New YearVersión en línea 7th grade por Vika 1 Japan People eat soba noodles on New Year's Eve to symbolize long life. Temples ring their bells 108 times to cleanse away the past year's sins. 2 Spain At midnight, people eat 12 grapes — one for each stroke of the clock — to bring good luck for all 12 months. 3 Denmark Danes jump off chairs at midnight to "leap" into the new year. They also smash plates on friends' doorsteps as a sign of affection and luck. 4 Scotland “First-footing” means the first visitor of the year brings luck, especially if it's a tall, dark-haired man. Celebrations can last several days. 5 Brazil People wear white clothes for peace and jump over seven ocean waves for good fortune. They also offer flowers to the sea goddess. 6 Greece A pomegranate is smashed at the door for abundance and luck. The more seeds scatter, the luckier the year will be. 7 Philippines Round shapes symbolize prosperity, so people wear polka dots and fill the table with round fruits. Firecrackers chase away evil spirits. 8 Italy Italians eat lentils at midnight because they look like coins and bring wealth. In some regions, people also toss old items out the window to “let go” of the past. 9 Colombia People run around the block with an empty suitcase to ensure a year full of travel. It's a fun and very popular tradition. 10 Iceland On New Year's Eve, Icelanders often read old fairy tales and folktales, believing that cows can speak and elves can appear that night. Bonfires and fireworks are used to “burn away” the old year.
