Around the World on New Year's Eve Fireworks and the drop of a glittering ball. Toasts and midnight kisses. Music and laughter, dancing and anticipation. For much of America, those are the hallmarks of New Year's Eve. But how do other parts of the world welcome this important day? Well, if you live in Spain, you're just as likely to be munching on grapes, one for each of the 12 strokes of midnight, while making a wish. This custom goes back to 1895, when certain farmers with a surplus of fruit on their hands started a new tradition to get more customers. In Belgium, celebrants mark Sint Sylvester Vooranvond, or Saint Sylvester Eve, not just with champagne toasts, but New Year's missives from children to their parents or godparents on fancy decorated paper, which are then read out loud. Planning on taking down that red and green holiday wreath after the fireworks have stopped? How about hanging an onion in its place? The kremmida is a Greek symbol of rebirth in the coming year, used to wake children on Jan. 1 with a tap on the head. Breaking a pomegranate on the doorstep before entering the house on New Year's Day is another Greek ritual for prosperity and good luck. The Danes also break things on their doorstep -- but dishes, rather than fruit, to ensure many friends in the new year. And a hearty evening meal is topped off with a cone-shaped cake called a Kransegage, decorated with fire and flags.
By Lucie M. Winborne
Part of the fun of celebrating on Dec. 31 is looking forward to what the coming months may bring, hence the Finnish tradition of molybdomancy -- telling New Year's fortunes by melting "tin" (lead, actually) on the stove and then quickly throwing it into a bucket of cold water. The metal is then scrutinized by candlelight to see what fate has in store for the seeker. A similar aim is achieved with sprigs of mistletoe in Ireland: Placed under pillowcases by single ladies, the hope is that the plant will draw both luck and a husband. But be wary of the first person to enter your home after the 31st! If it's a tall, dark, handsome fellow, you can relax, but a redheaded female will only bring trouble. Perhaps the past 12 months are something you'd prefer to forget. In such case, a visit to Ecuador may be just the ticket, where you can join in the annual burning of thousands of life-size scarecrows crafted from wood and newspaper. Torched in the streets at midnight on New Year's Eve, they stand in for all the trials and hardships that will hopefully now yield to happier times. Wherever and however you choose to ring out the old and ring in the new this season, here's wishing you a 2016 full of possibility. Salut! (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.