In the United States and elsewhere, people ring in the new year by watching a ball drop or fireworks illuminate the night sky. Traditionally, people may also kiss someone special at midnight, and perhaps drink Champagne. 

Other places around the world have their own unique traditions, some of which might seem odd to outsiders.

Here’s a look at eight interesting ways New Year’s Day is celebrated abroad.

Choose your underwear carefully

In many Latin American countries, people believe that the color of your underwear on New Year’s Eve will be tied to your fortunes for the upcoming year. Red is said to bring love, yellow brings wealth and white brings peace. 

Stuff your face with grapes

Also in Latin America, as well as in Spain, people eat 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month of the new year. They believe it will help them secure prosperity. But it’s trickier than it sounds because they have to eat one grape with each bell strike at midnight. 

108 bells

Japan literally rings in the new year with bells chiming 108 times at Buddhist temples. The first 107 close out the old year, and the final is rung in the new year. Each ring, according to Buddhist teachings, represents one of the 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana. 

A smashing good time

An old New Year’s Eve tradition in Denmark involves throwing dishes at the front doors of friends, family and neighbors. It might seem mean to us, but it’s actually an honor to be targeted because, if there’s a large heap of smashed plates and drinkware on your doorstep, it means you have plenty of friends.

Out with the old (furniture)

Some people in southern Italy also toss dishes to celebrate the new year — as well as furniture, blankets and more. They throw their old items out their window at midnight to symbolize a fresh start. People in Johannesburg also have been known to throw furniture out their windows for New Year’s. 

Burn in effigy

In Ecuador, people make scarecrow-like dolls of people they dislike and notable people from the past year, dressing them in old clothes, stuffing them with newspaper or sawdust and giving them a mask. Then at midnight, they light the effigies on fire. The ritual aims to eradicate any bad things from the past year.

Let the games begin

As part of Belarus’ Kaliady celebration, young, unmarried women compete in a series of games on New Year’s Day. The contests are said to be a predictor of who will get married in the upcoming year. One game involves women each standing near a pile of corn. A rooster is then let loose. Whoever’s corn pile it picks is declared the winner.

Celebrate with the dead

You’ve heard of parties being dead, but in Talca, Chile, it’s by design. There, thousands of families spend New Year’s Eve at graveyards to ring in the new year with their late loved ones. The families bring food and drinks and often light small fires next to the graves. They believe it can bring luck in the new year and bring peace to the souls of the deceased. The practice is believed to have begun with one family in 1995 and caught on after that.