Did you know that there are at least 24 known New Year’s traditions from around the world, and all of them have some different meaning or superstition attached to them?
The most popular tradition in the United States that millions gather to watch, is the annual ball drop in Times Square. According to Times Square, this tradition started in 1907 when the first New Year’s Eve ball, made of iron and wood and adorned with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs, was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds.
The ball has changed eight different times throughout the years to more modern technology and is currently made of 2,688 crystal triangles illuminated by 32,256 LEDs, and the ball weighs over 6 tons.
Times Square gives some history about the symbolic meaning behind the ball on their website, saying, “The actual notion of a ball ‘dropping’ to signal the passage of time dates back long before New Year’s Eve was ever celebrated in Times Square. The first ‘time-ball’ was installed atop England’s Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1833. This ball would drop at one o’clock every afternoon, allowing the captains of nearby ships to precisely set their chronometers (a vital navigational instrument).”
Another tradition that has gained even more popularity because of social media, is Spain’s tradition of eating 12 grapes under the table at midnight for good luck throughout the 12 months of the new year.
The tradition could have originated in the late 1800s when the upper class in Madrid imitated the French tradition of eating grapes and champagne to celebrate New Year’s, but the information is a bit mixed on the subject. Although, it is known that it was largely popularized in 1909 when grape farmers in Alicante, Spain had an overabundance of grapes and needed to increase sales to get rid of them.
Kissing is also a New Year’s tradition that is said to bring good luck, love, and is even said to ward off evil spirits. According to various sources, German and English folklore gets credit for this superstition.
An article from the New York Times, dating back to 1863, documents one of the earliest examples of this tradition: “German immigrants would gather among one another for the New Year over food and drinks and spread kisses and hugs throughout the crowds.”
The superstition of warding off evil spirits continues with another tradition of setting off fireworks, the bright colors and loud noise is said to banish them.
Of course there are other, more niche traditions such as, wearing specific colored underwear, eating a spoonful of black eyed peas, breaking a plate, wearing polka dots, or running around the block with an empty suitcase.
All of these traditions have some sort of meaning attached to them and different households have their own traditions that they participate in to ring in the new year, but they all tend to bring joy to whoever joins in the fun, so try out a new one this year – after all the new year is a symbol of change no matter where you are in the world.
Happy New Year Thunderbirds!