7 wonderful New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world

It’s time to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Break out the sparklers, pop the bubbles and… throw yourself off the back of a chair before going to lie in a coffin? Not everywhere around the world rings in the new year in the same way; traditions range from sentimental and spiritual to the truly eccentric, and every culture has its own way of shaking off the previous 12 months while gleaning luck for the next. 

As you prepare to welcome the new year, why not check a destination off your bucket list? Immerse yourself in the excitement of  visiting a new place and make your celebrations extra memorable with these wonderfully diverse New Year’s customs from around the world.  

1. The Philippines: eat round fruits 

 In the Philippines on New Year’s Eve, people gather for Media Noche, a lavish feast that symbolises hopes for a positive year ahead with one type of food prominently displayed: round fruit. Filipinos believe that the round shape represents good fortune – a tradition inherited from Chinese culture. Thorny fruits like pineapples and durian are avoided, as the spikes symbolise problems or obstacles. Opinions vary on the correct number of fruits for the table, with some saying 12, others 13 or 14 – but the rule is simple: they must be round. 

2. Italy: throw things out the window 

A staple ritual at New Year’s Eve celebrations across Italy is throwing old items out of windows at midnight. This act symbolises letting go of useless baggage, both mental and physical, accumulated over the previous year. In the past, items thrown from windows could include almost anything; today, however, it’s usually something symbolic, like old crockery. If you’re in the streets of Rome for New Year’s Eve, better mind your head.  

3. Thailand: lie in an open casket  

Participate in your own funeral at the Wat Takien temple in Bangkok. The temple is famed for its end-of-year coffin tradition, where believers queue to take turns lying in an open casket as part of a symbolic rebirthing for the following year. The ritual is popular with local worshippers and tourists alike, who play dead and are then “reborn” – for a small donation. 

4. Mexico: take your (empty) suitcase for a stroll 

If “more travel” is always on your list of New Year’s resolutions, then the Latin American tradition of wheeling your empty suitcases around the house, or around the block, will be just the ticket. Variations of this custom remain popular in several South and Central American countries too, where many believe that the longer you push your luggage about the likelier you are to travel the following year.  

5. Denmark: jump off furniture  

In Denmark, just before midnight, people stop what they’re doing, climb onto a chair, a sofa, or whatever piece of elevated furniture is at hand, then jump off as a way to guarantee good luck. The first strike after midnight signifies the right moment to leap into the future, and not jumping is said to bring bad luck for the new year ahead. But be careful: people have been known to injure themselves doing this, especially after overindulging during festive celebrations. 

6. Spain: eat a dozen grapes  

In Spain, eating grapes at the stroke of midnight is a long-held tradition to mark the new year. Each grape is believed to bring good luck for a month and will also help you achieve any resolutions you might have. Put the wine down for a moment and eat one grape for each strike of the clock past midnight, until you’ve made it to 12 for good luck and an auspicious (if full-cheeked) start to the new year. 

7. New York: watch the big ball drop  

If your idea of New Year’s Eve is a big party, head to New York City for the famous Times Square countdown celebrations. Mingle with the throngs at one of the world’s biggest parties as people wait for the famous ball to drop from One Times Square at the stroke of midnight. The spectacle originally started with just some dynamite and a few fireworks in 1904 before the ball was introduced in 1907, and a variation has been dropped every year since.  

This article was originally published in December 2023 and updated in December 2025.