New Year traditions around the World Photogallery

01 / 29

30 strangest New Year’s traditions from around the world.
Russia: Write down a wish on a piece of paper, burn it, throw it into a champagne glass, and drink it before 12:01.

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02 / 29

Colombia: A woman sells straw dolls to be burnt during the end of the year celebrations, in Medellin, Colombia. It is a Colombian tradition to burn so-called 'old year dolls' on New Year's eve as a way to leave behind all the bad things from the year. (Getty Images)

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03 / 29

Romania: Just like in Belgium, Romanian farmers try to communicate with their cows. If they succeed, however, then it means bad luck for the year.

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04 / 29

Colombia: In Colombia they carry their suitcases around with them all day in hopes of having a travel filled year.

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05 / 29

Romania: In Romania they throw their spare coins into the river to get good luck.

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06 / 29

Denmark: In Denmark people climb on top of chairs and literally “jump” into the New Year to bring good luck.

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07 / 29

Switzerland: In Switzerland they celebrate the New Year by dropping ice cream on the floor.

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08 / 29

France: People take part in a traditional sea bathing to mark the year's end, on a nudist beach in Le Cap d'Agde, southern France. (Getty Images)

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09 / 29

Vietnam A man releases red carps into Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi as Vietnamese celebrate the traditional Kitchen God Day. It is believed that on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, just before the start of the Lunar New Year, the Kitchen God returns to Heaven by riding on a carp to report the activities of every household over the past year to the Jade Emperor who then either rewards or punishes a family based on the report.

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10 / 29

Japan: In Japan they ring all of their bells 108 times in alignment with the Buddhist belief that this brings cleanness. It’s also considered good to be smiling going into the New Year as it supposedly brings good luck.

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