This is how we do it (Picture: Craig Hibbert/File)

New Year’s Eve 2013 is upon us and most of us in the UK will be complying will the local customs of snogging whoever’s to hand, drinking until you fall over and general noisemaking.

But elsewhere on our wonderfully diverse planet, even stranger things are afoot today.

If you’re feeling in need of an international flavour when the clock strikes 12 tonight, you may find some use for our guide to the world’s quirkiest NYE traditions.

Midnight snack, anyone? (Picture: Getty)

Spanish grapes


Where? Spain

What? Revellers are required to eat twelve grapes; one with each chime of the clock bell just after the stroke of midnight.



Should you try it? Why not? A great excuse to eat food as soon as 2014 has begun.

Worried, little guy? So you should be (Picture: Robcsworld)

Possum drop

Where? Brasstown, North Carolina.

What? A live possum in a plexiglass box is lowered on to the ground from a pole outside a convenience store. Just ’cause.

Should you try it? Um, no. I think this is the sort of activity for which the phrase ‘only in America’ was invented.

Oh, America (Picture: M-Maurice)

Pickle drop

Where? Mount Olive, North Carolina.

What? Those curious folk in North Carolina are dropping more things – this time a giant pickle replica, which is lowered down a flagpole for good luck.

Should you try it? I mean… do you want to try it?

Makes sense (Picture: Filipfoto)

Sardine drop

Where? Eastport, Maine.

What? An 8ft replica of a sardine sporting dozens of LED lights is lowered and residents line up to kiss it for good luck.

Should you try it? I give up.

This guy wouldn’t be seen dead in black at the stroke of midnight (Picture: Stecks05)

All white

Where? Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

What? Those celebrating NYE in South America’s party capital mostly wear white to signify peace in the new year, with dashes of other colours (green for good health, yellow for money etc.) to attract different kind of luck. No black, though, as this will mean your 2014 is doomed, according to tradition.

Should you try it? Unless you’re particularly attached to your LBD, by all means…

The metal melting process is probably not like this in most German homes (Picture: lnzyx)

German lead

Where? Germany.

What? Those fun-loving Germans certainly know how to have a good time at New Year’s. All over the country, revellers drop bits of molten metal (traditionally lead) into cold water and then hold the resultant hardened metal up to get clues from its shape about their year to come.

Should you try it? If you’re really stuck for something to do, I guess…

Good luck getting this out of the window (Picture: Grassetto)

Appliance-tossing

Where? Johannesburg, South Africa.

What? Locals throw old appliances out of their windows to celebrate the coming of a new year. Obviously.

Should you try it? Only if there is definitely no one below your window. Also, I think in the UK, this sort of behaviour is classed as ‘littering’. At best.

You may end up doing a variation on this anyway after a few drinks (Picture: Defun)

Leap year

Where? Denmark.

What? When the clock strikes midnight, people jump off their chairs.

Should you try it? That really depends how much you’ve had to drink…

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