German class started again this morning. My class has people from around the world, so it was fun when we  went around the room saying what the traditions in different countries are (if any) for things you need to do on New Year’s Eve to ensure good luck in the coming year. Here’s a quick list of what I jotted down:

1.  Greece: Whatever you do on New Year’s Day will be a harbinger of what you’ll be doing during the year. E.g., if you read a book on New Year’s Day, you’ll read a lot during the year. Apparently, you don’t need to do this at midnight on New Year’s Eve, though.
2. In Russia, here’s what you need to do to have your wish come true in the New Year:  take a small piece of paper. At midnight, while the clock is chiming 12, write down your wish on the small piece of paper.  Then, burn the piece of paper, take the ashes, add them to a class of champagne, and drink it. You have only the 12 seconds while the clock is chiming midnight to do all that. If you succeed, your wish is guaranteed to come true.
   At least that’s the theory; the two people from Russia in the class say that people do this, but they themselves have not tried this. They also do not really recommend it, actually. But it is a real tradition that some people in Russia do, apparently.
3. While there was no one in the class from Spain, Chris and I were in Madrid on New Year’s Eve years ago, and so I knew about the tradition there of eating 12 grapes at midnight. You must eat one grape with each chime of the clock at midnight, which is harder to do than you’d think. However, if you do it, that ensures good luck for the coming year.
4. In Italy,  wearing a new pair of red underwear on New Year’s Eve is supposed to bring you luck. Crucially, you have to wear a pair of red underwear that someone else bought for you as a gift, though.  A pair you buy for youself won’t bring you luck. So, be sure to remember to ask Santa for a pair to set you up for New Year’s Eve. BTW, the other big “good luck” tradition in Italy for New Year’s to eat lentils to ensure good luck for the coming year.
5. In Columbia, things seem to be a bit more complicated. Doing different things at midnight can give you different kinds of good luck in the New Year. For example,

• Want to ensure luck in traveling? At midnight, pick up a suitcase, go outside, and run in a circle around your house, carrying your suitcase.
• Want to ensure you’ll get married in the coming year? Take a raw egg, mix it with water in a glass, and drink it at midnight.
• Want to ensure you’ll have plenty of money in the coming year? Hold money in your fists and stick your fists  (with the money) in your pockets at midnight.
• Just want good luck in general for the new year. Get yourself a new pair of yellow underwear. Note the lucky color in Columbia is yellow, not red like in Italy.  The rules for the yellow underwear are also little simpler, since you can just buy yourself a pair rather than relying on a friend to get you some. Wear those yellow undies on New Year’s Eve – or at least make sure you have them on at midnight, – and you’ll have good luck for the coming year.

I know, this is all too late for this year, but you now have almost 12 months to prepare for where you will go and what traditions you will follow.

BTW, at least according to our teacher today, there were no special “midnight” traditions here in Germany to worry about following (or not following). Whew – it was enough to have to make sure we followed the traditions of the country we were in on New Year’s Eve. 😉