December 31st night rituals that will bring you luck all year

We welcome the New Year with a new tradition, inspired by the original celebrations worldwide. These rituals, from typical cooking to breaking dishes at midnight, will cheer you up and bring you good luck next year...

Greece; Dessert Coins
In Greece the New Year is celebrated by baking a dessert called “vasilopeita” with a coin inside. It's said that the person who plays the coin will succeed next year.

Italy; Thrust
In Italy, lenses are served on January 1. It is believed that they bring prosperity, having similarities with small coins. Family wish each other “Glorified New Year” with these lenses, grapes and feta cheese salad.

Spain? Grape
Some celebrate the New Year by eating 12 ears of grapes at midnight. The fruits are said to be a predictant of the coming year: Every sweet grape represents a good month, every sour grape a month not very fortunate. You can adapt the tradition by inserting grapes into sticks and serving them in a glass of champagne just before counting begins.

Germany; Fish
In Germany fish symbolize prosperity. Some people even put fish scales in their wallets to gain prosperity.

Scotland: Whisky and music
The New Year's celebration in Scotland lasts two days. At midnight on January 1, celebrants grab their glasses of friends and family with a glass of whiskey, accompanied by the sounds of “Auld Lang Syne”, a moving song written by Scottish national poet Robert Burns. After midnight, neighbours leave for the first “to be trampled for the first time”, exchanging food and door-to-door drink. According to superstition, if the first guest to cross your doorstep is a tall, handsome man, then the year will be good.

Sweden and Norway; Podding with rice
In Scandinavian countries it is customary for the New Year to be celebrated by eating rice pudding. A almond is hidden in it, and the person who plays the almonds will enjoy prosperity during the new year.

Cuba and Austria: Mature Gic
In Cuba and Austria it is a tradition to bake a gici on New Year's Day because this animal symbolizes future progress.