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International New Year superstitions
Carolina Farani - Dec
28, 2015 Daily News
The end of the year is approaching but did you manage to accomplish
all that was promised this year Probably not! Well, let’s
start another year with determination and promises to be fulfilled.
Start the season with superstitions!
No one is equal, every place has their customs and
traditions for the passage of the new year.
Turning the world, I could analyse how many year-end superstitions
exist, however peculiar and exotic they may be they are also
interesting in different cultures.
I’ve listed six countries with their own peculiar
year-end traditions:
Venezuela
Just at the turn of the year, some Venezuelans have
a superstition in which they go around the block with an empty
suitcase so that they can make many trips in the future. I
tried it one day, I don’t know if it was luck, but it
worked. Also usually make a list of not very good things that
happened during the year and burn it, this is to erase the bad
times of the past and welcome the new year, with other
achievements.
Japan
Besides frequently visiting temples to pray to
have good luck throughout the year, the Japanese eat spaghetti at
the turn of the year to ensure long life. As we welcome in the
countdown with the usual fireworks, the Japanese expect 108
chimes of a bell for the Buddhist ritual, a ceremony known as “Joya
No Kane”.
The 108 chimes represent the sins and desires of
society, according to Buddhism. As midnight signifies the last
stroke they believe all enter into a purified new year, away
from the desires and sins of the past. And oddly enough,
children and teens prefer New Year over Christmas. This is
perhaps because of the tradition called “Otoshidama”, where
money is placed inside envelopes and given to them.
The purpose of it is to teach young people, at an early stage,
how to handle and use their money wisely.
Denmark
Those that think breaking dishes is just a
Greek tradition of showing joy in parties and a detachment from
material things are mistaken. The Danes often break dishes or
leave food at the front door of their friends and family to show
loyalty and companionship. At exactly one minute to midnight
the Danes also climb on chairs to jump off and ward off the evil
eye and bring good luck.
Canada
In Vancouver on January 1st, Canadians congregate on
the beach for swimming in what’s called the “Polar Bear
Plunge”. Canadians with appropriate clothing or costumes,
plunge into freezing water, and you can only imagine how freezing
that is in their winter season! This tradition is synonymous with
good luck for the new year. It is interesting to know that “getting
a cold” at the beginning of the year is for a good cause. The
“Polar Bear Club of Toronto” has organised this event in Lake
Ontario to raise funds for the “Habitat for Humanity” (HFH), a
non-profit organisation dedicated to building homes for low-income
families.
Germany
The Germans have a custom in which they dress
up in white clothes to see the fireworks. The difference is
that the Germans decorate the house with small pigs made of
marzipan and chocolate to symbolise luck and wealth. A curious fact
is that one in particular film is replayed on that date,
“Dinner for One”, known in Germany as “Der 90.
Geburtstag”. The humorous film, originally filmed in black and
white, is just over 15 minutes long and became a cult hit,
turning into a tradition of the New Year in Germany. Superstition
or not this film is played on December 31st on multiple
channels.
They also have a very awaited ritual on December
31st, it is the “Bleigiessen”, an attempt to predict the
future. In this ritual people play molten lead into the water,
and each created form, something is announced. The shape of a heart
or circle is the sign of marriage. A ship signifies travel, whilst
a pig represents plenty, etc.
England
An old English tradition is to open the door to
send the old year away. They also say that the first visit
after midnight should be a man with dark hair. The man with
dark hair must enter through the front door, bringing a charcoal
package, a bottle of whiskey, a loaf of bread and salt to allow for
some heating, prosperity, food and money. The same visitor
should leave through the back door. At the stroke of midnight,
after hours of drinking, party goers hold hands and welcome in the
new year with a choral rendition of the traditional song “Auld Lang
Syne”.
Every year in London is the “New Year Parade”
celebration. A traditional parade which is very beautiful, filled
with musicians, dancers and acrobats, attracting large
international crowds. The route this year will be between
Piccadilly at midday and Parliament Square at 15.30.
It’s very interesting to know that every country has
its peculiar superstitions and traditions for this time of the
year. There are also different foods prepared on these festive
days. Let’s hope the new year of 2016 begins with a lot of
good fluids and many positive thoughts for everyone.
Happy New Year