Fist-fighting, funky underwear, and 8 more bizarre NYE celebrations

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We've all got our annual New Year's traditions for the change of the calendar year. Some of us watch the ball drop in Times Square, while others stay up all night drinking, hoping we wake up somewhere recognizable on New Year's Day.

There are a ton of different traditions around the world, each intent on getting a head start on a prosperous and positive new start on life. Here are ten of the oddest (to us) from around the globe.
< br />Photo: Nana B Agyei/Flickr CC

In Romania, some folks dress up in bear furs or costumes and walk the streets to ward off evil. That's surely one way to keep things from going wrong next year.

Photo: Carlos Carmonamedina/Flickr CC

If you're Danish, you might hurl your old plates at the doorways of friends and family, or neighbor's you want to have good luck in the coming year. Plus? You get to buy new plates!

Photo: noricum/Flickr CC

If you want to bring about specific kinds of good fortune in the coming year, you'll wear different color undies in some South American countries. Red means you're in the mood for love.

Photo: Esquire

Seriously, I think the French have it right: eat some sweet carb-loaded food and call it good. Pancakes are a traditional New Year's treat.

Photo: rob_rob2001/Flickr CC

Dr. Doolittle has nothing on farmers in Belgium who wish their livestock a happy New Year in the hopes that they'll be healthy and productive in the coming months. If they talk back (in Romania and Hungary), that's supposed to be bad luck. Or you've been drinking too much.

Photo: Rachel Kramer/Flickr CC

Can you stuff 12 grapes in your mouth? If so, you just might have a good year, according to folks in Spain. If not, well, good luck.

Photo: Mohamad Khedr/Flickr CC

The Italians might have those French pancake-eaters beat with a tradition of public kissing in places like St Mark's square in Venice.

Photo: llee_wu/Flickr CC

One tradition in the tiny village of Takanakuy, Peru lets people with conflicts settle them Fight Club style and then start the year with a fresh slate. No resentments!

Photo: Daniel Parra

If you're in Siberia, chances are there are plenty of spots along the coast where you can go ice diving to plant trees under the frozen waters. You won't catch us doing this in Alaska, I'll tell you that.

Photo: Telegraph

Celebrations in Denmark include jumping off of chairs into the New Year, kids in the Phillippines jump twelve times to grow taller, and beach partiers in Brazil jump over seven waves at midnight while making seven wishes. Jumping is a thing on New Year's Eve, apparently.
< br />Photo: Garrett/Flickr CC

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