1. Pomegranates
Pomegranates are the star when it comes to bringing in good luck on New Year’s in Greece, Turkey, and Armenia. Despite being different countries, they share this tradition around the pomegranate. It is a must-have on New Year’s eve and besides being tangy and delicious, they are also symbols of wealth, fertility and, you guessed it. luck.
Both the people of Greece and Turkey throw their pomegranates at their front door after they crossed into the new year. That is because as you throw the fruit at the door it will burst open: the more seeds fall out the more luck you will have. The harder you throw, the more luck you will have! The same happens in Armenia but they smash it against the ground, not into their door. A safer option, you do not want to dent or ruin your front door!
Some do not stop here, some Greeks hang a pomegranate on their front door prior to all of this, ready to be used on the Eve. Some even get it blessed! To us, it sounds really fun anyway, and you get to eat some delicious fruit too besides bringing in some good luck! A win-win situation.
2. Eat Grapes
When the clock strikes 12, we may be ready for a glass of champagne and a midnight kiss, but that is not true for everyone else around the world. In Spain, they are ready to eat their 12 grapes as fast as possible! Yes, it sounds like a choking hazard but you have to do it, or you will be messing around with your luck for the year to come!
The 12 grapes symbolize the 12 months of the year and successfully eating them means a whole year of good luck! The catch is you have to eat them in the first 12 seconds of the year for it to be effective. It is sure to bring up a lot of laughter and ruckus, but also make you start the year with a rush of adrenaline! They even designed some apps for this, as in Spain the 12 chimes for the seconds are broadcast on TV, or the ocal church will ring its bell!
Talk about an intensely fun luck-bringing tradition.
3. Wear White
Some countries are all about red when it comes to New Year clothes and for good measure, we come together to have a good time and the color symbolizes luck. However, Brazil has a different approach to the color of the clothes you have to wear in order to catch the attention of Ol’ Lady Luck: you have to wear white.
From the country that gives us one of the biggest carnivals in the world each year and their absolutely amazing party spirit, you would not expect white to be the custom. Yet, here we are. In order for your year to be full of excitement, wonder, adventures, and good luck, your outfit needs to be white. We think we cracked the code when it comes to why they know how to have such a good time and throw such stellar parties.
White is pretty classy too, so why not incorporate this one into this year’s party outfit.
