New Year’s Eve Superstitions

Woohoo…are you ready to say “Goodbye” to 2020 and “Hello” to 2021?

I know that I am, but I am more excited about cooking collard greens and eating black eye peas while watching the Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy before the clock strikes 12 midnight.

What about you, do you have any New Year’s Eve Superstitions or traditions?

For me and my family, for as long as I can remember it has been always been a tradition of eating Collard Greens and Black Eye peas which represents prosperity – or money coming into the new year.

For that matter we can eat collard greens and beans with smoked turkey and cornbread every week and usually do so in the winter anyway.

In reading other blog posts, I found a few other New Year’s Eve Superstitions and traditions which I wanted to share with you and ask that you leave any of your own in the comments below.

New Year’s Eve Superstitions

Don’t clean your house.

I don’t know about you, but my house has to be cleaned and all the clothes laundered before midnight! However, according to Chinese folklore, tidying on New Year’s Day is thought to clean away the good luck you’ve stored up for the new year. Seriously, you’re not supposed to sweep the house or even do your laundry.

Make sure you don’t loan your friends any cash.

This should be an every day superstition because most of the time you won’t get paid back! People think that loaning money out on New Year’s Eve serves as a preview of what the rest of your year will look like. So if you don’t want to be shelling out cash to your friends all year long, wait until January 2nd to lend them a few bucks or never at all!

And make sure your wallet is full too.

We were always told to have a male family member leave the house and then be the first one to enter at midnight with money in his pocket.

A full wallet on New Year’s Eve meant money all year long. It’s probably not actually an indicator of next year’s wealth, but hey, do you really want to risk it? I always send one of my sons out just in case!

Get loud.

Firecrackers and noisemakers became part of New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world because folklore says the loud sounds will ward off evil spirits. This superstition is cool and all, but it probably won’t work on your neighbors if they want you to turn down your music…and please don’t shoot off guns and rifles!!!

Paying off bills. 

I always pay my bills on the 30th or 31st, so this isn’t a superstition; the New Year should not be begun with the household in debt, so checks should be written and mailed off prior to January 1st.  Likewise, personal debts should be settled before the New Year arrives.

New clothes. 

Wear something new on January 1 to increase the likelihood of your receiving more new garments during the year to follow. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, most of us will be wearing new pajamas!

Kiss at Midnight

You may think that kissing someone at midnight is a way to show your excitement for the new year. But actually, it’s thought that if you kiss someone you love as the clock strikes midnight, those sentiments will continue for the next 12 months.

Carry an Empty Suitcase

I never heard this one, but carrying an empty suitcase around your house for a few minutes, it’s seen as setting yourself up for adventures in the new year.

What about you, what are your New Year’s Eve superstitions?