What are the New Year customs in the country where you live/any unusual ones you observe?

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In Spain the custom is that you have to eat 12 grapes, one for each stroke of midnight. You have to have swallowed them all by the last 'bell'. It supposedly brings good luck. I don't like it because everyone sits hunched over their grapes and it ruins the moment. Some people prepare their grapes in advance peeling and pipping them. You can even buy tins with exactly 12 peeled and pipped grapes from the supermarkets now.

Here in germany it's just the fireworks that are different although there are some go off in the UK too but nothing like here. It's nearly every house/party/ town square has fireworks and the whole air is filled with the smell of it and the next day the whole town will be covered in the left over packaging.

The first new year in Germany I was at a party and I went for a drink just before midnight but when I came back the party room was empty - I was abit worried as I didn't understand any German but a kind English speaker told me they'd all gone outside to see the new year in! There was no kissing or hugging like the new years in France or Scotland that I had seen before. This year as we're stayingin Berlin I've bought some fireworks for the dc but am now dreading the moment when we have to set them off as I am scared they'll explode on me or something silly, hope dh will be back from work then he can do it (Yes, my dh is at work still)

We have a lot of firecrackers here too. Guaranteed to wake the DDs...
I'm from Scotland and I like to go outside to greet the New Year, hear the air...look at the stars... feel small in the universe...

Here in Austria it is MAJOR fireworks at midnight...a minor irritation as we are always asleep by then an it's like being woken up by a gunnery barrage as per WWI trenches . Other than that it's traditional to buy a small pig of some description (soft toy, tiny wooden one, chocolate etc)for good luck.......plus the city is full of visiting Italians........

Like Adventkerzylin (like the name, btw) I am in Germany and DH has stocked up on fireworks. We will be outside at midnight (going to waked the DCs) as will all of our neighbours setting off fireworks, drinking Sekt (sparkling wine).

There is a bit less hugging and kissing, I never noticed that before, but now that I think about it...

I miss the first footing, there is no visiting old friends on the 1st/2nd January like we used to do at home.