New Year's Around the World: Asia, Europe, Latin America

Red Envelopes

This tradition centers on children. Adults in the family give them red envelopes filled with money to wish them good luck, happiness, and prosperity. But you can also hand these out to your matches.

The amount in the envelope can vary, but the bills should be clean and crisp. You don’t necessarily have to hand out traditional paper ones. With today’s technological advances, you can send digital red envelopes via certain apps.

Traditional Gifts

Say you’ve matched with a Chinese woman and agreed to date each other. She invited you over for dinner with her parents and extended relatives. Don’t come empty-handed.

Bring gifts, such as health supplements, alcohol, tea, fruits, and edible bird’s nests. Remember to buy at least two of each, as Chinese people believe that good things come in pairs. Wrap them in red and gold, which symbolize luck and wealth. Avoid gifts that they believe are unlucky or malicious.

Water Splashing

This act symbolizes cleansing and renewal. People splash water on each other to wash away their sins and misfortunes from the past year and usher in new beginnings. But don’t just expect light splashes. Songkran celebrations are like lively battlegrounds. Imagine full-on water fights, with people wielding buckets, hoses, and water guns.

Songkran provides a fun, casual environment for dating. But be cautious of your match’s personal boundaries. Avoid unwanted or aggressive behavior, especially if they seem hesitant to participate in the festivities.

Temple Visits

Thailand has over 30,000 active Buddhist temples. In the New Year, people begin their day by visiting their local temples. Some even aim to visit nine major temples in one day, including Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Benchamabophit, and the Rama IX Golden Jubilee Temple.

Worshippers pay their respects to Buddha, offer food, and pour water on monks’ hands to ask for blessings. Even if you’re not religious, it’s worth being mindful that such ceremonies are happening.

Loud Greetings

In the U.S., Americans greet the New Year with a grand fireworks display. The same happens in the Philippines, although it’s more chaotic.

Aside from fireworks, Filipinos also bang their frying pans or pots and blow trumpets or horns. The practice is rooted in Chinese influence.

The purpose of this tradition is to scare away evil spirits. Now, however, the colorful visuals and startling sounds are mainly for entertainment.

Media Noche

This is the New Year’s version of the Christmas feast (Noche Buena). It’s eaten before and at midnight, and features 12 varieties of round-shaped fruits as its centerpiece.

Filipinos believe that round symbolizes prosperity and fortune, so round fruits and cakes are a must-have on the table. Aside from these, families also prepare pancit (for long life), lechon (for abundance), and green vegetables (for financial stability).

Media Noche is often a family affair. If you’re dating a Filipina, bonding with her parents and relatives over food is the perfect opportunity to get to know them.

Wishes on Paper

Many Russians consider this a magical tradition. Right before midnight, everyone writes as many wishes as they can on separate paper. Each member also prepares a glass of champagne. Once midnight strikes, they burn their papers, pour the ashes in their glasses, and drink it together with their champagne. The rule is to finish the drink before midnight passes.

If you can, your wish will be granted sometime within the new year. If not, Russia has eight time zones. There are multiple opportunities to make wishes and ensure they’re granted. This is quite a good time to wish for some progress in your love life.

Russian Salad

New Year in Russia is incomplete without Olivier salad on the table. The ingredients typically include diced potatoes, carrots, hard-boiled eggs, diced meats (often ham, bologna, or chicken), pickles, green peas, and onions. They’re then mixed with mayonnaise and seasoned with salt and pepper. It seems nothing out of the ordinary, right?

Well, that’s because that’s the modern version. ITMO News states that traditionally, Olivier salad was made with veal tongue, crayfish, and caviar. All credit to these high-quality ingredients goes to Chef Lucien Olivier, who first created this dish as a gourmet delicacy.

Exchange Gifts

In the West, gift-giving usually happens on Christmas. People circle around the tree, hand out their gifts, and unwrap them right then and there. But the Christmas decorations in Ukraine don’t immediately come down after December. That’s because the New Year is the primary winter holiday.

Ukrainian homes are still decorated with garlands and brightly colored lights. The tree is still up, and on New Year’s Eve, people exchange gifts.

(Fun Fact: Ukrainians don’t believe in Santa Claus. Instead, they believe in Grandfather Frost. They’re both gift-giving figures, but their appearance slightly differs.)

Dress-Up Ritual

According to Rubryka, Ukrainian New Year’s Eve is also called the Generous Evening or Malanka. It’s based on a legend, where Malanka, the daughter of the moon, brings renewal to the people. At this time, one person in a group dresses up as her, smearing their face with soot. Others dress up in handmade costumes or masks of animals and other folklore characters.

Recently, however, Ukrainians have adopted a more modern version, dressing up as characters and even political figures.

If you wish to participate with your Ukrainian date, just make sure to be respectful. Learn the legend beforehand. Or, if you’re going to dress up as a character or figure, ensure that it isn’t offensive.

Fiestas de Zapote

Technically, this festival isn’t exclusive to the New Year. It starts on the afternoon of December 25 and runs until January 5. It’s not your typical date activity, either. But Costa Ricans’ celebrations aren’t complete without it.

It’s held in San Jose. The main highlight? Bullfights! Unlike Spain’s controversial version, however, the Costa Rican one is comedic. Volunteers enter a ring and try to dodge a charging bull with silly stunts.

Beach Parties

Can you really say you spent New Year’s abroad if you didn’t go out to drink and dance with the locals? Fortunately, Costa Rica throws some of the best parties.

In Tamarindo, for example, locals throw a full-on beach party, including bonfires, dancing, and fireworks. The setting is perfect for mingling with locals.

Suitcase Run

To ensure a year full of adventure, locals grab an empty suitcase and run around the house (taking the first step with their right foot) when the clock strikes midnight. Some even run a full lap around their neighborhood to ensure their wish will come true.​

This tradition symbolizes opening new doors and manifesting new journeys. As a traveler, it’s something worth considering.

12 Grapes

Each grape symbolizes your wishes for each month of the year. If you hope to have a meaningful relationship, this is the best time to voice it to the universe.

You eat one grape per chime at midnight. Since downing them (especially huge ones) isn’t easy, finishing them means you’ll have good luck throughout the year.

However, if the grapes are sour, you may face potential obstacles ahead.

Dinner Parties

In the capital, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, hotels and resorts often host dinner parties. These usually include live music, dancing, and other forms of entertainment. Guests who aren’t staying at the hotel or resort are welcome to participate. But often, families would book rooms in these locations to conveniently crash after the celebrations.

Civic Events

These are public festivities in the central plaza. The details and arrangements depend on the town or city. But it usually includes food and drink stalls, live performances from singers and dancers, and other forms of street entertainment.

If you’re looking for a New Year’s date, such events are a great environment. With all the activities happening around, you can easily start conversations and build shared experiences.