How Much Do You Know About These New Year’s Traditions?

Though New Year's Eve celebrations have been happening in Times Square since 1904, the first ball drop was in 1907. People in New York might have gotten this one, but those of us who watch it on TV may have had to guess.

People often make resolutions before the new year to help them stick to their goals. When the year changes over, it seems as though a new timer starts and things change for everyone. This is why resolutions are so popular.

Each grape represents one month of the year. Although the tradition now is about prosperity and luck throughout each month of the year, it was originally started to ward away dark magic and evil witches.

Ten minutes is a lot of counting, but 10 seconds is a great way to show your excitement that the year is changing without tiring yourself out. Not only is this countdown fun, but it's a great way to get rid of the old and welcome the new.

"Auld Lang Syne" has roots in Scottish traditions. The literal translation of the song title is "old long since," which basically means "old times" or "back in the day." The song is about old friends.

Champagne is considered a celebratory drink. Popping a cork adds to the loud sounds that come with ringing in the new year and bringing new adventures to your life. Drinking a little bubbly gives you the chance to wash away the past year and lift your spirits for the new year.

The tradition of making a lot of noise when the new year comes in dates back hundreds of years. It was believed that if you brought in the new year by creating a lot of noise, ringing bells and lighting fireworks, you would be free from evil spirits. These days, it's a way to make good luck.

Holding money in your hand when the clock strikes midnight is meant to ensure that you have money in your hand throughout the year. It is thought that whatever is in your hand on the first second of the year will be in your hand throughout the year.

The longstanding tradition of kissing the one you love when the clock strikes midnight is meant to show that you will continue kissing that person throughout the year. This is a way to give good fortune to your relationship for another 12 months.

That's right, in Denmark, it is customary to break old plates and dishes on your friends', neighbor's and family's doors when the new year comes in. It's done affectionately, apparently.

The fireworks displays on the Las Vegas Strip are some of the most intense that people see all year. That is why hundreds of thousands of people flock to the Strip to ring in the new year.

While one might think that smiling would bring happiness, the Japanese believe that smiling into the new year is a way to bring you and your family good luck. For this reason, New Year's festivities include a lot of things to smile at.

Every year on January 1st, the Rose Bowl comes on. It is a college football (American) game that is played in Pasadena, California. If New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the Rose Bowl takes place the following Monday.

As a way to bring good luck, American Southerners will usually eat a plate of pork, black-eyed peas and rice. This dish is known as Hoppin' Johns. This dish is traced all the way back to the slave trade from West Africa.

Many cultures believe that eating chicken on the first day of the year will bring bad luck and a big mess for you to clean up. While there is no scientific evidence to support this, the superstition has been around for a long time.

Wearing red underwear as the new year comes in is an excellent way to ensure that you are prosperous in the year to come. The Turks also run water and sprinkle salt on their doorsteps to welcome any money that comes along.

Pork for progress on New Year's Day. It's always a good thing to eat pork on the first day of the year. Many cultures think that it helps you move forward, as pigs always look for food in a forward motion.

Pomegranate has always been a sign of fertility, especially in Ancient Greece. These days, eating pomegranate on the eve of the new year is a way to gain fertility. In Greece, the pomegranate is smashed on the ground, so the seeds go everywhere, to show abundance.

In the Philippines, everything on New Year's must be round to show prosperity. However, having a round bundt cake is meant to bring a full circle of luck to anyone who eats it. No, you don't have to eat the whole cake to get the luck.

Pickled herring has a very specific silver color to it. It may not taste all that great, but if you eat the silvery fish, you are destined to have a bounty come your way in the upcoming year.

This bread is made in usually made in every household in Armenia. Although one could argue that luck and good wishes are kneaded into every loaf of homemade bread, this loaf is special for Armenian New Year celebrations.

The onion symbolizes a rebirth in the coming year. It's the Greek way of saying "out with the old and in with the new," in a much nicer way ... even if it's a little stinkier than other traditions.

That's right, if you're feeling a little lonely, head off to Venice this New Year's Eve and see if you can participate in the mass kissing session. The perfect thing to do during cold and flu season.

One way to rid yourself of your Christmas tree every year is to burn it to the ground (outside, of course). In the Netherlands, these large bonfires are symbolic of getting rid of old stuff to make way for new stuff.

If a young woman hopes to find herself a husband in the coming year, she only needs to rest some mistletoe under her pillow the night before the new year begins. Who needs internet dating?

Red is the color of love. If you want love, decorate your house red. If you are looking for a job or work, you should decorate your house yellow. Of course, the color green represents money and prosperity.

That's right; if you are hoping to travel in the following year, it is customary to carry around your suitcase in Colombia. This will ensure that you have a year filled with adventure, fun and travel.

Bright yellow underwear looks a little bit like gold and having gold underwear on means that you will most likely be rich in the new year. It makes sense if you really think about it ... anyway, it's worth a try.

What is there to do if you're bored in Canada? Jump into freezing water and try not to die, of course. This tradition has been long withstanding, and it has been made into a fun event that people train for.

Burning the old man in effigy is a Mexican tradition that symbolizes getting rid of the old year. In many cases, the old man is actually referred to as "the old year" to make the point a little clearer.

Lentils are small legumes that are shaped very much like coins. The disc shape symbolizes money, and eating them on New Year's Day is an excellent way to ensure that you get the prosperity you're looking for in the coming year.

Having full cupboards on the first day of the year is a sign (in many cultures) that your cupboards won't go bare throughout the year. Even if you're a minimalist, it's important to stock up before the year begins.

Some superstitious people believe that if you take anything out of your home on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, you will end up losing things throughout the year. For this reason, you should avoid taking out the garbage until January 2.

The holidays can be tough, but you have to tough it out over the new year. If you don't, you could find yourself facing an entire year of sadness, according to some superstitions, so smile and enjoy the good times.

A good way to let your house breathe is to open all of the doors and windows. According to some New Year's traditions, it will also help you get rid of all of the bad luck you had the previous year. Of course, it can also make your heating bill skyrocket.