People Jump Over Seven Waves to Start the New Year. And That’s Just the Beginning

People Jump Over Seven Waves to Start the New Year. And That’s Just the Beginning

Discover how the world welcomes the New Year, in real time on Azar.

As the last day of the year turns into the first day of the next, the world doesn't celebrate all at once. The New Year arrives in waves. At Azar, these moments don’t feel distant. They happen face to face, in real time, through spontaneous conversations with people living in those exact moments around the world. 

From evening beach parties in Brazil to midnight bell tolls in Korea, from hectic grape-eating challenges in Spain to quiet shrine visits in Japan, each culture welcomes the new year in its own meaningful way, in their own timing.

Yet across all these traditions, one feeling is shared: the hope for a fresh start. 

And through Azar, that shared feeling becomes something you don’t just read about, it becomes something you experience, by connecting with people who are living it right now, wherever they are. 

So how does the world welcome this shared moment of renewal?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the unique New Year traditions across different cultures - one time zone at a time. 

🌊December 31st Evening: White Dresses, Colorful Wishes, and 7 Waves in Brazil

As the sun sets on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, over 2 million people gather dressed head-to-toe in white, which symbolizes peace and new beginnings. But look closer, and you'll notice something playful there. Underneath those white outfits, everyone's wearing colorful underwear.

At midnight, everyone rushes into the ocean to jump over seven waves while making wishes to Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea. In Brazil, the new beginning brings loud, joyful, full of color, and lively vibes to people.

🍇January 1st Midnight: 12 Grapes, 12 Seconds, 12 Months of Luck

In Spain, New Year's Eve isn't just about counting down, it's a race against time. As the clock strikes midnight, you must eat 12 grapes in 12 seconds, one for each chime of the clock. Each grape represents good luck for one month of the coming year.

It's chaotic, it's funny, and it's a national moment that is shared within the whole country together, whether you're in a crowded plaza or at home with family.

🔔January 1st Midnight: 33 Bell Tolls at Bosingak and Tteokguk

In Seoul, the heart of South Korea's New Year celebration is the Bosingak Pavilion, where a massive bell is rung 33 times at midnight. The number 33 comes from Buddhist tradition, representing the 33 range of different heavens. Each toll symbolizes letting go of the old year's worries and welcoming peace for the year ahead.

On January 1st morning, families sit down to eat Tteokguk, a traditional rice cake soup. The white, round rice cakes symbolize purity and family unity, and eating it signifies gaining another year of age.

On Azar, you might meet a Korean friend on New Year's Day and ask, "Did you eat tteokguk yet?". This is the most natural way to start wishing someone a happy new year.

👣January 1st After Midnight: First-Footing and the Luck of the Visitor

In Scotland, the new year comes with a unique First-Footing tradition. After midnight, the first person to enter your home determines your luck for the year. The Ideal First-Footer is a tall, dark-haired man who brings symbolic gifts: Coal (for warmth), Salt (for preservation and flavor), Whisky (for good cheer), Shortbread (for food and hospitality).

It's a tradition that requires someone else to complete , in other words, you can't welcome the new year alone. You make your fortune with your guest.

In the digital age, Azar can be your first connection of the new year. Who knows? Maybe your first match on January 1st will bring you unexpected luck. Or, you could be the one to someone!

⛩️January 1st Morning: Hatsumode and Prayers for the New Year

While the rest of the world is recovering from midnight celebrations, Japan greets the new year with quiet reverence. During the first few days of January, millions visit shrines and temples for Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year.

People offer prayers to express gratitude for the past year and ask for blessings in the new one. Many of them draw omikuji (fortune slips) to learn what the year holds, or buy omamori (protective charms) for health, success, or love. In Japan, it's all about introspection, gratitude, and setting intentions, a tradition that anyone can appreciate.

Ready to Start 2026 with a Global Hello?

Every culture has its own way of welcoming the new year. But what connects them all? The universal desire for hope, connection, and new beginnings.

On Azar, you will meet someone who's counting down at the same time as you. or someone who's already stepped into the new year and can tell you what it feels like. You can share your traditions, learn theirs, and discover that we're all celebrating a start fresh no matter the distance!

👉 Start 2026 with a conversation that crosses borders on Azar.