It’s our last Festive Friday, and this week it’s all about New Year’s festivities of the world! Where are you spending New Year’s Eve? And with whom? If you’ve visiting one of these countries (or just want to dream of visiting them!), get prepared for their New Year’s traditions!

Mexico

It’s all about the numbers for the Mexican New Year. Specifically the number 12. If you want good luck in the New Year, you’ll eat one grape at each of the 12 strokes of midnight on New Year’s Eve and make a wish for each grape. The 12 grapes also represent each of the 12 months in a year. Taste a sour grape? Beware. That month will be particularly unlucky! 

 

France

You know the French will be celebrating with rich, delicious food, but the best part is delightfully sweet and could bring you good luck! The French celebrate with a King Cake containing a small coin or figurine baked inside. If you find the non-food item, you’ll have great luck all year!

Brazil

Heading down to Rio for the New Year’s celebrations? They claim to have the best. It’s a summertime celebration there, so bring your best white outfit to wish for peace–but also bring your most colorful underwear. Green will bring you good health, yellow will bring you money, red will bring romance into your life, and purple will give you inspiration!

Cambodia

Many countries in Asia still celebrate their own New Year’s according to religious traditions, typically in January, February, or even April–as in Cambodia! The Cambodian New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey) begins April 13 or 14, according to the Buddhist religion. They get to celebrate three days of the new year: Maha Sangkrin, is for people to dress up, light candles, and burn incense at the temples; Virak Vanabat is all about charitable giving; and Vearak Loeng Sak is the day to wash their Buddha statues and their elders with perfumed water.

America

New Year’s Eve parties happen all over the United States, but the thing that unites them is the countdown. The best-known countdown happens in New York City, where “the ball drops” down the flagpole at One Times Square. People tune in all across the country to watch it live, and it’s replayed at midnight in all 6 U.S. timezones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii time)! The exception is the U.S. Territory of Guam, “Where America’s Day Begins.” They are 16 hours ahead of New York City in the winter time, so they take care of the first celebrations themselves!

How do you celebrate the New Year? Let me know in the comment section below!