New Year’s traditions

Try not to focus on the ‘what ifs’. It is pointless to think about all the ‘what ifs’ of the year abroad experience. What if I had studied instead of worked? What if I lived in a different city? What if I had chosen to live with a host family? The truth is that the year abroad will fly by. You have a limited time to experience something that many others never do — living, working and studying in another country and culture. Wherever you find yourself and whatever you end up doing, try to make the experience your own without considering what could have been.

International writers explore the most unique New Year’s Eve traditions of Romania and Spain

ONE of the most extraordinary festivities connected to the New Year is the Romanian tradition of celebrating through dressing up as bears. That unique custom has its roots in pre-Christian rituals, and it has been preserved well. It is rooted in the idea that seeing a bear in someone’s garden signifies good luck and prosperity as well as protection from evil spirits. The parade is accompanied by various folk costumes, traditional songs and dances. Bears are not the only animals that are witnessed: there are also horses and other creatures (folk and imaginary). Romanians highlight how important it is to preserve their centuries-old culture; New Year’s Eve for them is not only watching the fireworks and dancing the night away, but also an appreciation of tradition and teaching their children about the heritage of their country. Some circulate around houses, wishing their neighbours a good year, singing songs, with children reciting a traditional poem, “Plugusorul” (the small plow), with wishes of fruitful fields in the upcoming year. One other tradition that is worth mentioning is the onion calendar. Romanian families cut an onion into 12 equal pieces and add some salt. The water quantity that appears on the slices predicts the rainfall for each time of the year. It is evident that Romania celebrates its folk beliefs with a great passion.

Agata Koralewska International Editor

LIKE in most countries, as the clock approaches midnight on New Year’s Eve, Spanish people gather around TV screens or in the main ‘plazas’ to ring in the new year. However, with a twist: they are probably clutching twelve green grapes (or doce uvas). The aim is to eat a grape for each twelve strikes of the clock which can prove difficult, but if completed successfully, each grape represents luck within each month of the New Year. Also food-related, many Spanish people eat lentils and ham for lunch on New Year’s Eve, as lentils are said to represent coins and therefore wealth in the coming year. Another tradition in Spain relates to setting off on the right foot. Literally! Many Spaniards believe that the first step you should take after the chimes of New Year should be on your right foot in order to not cause bad luck. For some, this first step is counted as the first step outside the house on New Year’s Day and for others it relates to the the first step back into the house after a night of celebrating with friends or family. Whichever it is, perhaps we should hop around on our right feet for the preceding few days so as to not risk the bad luck.

Gracie Moore Lifestyle Editor

CONNOR GODDARD & ANABEL COSTA-FERREIRA