New Year 2026: 6 Weird And Wild New Year’s Eve Traditions From Around The World That Will Leave You Stunned

New Year’s Eve is celebrated in every corner of the world, but not always with fireworks and champagne. As New Year 2026 approaches, people everywhere are preparing to welcome the future with rituals so strange, dramatic and symbolic that they sound almost unbelievable. From smashing household items to throwing furniture out of windows, these customs aren’t just festive, they’re deeply rooted in culture, belief, and the hope that the coming year will bring luck, love, wealth and protection. Some of these traditions will make you laugh, others will shock you, and a few might even make you want to try them yourself.

Here are six of the weirdest and most unique New Year’s Eve traditions on Earth, and the powerful meanings behind them.

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1. Smashing Plates For Good Luck

In many German households, New Year’s Eve doesn’t begin with champagne, it begins with chaos. The tradition of Polterabend involves smashing old plates, porcelain and ceramic dishes outside homes. Friends and family gather, deliberately breaking as much crockery as possible. The louder the crash, the better the luck for the coming year. What’s even more fascinating is that glass is never broken, as it is believed to bring bad luck. Once the smashing is done, the homeowner must sweep up every shard themselves, symbolising the clearing away of misfortune and negative energy from the old year.

2. Throwing Old Furniture Out Of Windows

If you’re walking the streets of Naples on New Year’s Eve, you might want to wear a helmet. In some Italian cities, people throw old chairs, tables, lamps and even televisions straight out of their windows. The act symbolises letting go of the past, broken relationships, bad luck, painful memories, and negative experiences. The more dramatic the object, the more powerful the message: the old year is over, and nothing from it should weigh you down in the new one.

3. Eating 12 Grapes At Midnight

In Spain, New Year’s Eve is a race against time and grapes. As the clock strikes midnight, people must eat 12 grapes, one for each chime. Each grape represents one month of the coming year, and successfully swallowing all twelve before the final chime ensures good luck, prosperity and happiness. The challenge is harder than it sounds. Laughter fills the room as families struggle to keep pace with the clock, cheeks puffed and hands flying. It is both chaotic and joyful. The ritual is believed to protect against misfortune and attract abundance. Spaniards take this tradition seriously, and supermarkets even sell special grape packs prepared for the countdown.

4. Wearing Polka Dots For Wealth

On New Year’s Eve in the Philippines, fashion becomes fortune. People dress head-to-toe in polka dots, on clothes, accessories, even underwear. The circular patterns resemble coins, symbolising wealth, prosperity and financial success. Families also fill their homes with round objects like, oranges, coins, and circular decorations. Many jump repeatedly at midnight, believing it helps them grow taller or elevate their status in the coming year. The entire night becomes a celebration of abundance, colour and joyful optimism.

5. Hitting People With Onions

In certain Danish communities, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with a quirky and unexpected tradition: friends and neighbors toss onions at each other’s doors. The more onion remnants you find the next morning, the more it is believed that you are cherished and popular among your circle. This peculiar ritual turns the pungent scent and occasional tears into laughter, bonding, and a playful start to the new year. Onions, often seen as humble and everyday vegetables, are transformed into tokens of affection and social recognition for the year ahead. Families and friends may even strategise how many onions to toss, making it a lighthearted competition of popularity.

6. Ringing Bells 108 Times

In Japan, the New Year is often welcomed with a deeply spiritual tradition: ringing temple bells 108 times. Known as Joya no Kane, this ritual is performed on New Year’s Eve at Buddhist temples across the country. The number 108 is symbolic, it represents the 108 earthly desires that, according to Buddhist belief, cause human suffering. By ringing the bell once for each desire, people symbolically cleanse themselves of negative emotions, regrets, and worldly attachments from the past year. The sound of the bell resonates through towns and cities, creating a serene and reflective atmosphere as people prepare to embrace the new year with a fresh start.