to stay at home, we do not like the noise and we fear the drunk drivers. I know that in the south eating black eyed peas on New Year's Day is supposed to bring good luck. In my native city we eat lentils, they are round and are supposed to bring money.
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@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
3 Jan 16
We often celebrate with fireworks and sparklers. The kiss under the mistletoe at midnight is an older one that I don't see anyone do anymore. On New Year's Day we have a traditional southern meal of black eyed peas, collards/greens, cornbread and some type of pork, normally fatback and pork chops here at our house.
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@LadyDuck (472024)
• Switzerland
3 Jan 16
The fireworks have been banned in our country because they scared the animals, they are dangerous for the forests and they also pollute too much. We traditionally eat lentils on New Year's day, with cotechino, that is a sort of salami that must be cooked.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
1 Jan 16
'An unusual tradition, consists in dropping a spoon of cream on the floor, this brings a year of overflowing abundance." My dogs would consider that abundance awesome, they always love noms from the sky.
Texans shoot fireworks, not sure why. Southerners eat black eyed peas for luck, also no idea why
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@LadyDuck (472024)
• Switzerland
2 Jan 16
@Jessicalynnt My Mothers hates lentils, I like them and also my husband.
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@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
2 Jan 16
@LadyDuck lentils are a thing have never learned to love, always remind me of what I would imagine paste to taste like lol
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@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
30 Dec 15
I have never heard of these traditions @LadyDuck , my family, my friends and I stay up to do the countdown and then we toast the New Year with champagne. Also sometimes my friends and I go and dance the night away from Old year into New year. I wish you a Happy New Year, Anna.
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@Marilynda1225 (83093)
• United States
30 Dec 15
Can offer any traditions that I'm familiar with but I did enjoy reading yours. Happy New Year!
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@crystalrae (91)
• United States
31 Dec 15
Here in Pennsylvania at least the part where I live we eat pork and sauerkraut on new years and if you don't eat pork you put hot dogs in instead of pork
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