New Year’s Eve Superstitions

Want to make sure your New Year starts out auspiciously? You might want to try one of these suggestions (or superstitions if you will) from The Pioneer Woman’s website.

Clean Your House Before Midnight

In Japan, there’s a New Year’s tradition known as “osoji” or “o-souji” that involves thoroughly cleaning and tidying the house before midnight. This custom is rooted in the belief that cleaning one’s living space helps to purify the home and welcome the new year with a fresh start.

Watch a New Year’s Day Parade

Many people around the world like to kick off the new year by watching or attending a parade on the holiday. In the U.S., a couple of the most famous examples are the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, and the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia.

Write a Letter to Yourself for Next Year

This tradition is a gift that keeps on giving. It involves taking a moment to reflect on the past year, set goals and intentions for the future, and capture your thoughts and feelings in a personal letter to be opened the following New Year’s Day.

Watch the Sunrise

In Japan, the tradition of watching the first sunrise of the new year is known as “hatsuhinode.” This act is believed to bring good fortune for the coming year and many people make a special effort to wake up early and find a scenic location like a beach or hill to take in the view.

Eat Lentils

In Italy, many people ring in the new year by eating a dish of lentils. The belief is that lentils, which resemble small coins, symbolize prosperity and wealth for the coming year.

Have a New Year Movie Marathon

Looking for a low-key tradition to kick off the new year? Snuggle up on the couch with your loved ones and watch the best New Year’s movies that capture the spirit and heart of the holiday.

Make a List of Resolutions

Believe it or not, New Year’s resolutions are said to have been around since ancient Babylonian times. So, when writing out this year’s goals, remember that for approximately 4,000 years, people have been working toward achieving their resolutions.

Jump Seven Waves

In Brazil, it’s considered good luck to start the new year by jumping over seven waves. You get one wish for each wave, so be ready with your list!

Put Mistletoe Under Your Pillow

Mistletoe isn’t just a Christmas tradition. The Irish believe that if you put a sprig of mistletoe, holly, or ivy under your pillow on New Year’s Eve, you’ll dream of your future love.

Bang Some Bread

You’ve heard of breaking bread but how about banging it? Families in Ireland have a New Year’s tradition of banging loaves of Christmas bread against the walls and doors to ward off evil spirits and pave the way for a healthy and prosperous new year.

Carry an Empty Suitcase

Want to go places in 2024? Take a cue from the Colombians, who walk around the block carrying empty suitcases on New Year’s Eve to bring a year filled with travel.

Smash a Peppermint Pig

Have you heard of the tradition of the Peppermint Pig? It all began in the 1880s with candy makers in Saratoga Springs, New York. To bring good health, happiness, and prosperity in the new year, place the candy pig in a velvet bag and smash it with a small hammer, then eat a piece of peppermint. This one will be fun for the whole family!

Host a Party

Sometimes the most fun is had in the comfort of your own home surrounded by friends and family! If that’s your idea of a good time, throw a party to usher in the new year with New Year’s Eve decorations, the best New Year’s Eve drinks, and of course, exciting New Year’s Eve games.

Watch Fireworks

Across the world, fireworks are a central part of celebrating the new year. But where did the tradition begin? Well, historians point to seventh century A.D. in China where the big bangs were used to ward off evil spirits. You can find displays across the country to enjoy on NYE or light your own. In some cultures, different colors even correspond to various types of luck, including love and health.

Toss a Coin

Similar to throwing change and making a wish, many Romanians believe that tossing a coin in the river on New Year’s Eve will provide good luck for the whole year. So, gather your pennies and bring on the good fortune!

Find Round Objects

Round items are all the rage on New Year’s Eve, especially in the Philippines! Because the circular shape symbolizes money and wealth, it’s the more the merrier! According to this tradition, you can wear polka dots, carry coins, and eat round foods like donuts, bagels and cookies to boost your funds for the next 12 months.

Carefully Choose Your First Guest

In Scotland, a tradition known as first-footing will supposedly determine whether your household has good luck or misfortune for the rest of the year. For prosperity in 2024, superstition says the first person to enter your home at midnight should be a tall, dark-haired male. He should also bring symbolic gifts like coins or black buns. It’s worth a shot, right?

Watch the Times Square Ball Drop

The New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square has been a tradition since the early 1900s. While celebrations in Times Square date back to 1904, it wasn’t until 1907 that the crystal ball made its big debut. Since then, the spectacle has been a staple of New Year’s Eve celebrations, with hundreds of thousands of people flocking the streets, and millions watching from home.

Kiss at Midnight

You may never have thought about where the New Year’s Eve midnight kiss tradition came from. Some historians believe it traces back to ancient Rome’s Saturnalia celebration. A raucous good time full of dancing, alcohol, and kissing galore took place during this festival. As time went on, German and English folklore romanticized the idea of a midnight kiss, suggesting that starting the year with a kiss would improve your endeavors in love.

Make a Toast

There’s nothing like cheers-ing to the new year with a glass of bubbly. And it’s not only modern-day folks who enjoy the tradition. The practice of toasting dates back to the ancient world, NPR reports, when people would often raise their glass to someone’s good health. No matter how much time has gone by, there’s nothing like toasting with those closest to you.

SOURCE: THE PIONEER WOMAN