8 Fun New Year's Customs from around the World ...

In Australia, New Year's Eve is celebrated with fireworks and barbecues. Many people gather with friends and family to watch the fireworks displays, which are often accompanied by music. The traditional way of celebrating the New Year in Australia is to gather around the barbecue and enjoy a meal. People also take part in a variety of activities such as swimming, beach sports, and sailing. Many Australians also take part in the traditional Aussie tradition of “first footing”, which involves the first person to enter a house in the New Year bringing a gift of coins or a bottle of wine to bring luck for the year ahead.

Belgium is known for its festive New Year's Eve celebrations. The evening is known as Sint Sylvester Vooranvond and is marked by parties and the exchange of kisses and good luck greetings at midnight. On New Year's Day, known as Niuwjaarrsdag, children write letters on decorated paper and give them to their god parents and parents. Additionally, the custom of eating a special cake called a galette is also popular. This cake is usually filled with a coin and whoever finds the coin is said to have good luck for the year. Belgians also enjoy a traditional New Year's Day meal of pork, sauerkraut, and endive.

In Austria, the New Year is celebrated with a punch made with spices, decorations, and champagne. At midnight, trumpets are blown from church towers and people exchange kisses. Additionally, people fire mororars to chase away evil spirits from the past year. People also feast on traditional dishes such as carp, a type of fish, and a variety of cakes. After the festivities, Austrians give gifts to their loved ones as a sign of luck for the upcoming year.

France is known for its extravagant New Year celebrations. On Jour des Etrennes, families gather for dinner parties and exchange presents. Fireworks are also a popular way to celebrate the New Year. On the night of December 31st, people gather at the Champs-Elysees in Paris to watch the spectacular display. Singing and dancing in the streets is also a common sight. Eating twelve grapes at midnight is a tradition that is said to bring good luck for the New Year. On New Year's Day, people visit friends and family and exchange gifts. They also enjoy traditional dishes like foie gras, oysters, and champagne.

In Great Britain, the first person to visit a home after the clock strikes 12 is believed to be the bringer of luck. The visitor is traditionally a man and must not have red or blond hair, as they are believed to bring bad luck. He usually brings a gift such as bread, coal, or money. Other traditional customs in Great Britain for New Year's include eating mince pies, making noise to ward off evil spirits, and giving gifts of money in white envelopes. It is also customary to make a New Year’s Resolution, which is a promise to oneself to do something better in the coming year.

In Germany, New Year's Eve is called Silvester and is a time for family gatherings and celebrations. People make resolutions for the new year and share good luck wishes. On New Year's Day, it is traditional to attend a church service and then visit friends and family for a meal. Germans also have a tradition of baking a cake called the Berliner, which is a pastry filled with jam or cream and covered with powdered sugar. Fireworks are also a popular way of celebrating the New Year, and it is believed that the louder the fireworks, the better luck you will have in the coming year.

In South Africa, New Year's Day is celebrated with a national holiday and a festive atmosphere. People come together to enjoy traditional South African music, dance, and food. Fireworks are lit up in the night sky, and church bells ring out to start the new year. Some communities even celebrate with a traditional firing of guns to mark the start of the new year. This is a time for families to come together and celebrate the start of a new year.