New Years is a special tradition celebrated by many to welcome a new, better, year. Many celebrate differently depending on culture, and or religious beliefs. There are many that are very popular and well known like, The Ball Drop (American) , Eat Twelve Grapes Under The Table (Hispanic), Red Envelope (China)  and making New Year’s Resolutions, but what about other regions of the world?

There are so many different traditions all around the world but here are some of the most interesting, first; eating round fruits (Filipinos). “I had a Filipino student tell me that they ate round fruits for new years” French teacher Maggie Shore . According to Frog Hollow Farm this tradition stems from symbolizing prosperity. Next tradition comes from Greece, vasilopita, a cake with a surprise. In Greece people make an orange zest cake covered in powdered sugar with a hidden coin baked  into it, whoever gets the coin has good luck for the year. Another captivating tradition comes from Brazil, jumping over seven waves. It’s believed that your luck will increase by jumping over seven waves for the divine spirits of the Umbanda religion.

While all traditions are interesting, they are all based on different things from superstition to religion, but what are they mostly?  “I think most of them are either luck or superstition, something that represents what you want in the coming year” Erica Johnson Spanish teacher. While many traditions stem from a religious aspect they slowly just become a fun little belief over time when enough people start to do it, like in France Galette des Rois (Kings cake). Kings cake steams from the “king’s day” but has now just become a cake with a small owl inside that most kids enjoy getting.

Overall New Years is a fun time to celebrate with loved ones and enjoy any culture or religion you follow.