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NYE Traditions from Around the World
"One of the things we love about travel is getting to know the local customs. When in comes to New Year's traditions in some countries, there's no shortage of things to learn if you're looking to do as the locals do. Which one are you doing this year?" by World Mark Smashing Plates in DENMARK It's Danish tradition on NYE to smash plates and glasses on your friends and neighbour's front door. It's said to leave all any ill-will and aggression behind as you move into the New Year. And the more smashed dishes you have in front of your door at the end of the night, the better luck you'll have in the new year! by Mental Floss Eating Grapes in SPAIN This is a simple one as Spaniards eat exactly 12 grapes at the stroke of mid-night. Each grape represents the 12 months of the upcoming year and is said to bring good fortune and prosperity. by Uniqueness Burning Scarecrows in ECUADOR Bonfires light up the skies in Ecuador, and at the centre of each are scarecrows. These burnings of the "año viejo," or "old year," are held to cleanse the world of all the bad from the past 12 months and make room for all that is good to come. by World Mark First Footing in SCOTLAND According to Scottish tradition, the first person who enters you house on New Year's Day should be a dark-haired male if you're after good luck in the upcoming year. Typically these men will bring gifts of salt, coal, shortbread and whiskey...all of which bring good fortune to the house. by Greek City Times Smashing Pomegranates in GREECE In Greek Mythology, the pomegranate represents life, fertility and abundance while in more modern times, it represents good fortune. Just after midnight, Greeks will smash a pomegranate on their front doors, and the number of seeds that fall to the ground is directly related to how much good fortune you'll have in the upcoming year. by Spruce Eats Eating Olibollen in the NETHERLANDS There's no consensus on where this tradition actually began, but one theory is that the delicious balls were used as a deterrent. Tradition goes that the cruel pagan goddess Perchta would fly around on New Years's looking to cut open the stomach's of people she came across searching for food, BUT the fat from the Olibollen would make her sword slide right off your stomach. Eat up! by Spruce Eats Pouring Lead in GERMANY Each person melts a piece of lead or tin over candle light then drops it in cold water. It's said that the shape it takes once cooled reveals a person's fate in the upcoming year. by Getty White Flowers into the Ocean in BRAZIL Every NYE, Brazilian's throw white flowers into the ocean as an offering to Yemoja, a water-deity who controls the ocean and can bring blessings for the year to come. by Evolving Table Cutting Apples in the CZECH REPUBLIC On New Year's Eve, an apple is cut in half and the shape of the core is said to reveal the fate of everyone surrounding it. If the core looks like a star, then everyone will soon meet again in happiness and health—but if it looks like a cross, then someone at the New Year's Eve party should expect to fall ill. by Irish Times Sleeping with Mistletoe in IRELAND It's suggested that single-gals in Ireland should sleep with mistletoe under their pillows on NYE as it'll help them find their future husbands!
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One of Our Favourite Holiday Traditions
"There's nothing in the world quite like the holiday season in Europe. There are wooden chalets in 13th-century towns, snow-capped cathedrals, seasonal cookies and cakes in display windows, and of course, all the hot mulled wine you can drink. Put all of it together, and the continent practically twinkles with fairy-tale festiveness." - From our friends at Conde Nast Details on some of the best Holiday Markets in Europe to help you plan next year's trip ;) Leave a comment below and share where your favourite Holiday Market is located...
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Italy Over The Holidays
"During the Holidays you can embrace the spiced flavor of mulled wine or enjoy the enticing sounds of traditional bagpipes, visit elaborate nativity scenes or celebrate with midnight Mass at the Vatican. Visiting Italy during the Holiday season will immerse you in an experience that few have the fortune of enjoying" The Tour Guy walking us through some amazing Holiday experiences in Rome. Like you need another reason to visit Italy though... Leave a comment below and share any of your travel experiences during the Holidays in Italy...can't misses, helpful tips, how to get around etc.
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Destination: ARGENTINA
"Beautiful, defiant and intense, Argentina seduces with its streetside tango, wafting grills, fútbol (soccer), gaucho culture and the mighty Andes. It's one formidable cocktail of wanderlust." - From our friends at Lonely Planet The Vagabrothers taking us through Mendoza, Argentina's amazing wine region and the home of Malbec Leave a comment below and share any of your travel experiences in Argentina...can't misses, helpful tips, how to get around etc.
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Destination : NEW YORK CITY
"Epicenter of the arts. Architectural darling. Dining and shopping capital. Trendsetter. New York City wears many crowns, and spreads an irresistible feast for all." - From our friends at Lonely Planet NYC...the birthplace of pizza in the States! A great video on the history pizza in the city, while on the hunt for the perfect slice. Leave a comment below and share any of your travel experiences in New York...can't misses, helpful tips, how to get around etc.
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Destination: DENMARK
"Chart-topping contentment and quality of life, blockbuster dining and design, and a cheerful emphasis on hygge – explore (and envy) what makes Denmark tick." - From our friends at Lonely Planet A video that's about as straight-forward as it gets...10 amazing places to visit in Denmark. Leave a comment below and share any of your travel experiences in Denmark...can't misses, helpful tips, how to get around etc.
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Destination: SINGAPORE
"Celebrating its melting pot of cultures, Singapore has that spark, and it's fast becoming one of Asia’s hit-list destinations." - From our friends at Lonely Planet Lois You vloggin' her way through the restaurants and shops of Singapore. Leave a comment below and share any of your travel experiences in Singapore...can't misses, helpful tips, how to get around etc.
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Destination: TOKYO
"Yoking past and future, Tokyo dazzles with its traditional culture and passion for everything new." - From our friends at Lonely Planet Get lost in the streets of Shibuya, one of the world's most famous neighbourhoods. Leave a comment below and share any of your travel experiences in Tokyo...can't misses, helpful tips, how to get around etc.
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Riding the Glacier EXPRESS
"An incredible 300km journey through the Swiss Alps, the Glacier Express offers riders magnificent mountain views between Zermatt and St. Mortiz." Now many of us have been on plenty of trains during our travels, but few can match this incredible trip through the Alps. Learn more about the railway here! Take a ride with Kara and Nate as they decide whether a $300 First Class ticket is worth it! Leave a comment below and share any of your travel experiences in the Swiss Alps...can't misses, helpful tips, how to get around etc.
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