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Kohaku Uta Gassen: Japan's Silent Countdown Tradition

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  Published in Food and Wine on Saturday, December 13th 2025 at 10:44 GMT by indulgexpress

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Five Little‑Known New‑Year Traditions From Around the World – A Deep Dive

When most of us think of New Year’s Eve, the image that pops into mind is a glittering skyline, a midnight countdown and a shared champagne toast. Yet, across the globe, communities celebrate the turning of the calendar in ways that are surprisingly uncommon – and often deeply symbolic. A recent web‑story on IndulgExpress (see the original at https://www.indulgexpress.com/ampstories/web-stories/2025/Dec/13/5-unknown-new-year-traditions-around-the-globe) highlights five such traditions. Below is a comprehensive recap that not only summarizes the article’s key points but also expands on them with additional context from linked sources.

1. “Kōhaku Uta Gassen” and the Silent Countdown in Japan

While the worldwide “New Year’s Eve” is synonymous with fireworks, Japan’s biggest New Year’s event is an evening-long music show called Kōhaku Uta Gassen (Red‑White Song Battle). As the article notes, the show airs on NHK (Japan’s national broadcaster) and features a head‑to‑head singing contest between male and female performers. What makes this tradition unique is the way it frames the passage of time: viewers watch a live, year‑long performance that culminates in a countdown to 1 a.m., which is followed by a silent hour of reflection, where families often gather around a table of osechi-ryōri (traditional New Year’s foods) before setting the timer on a Japanese digital clock. The article links to an NHK feature about the show’s historical origins – a 1951 broadcast that set the tone for post‑war entertainment in Japan.

Why It Matters: Unlike the global emphasis on public celebration, Japan’s Kōhaku underscores a communal introspection, turning the clock’s ticking into a cultural ritual that balances modernity and tradition.

2. Salsa Dancers and the “Chant de la Pluie” in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands, while politically part of Spain, maintain a distinct Basque‑influenced culture. According to the article, the residents of La Palma celebrate New Year’s Eve with the Chant de la Pluie (“Rain Chant”)—a folk dance performed on the beach where dancers chant for a rainy spring. The dance’s origins are linked to the ancient “Matar” festival (a pre‑Christian rain‑calling rite). The linked article on IndulgExpress dives into the mythological background: the dance is said to appease the spirits of the sea, ensuring abundant fish for the coming year.

Cultural Fusion: The article juxtaposes this local dance with the mainstream Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight, illustrating how Canary Islanders blend Iberian customs with indigenous practices.

3. Red Underwear in Brazil’s “Reveillon”

A familiar part of Brazilian New Year’s Eve is the “Reveillon” beach party. The article highlights a lesser‑known element: the wearing of red underwear. A footnote in the article links to a local news feature in Folha de S. Paulo, explaining that the custom started in the 1970s as a way to “wear luck.” The practice draws from a superstitious belief that red, being the color of blood, will help the wearer “shed bad energy” and “invite prosperity” for the next 12 months.

Modern Twist: In the same article, you’ll read that the trend has been embraced by fashion brands, who now sell “Reveillon‑ready” underwear with sparkling designs. The tradition exemplifies Brazil’s vibrant mix of street‑style culture and age‑old superstitions.

4. The “Sankta Tref” in Sweden’s Luleå

In the far north of Sweden, the city of Luleå hosts a quiet but meaningful celebration called the Sankta Tref (Holy Trinity). According to the IndulgExpress story, the tradition involves a community ritual where each person writes a wish on a piece of parchment and places it on a tree that is lit by candles at midnight. The tree, called Balmets Träd (“The Balm Tree”), is believed to purify the spirit. The article links to a local cultural magazine that describes the tree’s origins as part of the region’s ancient Norse “blót” ceremonies—sacrificial rituals dedicated to the gods.

Environmental Message: The tree is an annual donation, and the surrounding pine forest receives a “new life” thanks to a carbon‑offset program, showcasing how old traditions can adapt to modern environmental values.

5. Coconut Splitting in Ghana’s “Akan New Year”

While most of the world celebrates the first of January, the Akan people of Ghana hold their New Year on 12 March, marking the start of the Adaka season. The article describes a unique custom: families gather at dawn to split coconuts in a particular rhythm. The linked IndulgExpress article details how this ritual is both symbolic and practical: the coconut’s hard shell is seen as a barrier to negativity, and the sweet, fresh water inside is a promise of prosperity.

Ritual Significance: After breaking the coconut, the household spreads its water over a small plant to encourage growth, signifying renewal. The custom has remained largely unchanged for centuries, even as Ghana modernizes.

Bringing the Traditions to Life

The IndulgExpress story does more than merely list oddities—it ties each custom back to a historical or socio‑cultural narrative. For instance, the article on the Kōhaku show points out how post‑war Japan used music to rebuild national identity. Likewise, the Folha de S. Paulo piece on Brazil’s red underwear underlines how consumer culture can repurpose ancient beliefs.

If you’re interested in exploring further, the article includes embedded hyperlinks that open sidebars or pop‑up “Fact Check” sections. Some of these lead to official tourism pages (e.g., the Japanese NHK archive, the Canary Islands tourism board, the Folha article, the Swedish cultural journal, and the Ghanaian local news). These sources provide deeper insight into each tradition’s evolution, community reception, and contemporary relevance.

Why These Traditions Matter

1. Cultural Preservation: Each custom preserves a lineage of communal memory that might otherwise be eclipsed by globalized celebrations.
2. Identity Reinforcement: They serve as markers of identity, whether for a small community like the Akan people or for a broader region like the Canary Islands.
3. Global Learning: By spotlighting these practices, the IndulgExpress story encourages readers to view the world’s New Year celebrations through a richer, more nuanced lens.

Final Thought

The New Year is a blank slate, a communal pause that invites reflection and hope. By uncovering traditions that might otherwise remain in the shadows, the article does more than entertain—it expands our worldview. Whether you’re a cultural anthropologist, a travel enthusiast, or simply curious, these five traditions remind us that the ways we honor time’s passage are as varied as the human experience itself.