From Spain’s tradition of eating grapes at midnight to Italy’s custom of wearing lucky red underwear, this article explores how various European nations celebrate the arrival of the new year.
Every country in Europe boasts its own unique way of welcoming the new year, with traditions that both overlap and diverge across borders. Have you ever wondered how different nations usher in January 1st? Join us as we share personal accounts from Euronews staff about their favorite New Year’s Eve traditions.
Portugal: Inês Trindade Pereira
In Portugal, New Year’s Eve is all about coming together with family and friends. Celebrations often include wearing blue underwear, believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead. As the clock strikes midnight, we eat a grape for each of the twelve chimes, wishing for health and happiness. Toasting with champagne and enjoying the fireworks create a magical atmosphere. To drive away negative energy, we bang pots and pans on our balconies—an exhilarating way to end the previous year and usher in the new one.
Ireland: Meabh McMahon
In Ireland, we ring in the new year surrounded by friends and family, indulging in a night filled with food, drinks, and lively conversation. While some choose to experience the vibrant nightlife, others opt for a cozy evening at home, complete with a sumptuous feast and a carefully curated playlist. A significant part of the celebration is watching the fireworks and the countdown on television, culminating in singing “Auld Lang Syne” as the clock strikes midnight—a moment of unity and joy.
France: Romane Armangau
In France, New Year’s Eve, known as “Le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre,” is celebrated with an extravagant dinner among friends. Gourmet dishes such as foie gras, oysters, and other seafood paired with champagne make for a festive highlight. As midnight approaches, we exchange heartfelt wishes with the traditional “Bonne Année” or “Meilleurs Vœux.” While major cities may host public events and fireworks shows, many families prefer the intimacy of home celebrations—especially in Paris, where a spectacular fireworks display illuminates the Eiffel Tower.
Hungary: Sándor Zsíros
In Hungary, December 31 is filled with parties and joyful festivities. Midnight is typically marked by watching the national anthem on television while holding champagne glasses, clinking them together to wish one another a happy new year. Traditional dishes such as salty cakes, roasted pig, lentil soup, and sausage find their way to the table. On January 1, eating lentils is believed to attract wealth and luck, while chicken is avoided, as it is thought to bring misfortune.
Italy: Alice Carnevali
Italians have a delightful tradition of enjoying lentils and cotechino, a savory pork sausage, at midnight on New Year’s Eve. This custom harkens back to ancient Rome, where people carried lentils tied to their belts, symbolizing hopes that the legumes would transform into coins. The round shape of the lentils reflects this aspiration for prosperity. Additionally, many Italians wear red underwear as a charming superstition aimed at securing good fortune in the coming year.
Spain: Leticia Batista-Cabanas
In Spain, we refer to New Year’s Eve as “Nochevieja,” or “old night.” A beloved tradition is to consume twelve grapes at midnight, eating one grape with each clock strike to invite good luck for the year ahead. For those hoping to find love, crouching under the dining room table while eating the grapes is a whimsical custom. We also don our red underwear and celebrate with hugs, kisses, and vibrant fireworks that light up the night sky, continuing the revelry well into the early hours.
Greece and Cyprus: Orestes Georgiou
In Cyprus and Greece, a unique New Year’s cake called vasilopita is baked with a hidden coin, infused with citrus flavors. Cut on January 1, the person who receives the slice with the coin is regarded as lucky for the upcoming year. Another rich tradition involves smashing a pomegranate against the front door at midnight, symbolizing blessings for prosperity and good fortune in the new year.
Germany: Johanna Urbancik
In Germany, New Year’s Eve, or Silvester, is renowned for its spectacular fireworks displays, historically meant to scare away evil spirits. People often indulge in lead casting, or “bleigießen,” to predict future events, despite its current legal restrictions. Watching the classic British comedy “Dinner for One” on television has become a quirky German New Year’s tradition, along with the superstition against hanging laundry out on this special night.
Poland: Berenika Sorokowska
In Poland, New Year’s Eve, called “Sylwester,” is a time for jubilant parties with music, dancing, and stunning fireworks. Families gather to celebrate the stroke of midnight, indulging in joyous festivities. Resolutions for self-improvement often take center stage as the new year begins. A traditional treat, faworki, or “angel wings,” is enjoyed during the holiday season—these delicate pastries are typically fried until golden and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Euronews
