Welcoming the New Year

In Cuba, in the 1950's, the New Year was welcomed by making a scarecrow

out of old clothes and magazines and burning it just before midnight.

It symbolized deleting the previous year.

Also, families honor the tradition of eating twelve big juicy green grapes.

Each grape representing one month of the New Year and the

hope for a rainy season and therefore a good harvest.

Do you know of other interesting ways people in the US (or other countries) welcome the New Year?

Thanks for sharing.