While Russians on New Year's Day burn notes with wishes, pour ashes into a glass of champagne and drink, residents of other countries are also showing ingenuity: throwing pomegranates, shoes, running around with empty suitcases, and also looking into wells. And all for the sake of a happy coming year. - about the most entertaining New Year's traditions.
In the business district of Buenos Aires, on the last working day of the year, sidewalks are traditionally littered with papers, notepads, calendars and letterheads. This is because it is customary for the clerks of the Argentine capital to get rid of unnecessary clerical junk on this day. Throwing it, of course, directly into the windows. This interferes with the movement of cars and sometimes pieces of paper fall on the heads of passers-by, but what to do, a ritual is a ritual.
In Japan, you need to laugh at the peak of the moment. The Japanese believe that laughter brings good luck. Maybe it is, of course, and so, but from the side, people laughing as if on command look a little scary. Although what can not be done for the sake of luck.
Residents of Myanmar on New Year's Eve pour water over each other. Including those who are met on the street. The explanation is simple: New Year's time is the peak of the heat in the country. In Russia, there is definitely no such tradition.
In Greece, heads of families should go out into the courtyard exactly at New Year's midnight and throw a pomegranate fruit against the wall, but harder. The steeper the grains scatter around the yard, the better the family will live. And the Greeks also have a tradition to take a stone with them when they go to visit on the New Year, and then leave it on the table. It is believed to be for money.
Just before the New Year, Cubans fill their glasses with water, and when midnight comes, they throw it out the windows. It is believed that in this case, the next year will be as clean as this very water. And, by the way, the clock in Cuba strikes only 11 times on a holiday - so that for the 12th time people can meet and feel the solemnity of the moment in silence.
Finnish girls who want to get married must definitely throw a shoe over their shoulder at midnight. If the shoes fall toe to the door, you can relax - in the coming year, your dream will come true. The parameters of this important ritual are unknown, so which shoe and over which shoulder to throw it is at your discretion.
Romanian women have a similar fun. For the sake of personal happiness, they need to go up to the well with a burning candle at 00.00 and carefully peer into the water. The silhouette of the future husband should appear there. If it does not appear, you should not cry, there is a fallback - go to bed with a branch of basil under your pillow. And it smells great, and the man of dreams will come in a dream.
The Australians, as soon as the clock strikes midnight, jump out into the streets with pots and spoons and run, knocking with all their might. And we thought that the rumble and firing of Chinese firecrackers until four in the morning was just Russian fun.
In Colombia, walks with empty suitcases are taken around the house. The longer you walk, the more pleasant surprises and travel there will be in the coming year.
One of the coolest and most intricate traditions is in El Salvador. An egg is broken there, poured into a glass and placed on the windowsill until morning. And when they wake up, they run to this glass and see what the outlines of the contents look like. It all depends on fantasy and attitude to life. After all, it is not clear what an optimist will take for the silhouette of a Mercedes.
Filipinos are people with humor. It is customary for them to open the doors of cabinets, cabinets, windows, etc., all over the house before the New Year, and when it strikes twelve, briskly run and close everything everywhere. And everyone will be happy.
Not everything is exotic in Asia. Europeans can surprise too. In Denmark, for example, it is believed that you need to jump into the new year - literally. To this end, the citizens of the kingdom stand on chairs and jump to the floor at midnight. Then they take the plates and go to beat them on the doors of neighbors or friends. It turns out to be for good luck.
For a Frenchman celebrating the New Year, there is nothing more important than hugging a barrel of wine. And then everything will come true.