On New Year’s Eve, there are many traditions people follow in hopes of gaining luck and improving themselves and their relationships with others in the new year. Around the world and even at Parkland, it is a holiday that brings hope and anticipation for what is to come. “A new year means leaving all the unwanted memories and mistakes behind and having a fresh start,” says Abigail Barasch (11).

A tradition that stems from Spain, but has risen in popularity in the US over the past few years is the practice of eating 12 grapes while sitting under a table at midnight, during the minute before the clock strikes 12:01. Each grape is meant to represent one of the upcoming months of the year, and eating them is said to bring good luck. Brayden Cortes (11), who repeats this tradition every year with his family, says, “This personally impacts me because it makes me feel more connected to my family.”

After the 4th of July, New Year’s Eve is one of the holidays most commonly associated with fireworks. They are used as a way to express joy and offer a spectacle, bringing brightness and suspense for the new year. They make the transition into the next year clear, evoking feelings of second chances.

Arguably the most famous tradition is the New Year’s kiss, which, most people know, involves kissing one’s romantic partner right at midnight, as it is believed to give good luck to the relationship going forward. 

One of the newest traditions practiced by younger generations is making a New Year’s bingo card. Participants make their predictions for the upcoming year, arranging them into a 5×5 bingo card. The game is played like typical bingo, and if a person gets five predictions in a row correct, they win.