Throwing Old Furniture Off High-Rise Balconies
In Johannesburg’s inner-city neighborhood of Hillbrow, some residents developed a notorious New Year’s Eve habit: literally tossing old furniture out of tower-block windows at midnight. Everything from chairs to fridges reportedly rained down on the streets as a dramatic way to “clear out the old” before January 1. Police have spent years cracking down on the custom because, unsurprisingly, it’s extremely dangerous.
Today the tradition survives mostly as a cautionary tale and occasional incident, rather than an accepted way to celebrate the new year.