Bizarre New Year’s Eve Traditions

Every culture has its own way to welcome in the new year. Here in the United States, we have a rich tradition of drinking heavily and dropping things (and people) from great heights. However, the fetish for watching giant objects fall from the sky is not shared worldwide. For example, in Spain and the Philippines, it's customary to eat 12 grapes as the clock announces midnight, one for each stroke of the clock. In Finland, it's tradition to drop molten tin into water, then divine meaning from the shape it takes. Panamanians burn effigies of famous people as a means to drive off evil spirits for the New Year, while Danes will ring in 2009 by jumping off of chairs to symbolize a "leap" into the New Year. In Estonia, the big day is actually January 1, where it's considered good luck to eat seven meals in the same day. Fancy panties are de rigueur for folks in Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela; red underpants are supposed to bode well for love in the new year, while yellow knickers indicate dreams of money. To see photos and more funky traditions, click here.