New Year’s Eve is celebrated in unique ways around the world, from eating grapes for luck in Spain to jumping off chairs in Denmark to ring in the new year. Every country has its own special traditions to welcome the next 12 months, blending fun, food and festivity. Check out our list of some of the world’s most fun, weird and wonderful New Year’s Eve traditions.

Spain: eating 12 grapes at midnight

In Spain, New Year’s Eve is called Nochevieja. One of the most popular traditions is eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight—one for each chime of the clock. The grapes are believed to bring good luck for each month of the upcoming year. 

Scotland: Hogmanay

In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with Hogmanay, a tradition filled with customs. One of the most famous is first-footing, where the first person to visit a home after midnight brings gifts like coal or whiskey for good luck. Scottish cities, like Edinburgh, host lively street festivals with music, fireworks, and parades, creating a vibrant atmosphere that stretches into New Year’s Day.

Denmark: jumping off chairs

In Denmark, New Year’s Eve is about good fortune and people celebrate it by literally jumping off chairs at midnight. This quirky tradition is thought to banish bad spirits and bring good luck for the coming year. 

Turkey: sprinkling salt on the doorstep

In Turkey, a popular New Year’s Eve tradition involves sprinkling salt on the doorstep of homes right after midnight. This ritual is believed to bring peace, prosperity and abundance to the household for the coming year.

Greece: hanging onions at the door for luck

In Greece, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with a blend of fun traditions. One of the most unique traditions involves hanging onions on doorways. Onions are seen as symbols of rebirth, growth, and resilience. It is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity into the home for the coming year. On New Year’s Day, parents also wake their children by softly tapping them on the head with the onions that were hung outside.

Colombia: walking around with an empty suitcase

In many Latin American countries, particularly Colombia, a fun New Year’s Eve tradition involves walking around the block with an empty suitcase. This is done in the hopes of bringing travel and adventure in the upcoming year. People believe that the act of walking with an empty suitcase will invite adventure, new experiences and opportunities for travel.