Weird New Year traditions

[Tom62]

In the Netherlands the new year is celebrated with a New Year's Dive in the cold North Sea water.

In 1963, Germany's Norddeutscher Rundfunk television station recorded a sketch entitled Dinner For One, performed by the British comics Freddie Frinton and May Warden. It is shown on German TV ever since on New Year's Eve.

What "weird" New Year traditions does your country or state have?

[OldGit]

Britain now has fireworks to mark the new year.  When I was young, this was unheard-of.  I wish they wouldn't do it now; it wakes me up and the animals hate it.

[Sandra Craft]

In the Netherlands the new year is celebrated with a New Year's Dive in the cold North Sea water.

We've got "polar bears" who celebrate New Year's Day with a dip in freezing water here too.  Another thing that's becoming a tradition in places is shooting guns off into the air (they do it on Jul 4th too).  Frankly, I'd prefer fireworks.

[xSilverPhinx]

Plenty of fireworks around these parts too.

Here in Brazil people usually wear white, eat lentils and those lucky enough to be celebrating New Years on the beach hop over seven waves. The superstitious don't eat chicken or turkey, because they believe that they bring bad luck. Why? Because they paw the ground.  Other superstitious people eat pomegranates and keep seven seeds in their wallets all year round, in hopes that the new year will bring more money into their pockets. Yet other superstitious people throw flowers or soap into the ocean, and believe that those will come back in the form of waves, bringing good luck with them.

These are more common in the northeastern region of Brazil, where the influence of African cultures and religions is greater.

Others take care to take their first step in the new year with their right foot. Some eat three grapes at midnight, making a wish for each one.   

[Guardian85]

Don't know much about superstitions about Newyears in Norway.
Around here the evening usually starts with the King's speech on TV. After this we have a nice dinner, usually turkey. And at midnight its champagne and fireworks.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

Eating black eyed peas on NYD for good luck throughout the year.

[Claireliontamer]

People here just use it as an excuse to get even drunker than they normally do.  There is a weird going in and out of door thing that I remember as a kid but never did understand what it was about.  My personal NYE tradition is to stay in, eat some good food and hide from anyone remotely cheerful. 

[Crow]

People here just use it as an excuse to get even drunker than they normally do.  There is a weird going in and out of door thing that I remember as a kid but never did understand what it was about.  My personal NYE tradition is to stay in, eat some good food and hide from anyone remotely cheerful.

First footing. It is an old custom only really found in North of England and Scotland.

[OldGit]

I used to celebrate Hogmanay with Scottish friends and did the first-footing: you go outside a moment before midnight and on the stroke of twelve knock on the door, bringing a piece of fish and a knob of coal.  The first-footer has to be dark-haired, not blond like a Saxon.

Then everybody gets stuck into the whisky.

[Guardian85]

Then everybody gets stuck into the whisky.

or cognac as the tradition is in northern Norway. As I am doing right now, as a matter of fact... 

[OldGit]

Ye dinna hae the whusky?  Losh, mon, nae wonder ye're sae strange!