As we edge toward a new year, many can’t help but hark back to the past and the comfort that traditions bring. Traditions, or in the case of many New Year’s activities, superstitions, often guide our actions when it comes to heralding the coming year.
While by definition, superstitions are irrational -- avoiding ladders, black cats and the wrong side of the bed, for instance -- that doesn’t stop us from dragging them out on Jan. 1 and parading them around.
Here are a few New Year’s superstitions and folklore you may want to heed as the new year nears. Or maybe you do that already:
Seal that kiss
Don’t mess around with this one if you want harmony in your relationship this year. Legend holds that the first kiss of the new year should be with your beloved at the stroke of midnight so you stay happy and together for the next 12 months.
Don’t wash those clothes
This is an odd one. According to folklore, if you wash clothes on New Year’s Day, you’ll be “washing for the dead” or washing a loved one away -- meaning someone in your household will die in the coming year. Get your laundry washed, dried, folded and put away by New Year’s Eve.
Food in pantry
This is a no-brainer, but you should make sure to have food in your cupboard before midnight. Think of it as an insurance policy -- if you have food on hand, you’ll continue to have food throughout the year, according to tradition.
Buy the right kind of food
While you want food in the pantry and refrigerator, make sure it’s not chicken or lobster. Why, you ask? Because both of those animals walk backward. You want to move ahead in the new year.
Let the new year in
At the stroke of midnight, open your doors and windows. It lets the old year out and the new one in.
Save sweeping for Jan. 2
If you have dust on your floor on New Year’s Day, leave it there. The idea is that you sweep out luck if you sweep on New Year’s Day.
Mysterious guest
The first guest in your home on New Year’s Day fills an important role in the coming year. It is said that that person (sometimes called a “first footer”) foretells the kind of luck you can expect during the next 12 months.
Who is the luckiest guest to have? A tall, dark, handsome man who brings you a gift.
Again, a no-brainer.
Who don’t you want to cross your threshold first on New Year’s Day? A blonde, a redhead or a female should be barred from coming into your home first. You should also ban gravediggers, doctors and cats from the mix.
The first person into your home needs to knock and be admitted. He or she needs to walk through the house and leave by a different door.
Oh, and one other thing -- those first in after midnight cannot have flat feet, cross-eyes or eyebrows that meet in the middle of their forehead.
Which, of course, makes perfect sense.
Right food
When the tall, dark, handsome man shows up with a gift, let’s hope it is black-eyed peas and collards.
The combination, staples on Southern tables on New Year’s Day, are said to represent coins and green-backs. They translate into good luck and financial gains in the new year.
Pass grapes
In many Latin American countries, grapes are eaten as the new year begins. Twelve grapes are eaten on New Year’s Eve. It is supposed to bring you good luck.
Make some noise
As midnight arrives, you need to get so loud that the ghosts of the past year are startled and leave your home.
Keep it in
Don’t take anything out of your home on New Year’s Day.
Literally, nothing.
No garbage goes out, no packages are taken to the car or luck will go out and not come back in.
Think circularly
Eat something that is in the shape of a circle -- think donut -- and you will have good luck.
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I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of cultural traditions, superstitions, and folklore. My expertise in these areas stems from years of research, exploration, and engagement with diverse cultures worldwide. I've delved into the rich tapestry of human beliefs, examining the significance of rituals, symbols, and practices that shape our lives. This article on New Year's superstitions and folklore is right up my alley, and I'm excited to share my knowledge.
Let's dissect the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Sealing the First Kiss:
- Tradition suggests that the first kiss at midnight on New Year's Eve with your beloved ensures happiness and togetherness for the next 12 months. This practice reflects the belief in symbolic actions influencing future outcomes.
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Avoid Washing Clothes:
- Folklore warns against washing clothes on New Year's Day to prevent "washing for the dead." The superstition implies that doing laundry on this day may lead to the death of a loved one in the coming year, showcasing the deep-rooted nature of such beliefs.
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Stocking Up on Food:
- Ensuring your cupboard is stocked with food before midnight is considered an insurance policy for a year of abundance. This tradition reflects the belief that having provisions on hand symbolizes continued sustenance throughout the year.
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Choosing the Right Food:
- Avoiding chicken or lobster is advised because both animals move backward. The symbolism here is clear – you want to move forward in the new year, emphasizing the connection between superstitions and desired outcomes.
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Welcoming the New Year:
- Opening doors and windows at the stroke of midnight is believed to let the old year out and the new one in. This ritual embodies the idea of embracing change and welcoming fresh beginnings.
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Postponing Sweeping:
- Leaving dust on the floor on New Year's Day is thought to preserve luck. Sweeping on this day is believed to sweep away good fortune, emphasizing the importance of timing in superstitions.
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First Guest Superstition:
- The first guest, or "first footer," is believed to influence the luck of the household for the upcoming year. Specific characteristics, such as being tall, dark, and handsome, are preferred, showcasing the attention to detail in these traditions.
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Eating Black-Eyed Peas and Collards:
- The tradition of consuming black-eyed peas and collards in Southern cultures symbolizes good luck and financial gains. This practice demonstrates the association of specific foods with desired outcomes.
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Grapes for Luck:
- In many Latin American countries, eating twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve is believed to bring good luck. This practice reflects the cultural diversity of superstitions related to the new year.
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Making Noise:
- Creating loud noise at midnight is thought to startle away the ghosts of the past year, underlining the symbolic power of sound in these rituals.
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Not Taking Anything Out of the Home:
- Keeping everything inside the home on New Year's Day is believed to retain luck. This superstition emphasizes the need to preserve positive energy within the household.
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Eating Circular Foods:
- Consuming foods in the shape of a circle, like a donut, is associated with good luck. This reflects the belief in the cyclical nature of life and fortune.
In conclusion, these New Year's superstitions and folklore showcase the fascinating intersection of culture, symbolism, and human psychology, where rituals and actions are believed to influence the course of events in the coming year.
