From breaking plates to camping in graveyards: 10 most bizarre New Year traditions around the world

Dancing and partying into the night is the way most of us ring in the New Year. Making New Year resolutions which are barely kept until January is another way. However, there are many bizarre traditions that people follow around the world. (Image: Reuters)

Denmark | Breaking plates | People save up unused and damaged plates to smash it against their friend’s doors. Finding a heap of broken china on your doorstep is considered good luck. If you’re in the mood to smash some crockery, head to Thalassa restaurant in North Goa. The guests can throw their plates on the floor before the traditional Greek dance! (Image: Flickr/Stig Nygaard)

Spain | Eating Grapes | The Spaniards welcome the New Year by stuffing 12 grapes, one for each second as they draw curtains on the concluding year. If you succeed, good luck will follow you in the following 12 months. (Image: Reuters)

Philippines | Money and round things | The Filipinos believe in wealth and good fortune for the New Year. They spread coins in every nook and corner of the house to make sure the coming year is prosperous. Wearing anything round signifies prosperity, so polka dots are quite the rage around this time. (Image: Reuters)

South America | Wearing coloured underwear | They believe that the colour of your underwear at the stroke of midnight decides your destiny for the next year. Red underwear brings passion, pink brings love and yellow brings wealth. During the 2008 debt crisis in Brazil, yellow underwears were sold out as people wore it in hopes of retaining their jobs and averting the crisis. (Image: Wikipedia)

Japan | Ringing temple bell | The Buddhist temples in Japan bring in the New Year by ringing the temple bell 108 times on New Year’s. Each ringing of the bell signifies worldly desires and anxieties. The Japanese believe that this purifies the person and helps face the coming year with a clean slate. (Image: Reuters)

Switzerland | Dropping ice cream | To make sure the next year is filled with luck,peace and wealth, the Swiss drop a scoop of ice cream on the floor. They dress up in Saint Silvester costumes with headgears and cowbells in the countryside. They sing along the neighbourhood wishing everyone a prosperous new year! (Image: Flickr/Pete)

Ecuador | Burning scarecrows | People in Ecuador make effigies filled with newspapers and old clothes and set it on fire. Last year, Donald Trump and a disgraced Ecuadorian judge were popular choices for effigies. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Chile | Camping at the graveyard | This is a tradition that started only around 15 years ago. A family crossed over the cemetery’s fence to celebrate New Year’s next to their father’s grave. Since then, many people celebrate New Year’s with their deceased loved ones. (Image: Reuters)

Ireland | Throwing bread | The Irish believe in throwing bread at the walls of the house to ward off evil spirits and ensure enough bread for the coming year. During poverty stricken times, this was a way of hoping there would be no shortage in the New Year. (Image: maxpixel)

South Africa | Throwing furniture | People stock up pots, pans and furniture items before New Year’s and throw them out the window. This symbolises letting go of the past in favour of a hopeful time. In 2011, South African authorities had to provide medical aid as people threw out guns and other sharp objects from high-rise buildings. It's advisable to not try this at home! (Image: maxpixel)