Share

Strange New Year's customs from around the world

accreditation
Chair in the air! From Shutterstock.
Chair in the air! From Shutterstock.

The New Year's custom in Hillbrow in ohannesburg of throwing furniture out of windows of tall buildings has been voted one of the strangest customs world-wide to bid farewell to the old year and ring in the new, Reuters reported on the weekend.

The local custom came fourth in a poll conducted by social networking site Badoo.com, which asked 7 200 users in 18 countries to vote for the strangest and also most fun New Year's customs.

The most unusual New Year's customs:

1. Gathering in a graveyard to be with dead relatives (Talca, Chile)

2. Trying to hear animals talking; if you fail, it's good luck (Romania)

3. Banging bread on the walls to frighten away bad spirits (Ireland)

4. Throwing furniture out the window (Johannesburg, South Africa)

5. Diving into a frozen lake, carrying a tree (Siberia)

6. A "possum drop": lowering a possum over a noisy crowd (North Carolina, U.S.)

7. A village punch-up with neighbours to settle old disputes (Peru)

8. Parading the street while swinging balls of fire over your head (Scotland)

9. Watching an old British TV comedy sketch about a lonely dinner (Germany)

10. A giant, three-day water-fight, with water balloons and buckets (Thailand)

New Year's customs that are the "most fun":

1. A mass kiss, or "kiss-in" in a Venice piazza (Italy)

2. Wearing red underwear for good luck (Spain, Italy, Mexico)

3. A giant, three-day water-fight, with water balloons and buckets (Thailand)

4. Throwing furniture out the window (Johannesburg, South Africa)

5. A village punch-up with neighbours to settle old disputes (Peru)

Source: Reuters

Image credit: chair in the air from Shutterstock

WATCH: New Year's Eve chaos in Hillbrow (source: Eyewitness News on YouTube)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE