Eating grapes, letting a brunette through your front door or making as much noise as possible to keep the bad demons away are some of the ways people hope to swing good fortune their way in the new year. 

Here’s a look at the traditions celebrated by countries around the world: 

Smashing plates – Denmark 

If you woke up on New Year’s Day to find a bunch of smashed plates on your doorstep, you would be considered as very lucky by Denmark’s standards. 

It’s a tradition to throw plates on your neighbour’s and friend’s doors to bring them luck over the next year. 

Eating 12 grapes – Spain 

In Spain, people celebrate the end of the year by eating a grape with each toll of the clock at midnight, equally 12 grapes in total. 

The idea is that each grape brings you luck for every month in the yea. 

In recent years, viral trends have seen people adopting this tradition, but eating the little fruits under a table instead. 

Some claim this helps you meet your soul mate in the new year. 

Letting a dark haired man through your door  – Scotland 

“First footing” as it is known in Scotland is a superstition that the first person to enter a household in the new year will decide the luck you have. 

A “lucky” first footer is considered to be a dark-haired man. 

In an ideal world, they would bring whisky, a lump of coal, a piece of bread and a coin. 

The idea is believed to come from when the Vikings invaded, when a blonde haired man at your door could have spelled danger.

Eating lentils – Italy 

It’s tradition in Italy to eat lentils as part of celebrations to bring good fortune in the new year. 

The more lentils you eat, the more good luck you will have. 

Dress up as a bear – Romania 

In Romania, some people dress up as dancing bears to welcome good luck into the new year. 

Locals say the custom dates to before Christianity when it is believed that wild animals guarded people from misfortune and danger, according to AP. 

Dancing bears therefore go to people’s homes on New Year’s Eve to knock on their doors and bring them good luck. 

Ringing bells – Japan

Joya no kane is a traditional bell ringing ceremony that happens on New Year’s eve, 

Celebrating the end of the year while also welcoming the new one, the tradition sees temple bells rung a total of 108 times.