Euronews staff tell us how New Year is celebrated in their countries

Every European country has its own way of ringing in the new year, with traditions that overlap and diverge across borders.

If you have ever wondered how each nation celebrates New Year’s Eve, Euronews staff has got you covered. Here are their tales of how the moment is marked in their home countries.

Portugal: Inês Trindade Pereira

We spend New Year’s Eve with either family or friends, celebrating and partying with loved ones. We also wear blue underwear, as it’s supposed to bring good luck for the new year.

At midnight, we eat one raisin for each of the clock’s 12 strikes and wish for nice things like health and happiness. We also drink champagne and make a toast, and then watch the fireworks as the new year begins.

Then we go to our balconies and bang pots and pans really loudly. The noise is supposed to make the bad energies stay behind in the last year.

Ireland: Meabh McMahon

Irish people often celebrate New Year’s Eve by gathering with friends and family to enjoy a night of food, drink, and good company. The atmosphere is lively, with bars, restaurants, and clubs filled to capacity as people come together to ring in the new year.

While some may choose to go out and party, others prefer to stay in for a more relaxed celebration to avoid expensive nights out and long queues.

Those who stay at home often indulge in a massive feast, complete with delicious food, drinks, and a carefully curated playlist, creating a cosy and enjoyable evening.

In addition to the food and festivities, one of the key traditions in Ireland is watching the fireworks display and the countdown on national TV.

As the clock strikes midnight, people across the country sing “Auld Lang Syne” to mark the transition into the new year.

France: Romane Armangau

In France, we call New Year’s Eve “Le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre”, and we mark it with a festive and luxurious dinner.

It’s a time for big meals and lots of socialising. We usually celebrate among friends and gather to enjoy gourmet foods like foie gras, oysters and seafood, and champagne flows throughout the evening.

At midnight, we celebrate with a toast of champagne, exchanging wishes for a happy new year with the traditional phrases “Bonne Année” or “Meilleurs Vœux”.

While large cities may have fireworks and public events, many people celebrate quietly at home with loved ones. In Paris, there is a huge fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower. It’s also common to kiss friends and family on the cheek as part of the celebration.

Hungary: Sándor Zsíros

In Hungary, 31 December is an occasion for festivities, parties, and gatherings.

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At midnight, everyone listens to the national anthem on television, standing with a glass of champagne in hand until the end, when we clink glasses and wish each other a happy new year.

Then, after the president makes a televised speech, we watch the beautiful fireworks ring in the new year.

For New Year’s Eve, traditional dishes include salty cakes, roasted pig, lentil soup, and sausage.

On 1 January, we eat lentils to bring money and luck. The one thing we’re not supposed to eat is chicken, which is said to “scratch the good luck”.

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Italy: Alice Carnevali

It’s customary for Italians to enjoy lentils and cotechino, a hearty pork sausage, at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

This tradition dates back to ancient Rome, where people would carry a scarsella — a leather pouch filled with lentils — tied to their belts, symbolising the hope that the beans would magically turn into coins.

The shape of the lentils, round and coin-like, is the inspiration behind the tradition. Additionally, Italians also wear red underwear to attract good fortune in the year ahead.

Spain: Leticia Batista-Cabanas

In Spain, we call the last night of the year “Nochevieja,” which literally means old night. In our tradition, we eat 12 grapes at midnight, one at each strike of the clock.

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This little ritual, a century-old tradition, is supposed to bring good luck for the next year. Spaniards specifically hoping to find love in the coming year should eat the grapes while crouching under the dining room table. In my experience, this is not an infallible technique.

We also wear red underwear for that extra bit of luck. After midnight, we hug and kiss our loved ones, then watch the fireworks and party until the morning.

The next day, it’s traditional to eat lentils, which are supposed to bring abundance and prosperity.

Greece and Cyprus: Orestes Georgiou

In Cyprus and Greece, a coin is placed inside a traditional New Year’s cake called vasilopita, which is infused with orange and mastic. The cake is baked on 31 December then cut on New Year’s Day, with everyone receiving a piece by order of eldest to youngest.

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The person whose slice has the coin is considered to be blessed with luck for the year, and is expected to keep hold of the coin and not spend it.

Another tradition observed across Greece involves hanging a pomegranate, a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, on the front door of each home.

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, the lights are turned off, and the pomegranate is smashed against the door. This signifies a blessing for the family home, with the year ahead said to be full of health and happiness.

Germany: Johanna Urbancik

In Germany, New Year’s Eve — or Silvester — is all about fireworks. It’s an old tradition to scare away evil spirits. Everyone fires New Year’s Eve rockets into the air — a gold mine for manufacturers. There are rockets available for €10, but you can easily spend more than €100.

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People also do something called “bleigießen” to predict the future. It’s lead casting, where we place a little spoonful of lead over a flame. Once it’s liquid, you tip it into a bowl of water, and the shape it takes predicts your future. However, it’s illegal now.

Another classic tradition is to watch a British comedy sketch from 1963 called Dinner for One on TV. There’s also a superstition not to hang up laundry.

Poland: Berenika Sorokowska

In Poland, New Year’s Eve, or “Sylwester”, is celebrated with parties, music, dancing, and fireworks. We gather with friends and family to ring in the new year, often celebrating until midnight.

When the clock strikes 12, fireworks light up the sky, marking the start of the new year with hope and joy. On New Year’s Day, families often relax and enjoy a quiet day together.

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Some Poles also take part in making resolutions for the year ahead, focusing on self-improvement. The day is about reflection and celebrating the fresh start that the new year brings.

We also bake something called faworki, traditional Polish pastries also known as “angel wings.” They are thin, crispy strips of dough that are twisted into shapes and deep-fried until golden and crunchy.

After frying, they are dusted with powdered sugar. Faworki are light, airy, and have a delicate texture, making them a popular treat during festive seasons.