Countries across the globe celebrate New Year’s with their own distinctive traditions. Many cultures enjoy special holiday foods — from lentils in Brazil and Italy to suckling pigs in Austria and grapes in Spain. Others embrace more unusual customs; for instance, in Denmark, people throw broken dishes at friends’ doorsteps as a sign of goodwill. Yet you don’t have to look far to discover unique New Year’s rituals.

Here in the United States, we have plenty of familiar practices, such as watching the crystal-covered ball drop in Times Square, toasting with sparkling drinks at midnight, eating black-eyed peas, and making resolutions on Jan. 1. Still, even the most iconic traditions hold little-known details — for instance, did you know that the Times Square ball weighs nearly six tons or that 360 million glasses of sparkling wine are consumed in the U.S. each New Year’s Eve? The fact that New Year’s Eve is the busiest night of the year for celebratory gunfire may come as a surprise, too.

With this in mind, WalletHub gathered fascinating insights about one of America’s most beloved holidays to help people better enjoy and understand the celebration. The infographic provided below, highlights everything from eating and drinking habits to travel trends, midnight practices, DUIs, and next-day hangovers. An accompanying Ask the Experts section further explores these topics through expert commentary.

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Stephanie D. Preston

What tips and tricks do you have for people trying to make a New Year's resolution they can actually keep?

For people trying to make a successful New Year's resolution, one trick is to use SMART goals: set a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Our brains are wired to process and respond to concrete actions that align with our values and that we truly believe are achievable and rewarding. For example, you will be more likely to succeed in removing sugar from your diet 4 days a week to feel better or bench press 20lbs more than last year to feel stronger than to "get fit" or "organize your life." Map out a plan that includes celebrating small wins and be gentle with yourself if you fall back into old habits. Just analyze the barriers you faced and how to overcome them and start anew. And bring a buddy!

 

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