The Cutest New Year's Eve Traditions From Around The World

Whether it’s your favorite night of the year to go out or you prefer a chill night in, there’s a fun activity for everyone, and all of them have us excited to celebrate New Year’s Eve tomorrow.

Game Night

Many people like to stay in on New Year’s Eve, and one of the most common ways to celebrate while staying in is with a game night, specifically a family game night. Whether you play charades or Monopoly, this is such a fun and wholesome way to welcome in the new year with your loved ones.

Dressing Up

Nothing says New Year’s Eve like a sparkly dress! Whether you’re going out or staying in, dressing up in anything sparkly will always make you feel festive. It’s also the perfect time to show off the cute outfits you got for Christmas, which is half of the fun of the night anyways.

Movie Nights

Whether it’s a movie with iconic New Year’s Eve scenes like When Harry Met Sally, An American in Paris, After the Thin Man, or you're just bingeing Netflix, this is a fun and relaxing way to celebrate. It’s fun for all ages because you can choose any movie and go to bed the second it hits midnight (or before, if you feel like it), and what’s not to love about that?

Ordering Chinese Food

Going to a Chinese restaurant or ordering Chinese food on New Year’s Eve is a tradition of many American families. The tradition can be traced back to Chinese restaurants in Boston having New Year’s Eve specials in the late 1910s, and you can celebrate it whether you want an eventful night out or a chill night in.

Fireworks

An elaborate fireworks display to ring in the New Year is popular in countries like Brazil, Australia, and Thailand, but the tradition is also celebrated across cities in the United States. A firework show (that usually begins at midnight) is a festive way to celebrate and creates the perfect opportunity for a New Year’s kiss.

Sparklers

Fireworks aren’t always realistic (or safe), making sparklers a great alternative. They’re not only fun to light but the perfect opportunity to get a cute picture to ring in the New Year. Whether you’re celebrating at home or out at a party, sparklers are always a good idea.

Banging Pots and Noisemakers

Making noise at the stroke of midnight is a tradition that "was once thought of as a way to drive away evil spirits," but it’s also a fun way for people of all ages to celebrate. Whether you bang pots and pans (a childhood favorite of many) or use noisemakers, this will be a hit with all of the kids at your New Year’s Eve party.

Kiss at Midnight

This sweet tradition can be traced back to Ancient Rome and was also practiced in the Renaissance to "banish evil spirits" in the New Year. Modern cultures see it as a way to usher in good luck in the New Year, and it helps that it’s a cute and romantic tradition.

Drinking Sparkling Cider and Champagne

While many of us have a couple (or one too many) drinks to celebrate the holiday, it’s customary to make a toast with sparkling wine or champagne for good luck in the New Year. Whether you practice it earlier for the kids (with sparkling cider or grape juice) or at the stroke of midnight, New Year’s Eve is simply incomplete without a toast.

Watching the Ball Drop

Since the early 20th century, millions of Americans have traveled to New York City to watch the ball drop at Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Many watch the ball drop at home (with several television specials dedicated to the event), but the main event is always the countdown leading up to the ball dropping precisely at midnight.

Polar Bear Plunge

Celebrated in countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, participants briefly jump into cold water to raise money for charity. It’s a community event for many (similar to 5k races on Thanksgiving morning) and helps bring families together to ring in the New Year for a good cause.

Southern Dinner

In Southern states, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with traditional Southern foods like cornbread, black-eyed peas, collared greens, and hog jowl. Ushering in the New Year with these foods is considered to be both good luck and fun for the entire family.

Eat 12 Grapes at Midnight

Originating in late 19th-century Spain, this tradition has participants eat 12 grapes from the vine at the strike of midnight. It’s believed that each grape will bring in luck for each month in the New Year, but it only works if you finish each grape before each bell strikes.

Bonfire 

This is more popular in warmer climates (obviously), but a bonfire is a fun New Year’s Eve party idea for the whole family. Whether you play outdoor games or sit around and tell stories of your favorite memories of the year and some of your New Year’s resolutions, we can’t think of a better way to end the year.

Hanging Onions on the Front Door

This unique tradition is popular in Greece. According to Forbes, “an onion hung on the front door symbolizes rebirth. On New Year’s Day, parents wake their children by tapping them on the head with the onion.” Not only is it cute, but it’s considered to bring good luck and a fresh start into the New Year.

Closing Thoughts

From family game nights to eating 12 grapes at midnight for good luck in the New Year, there’s always something fun and festive about carrying on New Year’s Eve traditions.

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