TURNING A NEW LEAF

New Year's Eve is a time we look forward to new beginnings and fresh starts, so it's not surprising that there are literally hundreds of traditions and rituals that people partake in this time of year. Whether that's something as routine as a New Year's smooch at midnight or something a bit more particular like eating 12 grapes in 12 seconds, we all have our own way of marking the day.

As the year draws to a close, we take a quick look at our favourite NYE traditions that have a bit of green twist on them.

AULD LANG SYNE

Ok, so a maybe a bit tenuous on the green twist but it does have a lyric about daisies, and is a banger. 

Auld Lang Syne as we know it came about in 1799 thanks to Robert Burns, but can actually be dated back much later!

LOOK FOR LOVE

If the mistletoe did nothing for you hung up this Christmas, try popping a bit under your pillow on New Year's Eve instead - according to the Irish it'll help you dream up your ideal partner. Worth a try, surely!

MAKE A MEAL OF IT

Whether your scoffing a grape per second as the clock ticks down in Spain, hanging onions on your door in Greece or launching pomegranates in Turkey, fruit & veg feature proudly in many of our fave NYE traditions. 

FROSTY FORESTRY

Gardening this time of year is perilous enough, so this one really does take it to the extreme. In Siberia, a New Year's tradition sees divers planting trees UNDER frozen lakes and rivers as a symbol of starting over. Let's leave that one to the Siberians perhaps!

TO THE SEA

Heading to slightly warmer climes, in Brazil revellers head to the beach, where white flowers are thrown into the ocean harking back to a pagan tradition of giving an offering to the Goddess of the sea! It's also tradition to wear white and jump over seven waves whilst you're at it!