New Year in England is celebrated with a traditional carnival procession led by the Lord of Misrule. Among the crowd of fairy-tale characters, one can see the March Hare, Humpty Dumpty, and other beloved figures from children's stories. Homes and streets in England are adorned with garlands of mistletoe, which, according to belief, possesses magical powers. During the ringing of the New Year bell, lovers kiss under such a garland to live in harmony.
In the wine capitals of the world, no celebration is complete without grapes. In Spain, twelve grapes are prepared in advance for all participants of the New Year's feast (the number of strokes of the New Year bell). Spaniards believe that if all the grapes are eaten by the twelve strokes, the year will definitely be successful.
In Italy, it is believed that when entering the New Year, one must get rid of all the old and unnecessary things. On New Year's Eve, fiery Italians throw old belongings out of their windows. In the past, even broken furniture would fly into the streets. Nowadays, one might get "hit" by old papers and small debris.