AUSTRIA – The suckling pig is the symbol for good luck for the new year. It’s served on a table decorated with tiny edible pigs [i.e. Homer Simpson’s wet dream]. Dessert often consists of green peppermint ice cream in the shape of a four-leaf clover [not bad. I don’t think they start serving the green beer for another three months, though].
ENGLAND – The British place their fortunes for the coming year in the hands of their first guest. They believe the first visitor of each year should be male and bearing gifts [hell to the yeah! I’ll need Richard Alpert at my door with some Tiffany’s, stat!]. Traditional gifts are coal for the fire [and here we thought that was for the naughty kids], a loaf for the table [bread?] and a drink for the master [BEER AND WINE!]. For good luck, the guest should enter through the front door and leave through the back. Guests who are empty-handed or unwanted are not allowed to enter first [also another reasonably fashionably late is best – in this case it’s cheaper].
WALES – At the first toll of midnight, the back door is opened and then shut to release the old year and lock out all of its bad luck [you people are NUTS, it’s COLD over there!]. Then at the twelfth stroke of the clock, the front door is opened and the New Year is welcomed with all of its luck [oh! crosswinds. I get it. UK’ers are cheap].
HAITI – In Haiti, New Year’s Day is a sign of the year to come [REALLY? Shut up.]. Haitians wear new clothing and exchange gifts in the hope that it will bode well for the new year [UKers cheap, Haitians are not].
SICILY – An old Sicilian tradition says good luck will come to those who eat lasagna on New Year’s Day, but woe if you dine on macaroni, for any other noodle will bring bad luck [Heaven forbid we get our starches mixed up on this holiest of days].
SPAIN – In Spain, when the clock strikes midnight, the Spanish eat 12 grapes, one with every toll, to bring good luck for the 12 months ahead [Yeah! Grape Challenge FTW!].
PERU – The Peruvian New Year’s custom is a spin on the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes at the turn of the year. But in Peru, a 13th grape must be eaten to assure good luck.
GREECE – A special New Year’s bread is baked with a coin buried in the dough [COUGH, WHAT?]. The first slice is for the Christ child [who’s that, the first born male?], the second for the father of the household and the third slice is for the house [thanks, pop]. If the third slice holds the coin, spring will come early that year [Oh good, I wondered what they did overseas without Mr. Groundhog].
JAPAN – The Japanese decorate their homes in tribute to lucky gods. One tradition, kadomatsu, consists of a pine branch symbolizing longevity, a bamboo stalk symbolizing prosperity, and a plum blossom showing nobility.
CHINA – For the Chinese New Year, every front door is adorned with a fresh coat of red paint, red being a symbol of good luck and happiness [AMONG OTHER THINGS!]. Although the whole family prepares a feast for the New Year [yum], all knives are put away for 24 hours to keep anyone from cutting themselves, which is thought to cut the family’s good luck for the next year [Only if you have dumbasses in the family].
UNITED STATES – The kiss shared at the stroke of midnight in the United States is derived from masked balls that have been common throughout history. As tradition has it, the masks symbolize evil spirits from the old year and the kiss is the purification into the new year [ABBEY! This validates your masquerade party idea!!].
NORWAY – Norwegians make rice pudding at New Year’s and hide one whole almond within. Guaranteed wealth goes to the person whose serving holds the lucky almond [who gives the cash prize, the host? I don’t think the lottery commission passes those babies out].
