New Year's Traditions Around The World: How Do You Celebrate?

People will gather across the globe in less than two weeks to ring in the New Year, with hopes and dreams for 2024.

Many folks have traditions that span throughout generations and bring meaning to the new year. See if you find your choice of celebration below!

Some Foods To Eat On New Year's Eve

12 lucky grapes

In Spain, when the clock strikes midnight, they eat one grape for each bell toll (each chime not only symbolizes the hour, but also each month of the year). Eat all 12 by the clock's last toll and you will have good luck for the rest of the year. The century-old tradition – called las doce uvas de la suerte – has a twist: While eating the grapes, you must wear red underwear.

Black eyed peas and collard greens

In Southern states, it's a tradition to eat black-eyed peas and greens on New Year's Eve. It's believed to bring good luck and fortune in the new year. The collard greens and peas specifically represent money.

Ring-shaped foods

Cakes and other treats in round shapes resemble the year coming to an end, or "full circle." People may practice this by baking bundt cakes, eating donuts, or trying other round pastries.

Some Sights And Sounds On New Year's Eve

Ball drops

Watching the ball drop in Times Square is one of the most popular New Year's Eve pastimes for Americans. The New Year's Eve ball in New York City made its first appearance in 1907. However, "time-balls" date back to 1833 when a ball was installed on England's Royal Observatory at Greenwich. More than 100 time-balls are believed to have been installed around the world since then. See more: TimesSquareNYC.org

Firework shows

Fireworks began in China, with the intent to ward off evil spirits, and bring prosperity. Variations of those colorful displays can now be seen lighting up the skies in places around the world.

Making resolutions

A new year means a clean slate for most people. Some individuals might be found on New Year's Eve writing down their goals and aspirations. These goals may range from physical to mental states, such as gaining muscle and traveling, or learning a new language and being more generous to ourselves and others. No matter what the objective is, it's a great time for self-reflection.

While New Year's Eve may be synonymous with fireworks, ball drops and "Auld Lang Syne," some more obscure traditions will be celebrated around the world:

Bear dance in Romania

Romanians usher in the new year by wearing brightly colored costumes or animal furs to ward off evil. This year was no different as Romanian dancers performed the "bear" dance, a ritual for good luck in the New Year, during a traditional parade in Comanesti. In pre-Christian rural traditions, dancers used to tour from house to house in villages while singing and dancing to ward off evil.

Possum drop in North Carolina

Every Dec. 31 in Brasstown, N.C. a possum is captured and lowered in a cage to ring in the New Year, aka the "Possum Drop." This year's unusual tradition was in jeopardy after a PETA lawyer argued in court that the lights, noise and crowd of people can wreck a possum's nerves and health. However, a judge ruled Monday that the annual New Year's Eve show can go on.

Pickle drop in Pennsylvania

He draws smaller crowds than the ball in Times Square does, but Mr. Pickle is a New Year's Eve star in his own right. Each year, thousands of people gather in Dillsburg, Pa. to watch the lighted 3-foot-tall, papier-mache pickle drop from a 45-foot flagpole into - you guessed it - a pickle tank to mark the start of the new year. 

Lead pouring in Germany

On New Year's Eve, Germans enjoy their mulled red wine and their fireworks – but they also like their melted pieces of lead. According to germany.info, some citizens ring in the new year with BleigieBen, or lead pouring. Here's how it works: You melt a small amount of lead and after pouring the molten metal into cold water, the metal hardens and forms a shape. A special BleigieBen book will tell you what the shape signifies for the new year.

Peach drop in Atlanta

In Atlanta, an 800-pound fiberglass peach is dropped from the top of a 138-foot tower of lights in what has been billed as the Southeast's largest New Year's Eve celebration. The celebration, staged by Underground Atlanta, is a 16-hour affair, starting at noon with children's activities and culminating with fireworks after the peach drop.

Carp drop in Wisconsin

The carp drop in Prairie du Chien, Wis., attracts people from afar, creating business for motels and shops. The carp is a real - but dead - fish weighing between 25 and 30 pounds and caught locally. It's frozen, then partially thawed and prepared for the big day. Nicknamed "Lucky," the carp is lowered onto a throne as the new year arrives. Fireworks follow, courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce.