Probably one of the most iconic New Year’s Eve events is watching the ball drop in New York City’s Times Square – an American tradition that’s been going on for more than 100 years.

Rio’s New Year’s Eve festivities, known as Réveillon, are some of the world’s largest and see millions of festival-goers head to the city’s beaches to throw flowers into the waves at midnight as an offering to the African sea goddess, Yemanjá.

In Madrid, people make a point to swallow 12 grapes at midnight to bring good luck for the following year.

While you’ll definitely see some New Year’s Eve festivities on 31 December, Thailand’s largest New Year celebrations are held in the middle of April during the traditional Thai New Year according to the lunar calendar. Known as Songkran, the festival is now famous around the world thanks to its three days of countrywide water fights.

More than 100,000 revellers flock to the banks of the River Limmat and Lake Zurich to enjoy the magical sounds of church bells literally in the New Year. At midnight there’s always an impressive fireworks display and festivities, including live performances and plenty of food stalls, continuing into early the morning.

As temple bells welcome in the New Year, people make a point to eat a bowl of buckwheat noodles thought to ensure good luck, health and happiness for the year to come.

While many celebrate the countdown to midnight with flutes of champagne, a neighbourhood in Johannesburg, South Africa is known for flying appliances thrown from high-rise buildings to ring in the New Year.