Switzerland

On New Year's Eve, just before midnight, church bells across Switzerland began to ring for a few minutes. The Swiss call it ringing the old year to say goodbye to the old year along with all the good and bad things that happened during that time. Even though it's cold outside, many people are still willing to go outside or at least open a window or balcony door to listen to the bells ringing. The bells are stopped by a period of stillness and then by the twelve traditional bells that mark midnight and the start of a New Year's bell.

Everyone returned to their cozy homes, refilling glasses of Champagne. Kids will also receive Champagne glasses filled with Rimuss- a great drink that comes in a bottle that looks like Champagne, but without the alcohol, so everyone can have a little toast to the New Year. To welcome a year of luck, prosperity and peace, one of the popular traditions in Switzerland is that people eat a lot of ice cream and then throw the ice cream on the floor on New Year's Day.