Getting drunk and singing Auld Lang Syne is an old British tradition on New Year's, but around the world there are a whole host of different ones.
From burning things to collecting round items, breaking plates to wearing coloured underwear, here are the top _ traditions and superstitions.
1. Coloured underwear - South America
Choose your underwear wisely if you are visiting some South America countries, as the colour they are will determine your fate in the upcoming year. Red, for example, means you'll find love, gold means wealth and if you want peace, go for white.
2. 108 rings for bells - Japan
At midnight on December 31, Buddhist temples all over Japan ring their bells a total of 108 times to symbolize the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief, and to get rid of the 108 worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every Japanese citizen.
3. Takanakuy Festival - Peru
Christmas in the UK is usually famed as the time for family fights, but in a small Peruvian festival, fist fights are encouraged to settle differences so you can start the new year with a clean slate.
4. Dropping ice cream - Switzerland
Possibly one of the weirdest traditions in Switzerland, where it is thought dropping a piece of ice cream on the floor to mark the New Year will bring you good luck.
5. Smashing plates - Denmark
Danes save up their plates and then affectionately shatter them against the doors of all their friends and family.
6. Burning things - Ecuador
In Ecuador, good fortune supposedly comes from burning paper filled scarecrows and photographs from that year.
7. Round Things - Philippines
It is all about round things in the Philippines - food, clothes, everything should be round to symbolise wealth for the next year.
8. High Jump - Denmark
As well as smashing plates, Danes also like to "jump" into the New Year by standing on a chair and leaping off as the New Year begins.
9. Cemetery Sleepover - Chile
In Chile, families spend the night in the company of their deceased loved ones by sleeping at the cemetery.
10. Bread - Ireland
It is thought that banging the walls of the house with bread is a way of chasing away bad luck and evil spirits in Ireland. Some traditions also saw it as a way of encouraging good luck and ensuring there would be plenty of bread available over the coming year.
11. Eating For Abundance - Estonia
Although we might still all be feeling a bit fat after Christmas, that doesn't stop them in Estonia, where they eat seven meals on New Year's Day to guarantee abundance.
12. 12 grapes - Spain
Spaniards eat one grape for every chime of the clock at 12 on New Year's. The tradiition dates back to 1909, when there was a huge grape harvest and the King decided to give the surplus to the people to consume on New Year's Eve. It is now believed that whoever can finish the 12 grapes before the chimes end will be rewarded with luck and happiness in the coming year.
13. Goddess of the Sea - Brazil
Good luck in Brazil comes from throwing white flowers into the sea as an offering to the goodess of the sea, Yemanja.
14. Frozen lakes - Russia
In Russa, people welcome in the New Year by jumping into a frozen lake. Carrying a tree.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel