New Year’s is a time to reflect on the past and start fresh.
To set a good tone for the new year many people make resolutions, while some people participate in traditions to bring them good luck.
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We’ve compiled a list of New Year’s traditions from around the world, check them out below.
Southern Superstitions
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It is a common practice in the southern United States to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. The beans and leafy greens represent coins and money symbolizing luck, knowledge, and wealth. The tradition stems from several places including West Africa, Europe, and the south. Over the years the traditions have morphed together and can be seen in dishes like Hoppin’ John or Cowboy Caviar. There are several ways of preparing the dish, but the most important part is the black-eyed peas.
Round and Round
Circles are thought to bring prosperity in the new year, which is why several cultures eat round foods or wear polka dots on New Year’s Eve. In the Philippines it is tradition to eat 12 round fruits, one for each month, to ensure a good year.
Brazilian Beliefs
The Portuguese-speaking country has a few superstitions for the new year. White is worn on New Year’s Eve to invite good luck and peace into people's lives. If you’re feeling extra lucky, it is also common for people to run into the ocean and jump over waves. Make sure you know what you want because you get one wish for each wave.
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You may remember the trends of people sitting under tables eating 12 grapes or running around the house with an empty suitcase. These trends stem from Latin countries and invite different luck into the new year. Eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight comes from Spain. While most participants expected it to help them find love in the new year, the 12 grapes are supposed to bring you luck. However, if you don’t finish all 12 grapes before the bells finish chiming you might not be granted the good fortune. In Columbia, people walk around the block with empty suitcases to encourage travel in the new year.
Smashing Good Time
Watch your step, smashing plates or fruit on doorsteps is common in some cultures. In Denmark, people smash plates on friends' and families’ doors to release any negative energy and wish them good luck in the new year. Similarly in Greece. families smash pomegranates on doorsteps. It is believed that pomegranates represent abundance and fertility.
Make Some Noise
This food tradition is a little different. In Ireland, families bang stale Christmas bread on the walls to chase bad spirits out of the home. Some people bang pots and pans for the same idea, and the tradition is celebrated in other places like the UK and Australia.
Similarly in Japan, temples around the country ring the bells 108 times to represent the cleansing of 108 worldly possessions.
Wish Everyone Good Luck
Make sure everyone has a good year, even the livestock. It's tradition to rise early and wish a “Happy New Year’ to all the farm animals in Belgium, so they have a good farming year.
Don’t Get Burned
Most people pop some bubbly for the occasion, but in Russia, they add something special to their glasses. People will write a wish on a piece of paper and burn it, then they place the ashes into their champagne glass.
Leap Into the New Year
Starting the New Year in Denmark is very literal. At midnight people will line up on chairs and jump “into the New Year” at midnight.
Open a Window
Leaving the windows and doors open allows the past year to leave and ushers in the New Year. This tradition is practiced in many places, but in Puerto Rico, they dump a bucket of water out the window and sprinkle some sugar to attract good luck.
FAQs
Devour Ring-Shaped Foods
Many cultures believe that eating ring-shaped foods like donuts, bagels, and cakes will bring good fortune full-circle. In Greece, a special sweet bread called vasilopita is served at midnight. A coin is placed inside the batter and whoever finds it in their slice will have extra luck!
How can I get good luck on new year's Day? ›
It is customary to visit a relative or loved one after midnight on Jan. 1 to wish them well. In Spain, they have the "las doce uvas de la suerte," or the twelve grapes of luck. In this tradition, people are to eat 12 grapes during the 12 strokes of midnight to ensure good luck in the coming year.
What are some new year's tradition? ›
While you might be familiar with a few, some traditions, superstitions, and celebrations might become your new favorite way to usher in the coming year.
- Eat 12 Grapes. ...
- Celebrate Hogmanay. ...
- Watch a Fireworks Show. ...
- Hang an Onion on Your Door. ...
- Burn Effigies. ...
- Make a Leap. ...
- Watch the Ball Drop. ...
- Gather Round Items.
What are some good luck rituals? ›
5 popular beliefs that signify good luck
- Finding a four-leaf clover. Since we're celebrating St Patrick's Day, this had to be our number 1! ...
- Carrying a rabbit's foot. ...
- Wishing on a shooting star or rainbow. ...
- Hanging a horseshoe. ...
- A bird pooing on you.
How to bring good luck on lunar new year? ›
From spring cleaning to exchanging red envelopes with money, each has a significant meaning to enhance and bring forth good fortune.
- The Season of Red. The Chinese New Year is rich with custom and tradition; one in particular is the color red. ...
- Fireworks & Firecrackers. ...
- Spring Cleaning. ...
- Lucky Money.
Where is it tradition to eat 7 9 or 12 meals on New Year's Eve? ›
Estonians feast as many as 7, 9, or even 12 times on New Year's Eve, as they believe for each meal consumed, the person gains the strength of that many men the following year.
What is traditional New Year's Eve food? ›
Along with black-eyed peas, some cultures believe that grapes, noodles, pork, or pomegranates can be considered lucky when eaten on New Year's.
Why eat pork on New Year's? ›
Like many other cultures, the Pennsylvania Dutch believe eating pork on New Year's Day brings good luck because pigs root around with their snouts in a forward motion. After all, we want to move forward, not backward, in the new year.
What are the 4 things not to do on new year's Day? ›
Avoid breaking things on the first day. Don't cry on the first day of the year. At midnight, open all doors to let the old year escape. Make loud noises at midnight to scare away evil spirits.
What is the new year's tradition for money? ›
Many believe that if you have money in your wallet at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, money will keep flowing smoothly throughout the year to come. The midnight kiss is a well known tradition throughout the world.
Make New Year's Resolutions Together
Do a quick recap of what has happened the past year and share it to have a good laugh. Then get out a piece of paper and plan things to do on New Year at home before midnight and set your resolutions or intentions for the New Year such as what you hope to achieve.
What is the oldest new year tradition? ›
Though the Babylonian New Year's celebration dated back about 4,000 years, the oldest continually celebrated New Year's holiday is the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, that began during China's Shang Dynasty about 3,500 years ago.
Can you wash clothes on December 31st? ›
Washing laundry over the holiday can also mean washing good luck down the drain with the wash water. For similar reasons, many cultures believe washing your hair on New Year's is also bad luck, so you may want to skip washing anything on the holiday to be safe.
What color to wear to welcome 2024? ›
According to the Eastern calendar, 2024 is the year of the Green Wooden Dragon. You must greet this creature with brightness because it is the most revered in China. Red, gold, silver, and white are the lucky colors for 2024. It is believed that the dragon will notice you in such an outfit and bring good luck.
What is the lucky color to wear in new year? ›
Red, gold, silver, and white are the lucky colors for 2024. It is believed that the dragon will notice you in such an outfit and bring good luck. If none suits you, choose deep purple or flashy brown as the trendiest New Year's Eve colors to wear.
How to bring in the new year spiritually? ›
Spend New Year's Eve in meditation
Spend it in quiet meditation or prayer as a way to start the year in peace and harmony. Make sure you arrange for your meditation time to extend past midnight. It's the perfect way to not only start a brand new year but end an old one. You can also do this with others if you prefer.
What is the New Year's prosperity ritual? ›
The Prosperity Ritual
When you return home for the first time in the new year (perhaps after a late-night party), have a bowl of coins sitting outside your front door. Bless them for everything you want in the new year—a handful for abundance, a handful for a healthy baby, etc.
What not to do on New Year's for good luck? ›
Don't Do Those Dishes
Or take out the trash, or wash your clothes, or sweep your house... as the superstition goes, if you do, you might accidentally wash good luck and loved ones out of your life. Other beliefs state that whatever you do on New Year's is what you'll be doing the rest of the year.