How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve

classic Party Starters

Consider incorporating three common symbols—coins, confetti, and crackers (the British kind made from a cardboard tube), all of which portend good fortune—into your fête.

For edible coins: Prepare logs of icebox cookies that you can make ahead, store in the freezer (wrapped well), and then slice and bake the day of the party. Serve them along with other sweet treats, and wrap up extras in festive packaging (inexpensive plastic tubes are sold at party supply stores) and give out as party favors.

For no-toss confetti: Punch out shiny paper into circles or other shapes and then string those on twine for confetti streamers that you can suspend from the ceiling with adhesive hooks. Or cut gold or silver tissue paper with a fringe cutter or scissors, tie into bundles with twine, and hand out to the kids.

For festive crackers: Wrap cardboard tubes in tissue paper, securing with double-sided tape; perforating the paper at the folds keeps the gathered ends loose enough to break. Tie one end with ribbon or twine, then fill with trinkets and a paper crown (according to tradition); tie off the other end and then wrap middle part with decorative paper, stickers, or other embellishments. Use as place cards, give out as midnight markers, or send home as party favors.

New Year’s food Traditions

As the single most celebrated holiday around the globe, there are many New Year’s traditions thought to bring happiness, health, and prosperity in the year ahead.

The American South

Black-eyed peas are credited with the ability to summon good luck; wilted greens such as collards also promise riches.

China

For the fabulously festive Chinese New Year, which falls in January or February depending on the lunar calendar, family and friends enjoy an extravagant feast of dishes including whole fish, dumplings, citrus fruit, and nian gao (a sticky rice cake).

COLoMBIA

Here the locals tote empty suitcases around the block (or throughout the day, for some)—all in the hopes of a travel-filled New Year.

Denmark

Two traditions to try: Smash old dishes against your friends’ front doors to keep away evil spirits, and jump off chairs at midnight to “leap” into the New Year.

Holland

Hot spiced wine is used to toast in Holland, wassail in certain parts of England.

ISRAEL

Honey-coated apples are traditional Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) treats.

Italy

An abundance of lentils—tiny edible seeds—symbolizes wealth.

JAPAN

In addition to smiling as the clock strikes midnight, denizens ring their town bells exactly 108 times according to the Buddhist prescription for cleanliness.

Philippines

Customs include piling round fruit on the table and wearing polka-dots (anything round symbolizes coins and prosperity), opening all doors, windows, and drawers (to let good fortune in), or turning on all lights (for a bright New Year).

Scotland

During Hogmanay, locals practice “first-footing,” where the first person to cross a home’s threshold in the New Year must carry a gift for luck. Also, to purify the year ahead, Scots parade while swinging poles with fireballs at bonfire ceremonies.

south asia

Rice promises prosperity in India and Pakistan.

Spain

Revelers in Spain eat a dozen grapes at midnight, one with each stroke of the clock.