Kiss Someone at Midnight or else
This might be the most well-known New Year's Eve superstition. While the precise details vary, the general superstition is that if you don't get kissed at midnight, you will be unlucky in love the following year.
Eat Black-Eyed Peas
Supposedly, eating black-eyed peas brings you good luck, and eating greens brings you financial prosperity. Does that count?
DON'T REMOVE ANYTHING FROM HOME
Removing things from your home — like trash or anything you're donating — could mean that you lose things throughout the next year. Do it either before New Year's Eve ( today) or starting Jan. 2.
No sweeping
We'll start with one that many will only be too happy to follow. The idea is not to sweep or dust on New Year’s Day, because you could 'sweep your good luck away' - so let the dust accumulate, along with your luck.
That’s right, let that laundry basket fill up for a bit longer. The universal rule seems to be that laundry shouldn’t be done on January 1, but some traditions go further and say that it shouldn’t be done during the entire period between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Myth has it that washing your clothing on these days can actually lead to ‘washing a loved one away'.
Wear new clothing on New Year’s Eve
Not only because you want to look your best on this special evening, but apparently also to ensure that the next year will bring no shortage of garments, and you’ll continue to look and feel your best.
Say no to chicken
It seems chicken should be left off the menu on New Year’s Day because if it is eaten then, like the birds in question, diners are fated to scratch in the dirt all year for their dinner – in other words, they'll be bringing poverty upon themselves.
Don’t cry
Besides it being a shame at a time of celebration, it’s just not a good idea to start your new year crying or feeling sad - it’s said that this sets the tone for the rest of the year.
Eat healthy, eat hearty
To promote physical well being in 2016, make sure you start the year off properly with a healthy and plentiful meal.
A lemon and some noise
It’s a noisy night for good reason: fireworks, bells, whistles and unabashedly loud clamour are said to ward off evil spirits and thoughts. And hanging lemons in doorways is another old-fashioned tradition designed to keep that good energy flowing.
Be debt-free
One superstition has it that you should pay off any outstanding debts before January 1 rolls around, to bring better financial luck. Conversely, don’t pay back loans or lend money on New Year's Day. To do so guarantees you'll be paying out all year.
Avoid crying cats
If you hear cats mewing, run in the opposite direction to avoid that bad omen. And even if you’re not superstitious, running away is probably a natural response to that awful sound….
Open the doors
Open your doors and windows to let the new year come in and send the old one out! New Year’s Day is about fresh beginnings, so let that fresh air and energy breeze in.
Your first visitor of the new year influences your entire year.
My old neighbor always said that your first visitor, called the lucky bird, in the new year would influence the entire year ahead.
This might be the most well-known New Year's Eve superstition. While the precise details vary, the general superstition is that if you don't get kissed at midnight, you will be unlucky in love the following year.
Eat Black-Eyed Peas
Supposedly, eating black-eyed peas brings you good luck, and eating greens brings you financial prosperity. Does that count?
DON'T REMOVE ANYTHING FROM HOME
Removing things from your home — like trash or anything you're donating — could mean that you lose things throughout the next year. Do it either before New Year's Eve ( today) or starting Jan. 2.
No sweeping
We'll start with one that many will only be too happy to follow. The idea is not to sweep or dust on New Year’s Day, because you could 'sweep your good luck away' - so let the dust accumulate, along with your luck.
That’s right, let that laundry basket fill up for a bit longer. The universal rule seems to be that laundry shouldn’t be done on January 1, but some traditions go further and say that it shouldn’t be done during the entire period between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Myth has it that washing your clothing on these days can actually lead to ‘washing a loved one away'.
Wear new clothing on New Year’s Eve
Not only because you want to look your best on this special evening, but apparently also to ensure that the next year will bring no shortage of garments, and you’ll continue to look and feel your best.
Say no to chicken
It seems chicken should be left off the menu on New Year’s Day because if it is eaten then, like the birds in question, diners are fated to scratch in the dirt all year for their dinner – in other words, they'll be bringing poverty upon themselves.
Don’t cry
Besides it being a shame at a time of celebration, it’s just not a good idea to start your new year crying or feeling sad - it’s said that this sets the tone for the rest of the year.
Eat healthy, eat hearty
To promote physical well being in 2016, make sure you start the year off properly with a healthy and plentiful meal.
A lemon and some noise
It’s a noisy night for good reason: fireworks, bells, whistles and unabashedly loud clamour are said to ward off evil spirits and thoughts. And hanging lemons in doorways is another old-fashioned tradition designed to keep that good energy flowing.
Be debt-free
One superstition has it that you should pay off any outstanding debts before January 1 rolls around, to bring better financial luck. Conversely, don’t pay back loans or lend money on New Year's Day. To do so guarantees you'll be paying out all year.
Avoid crying cats
If you hear cats mewing, run in the opposite direction to avoid that bad omen. And even if you’re not superstitious, running away is probably a natural response to that awful sound….
Open the doors
Open your doors and windows to let the new year come in and send the old one out! New Year’s Day is about fresh beginnings, so let that fresh air and energy breeze in.
Your first visitor of the new year influences your entire year.
My old neighbor always said that your first visitor, called the lucky bird, in the new year would influence the entire year ahead.
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