New Year's Eve good luck traditions and superstitious rituals

There’s nothing better than having 12 brand-new months ahead of us to rewrite our story, make plans, embrace changes, cut ties with people who have hindered or hurt us, and let go of everything that hasn’t brought us joy. The idea that at the stroke of midnight on January 1st, as if by magic, each of us has the power to start anew and steer towards a better future seems easy and beautiful. Unfortunately, for many of us, it’s not so simple. That’s why, regardless of whether we’re optimists, pessimists, or simply realists, we look for signs from the Universe around us telling us that everything will be okay. We read horoscopes, consult tarot cards, wear good luck charms, but sometimes we go further, performing seemingly trivial or absurd actions in the hope of catching good vibes to accompany us through the 365 days ahead. Thus, on New Year’s Eve, enveloped in a sort of aura of collective magic, we rediscover traditional good-luck customs and superstitious rituals handed down from generation to generation to keep negativity at bay and attract fortune, guardian angels, dancing gnomes, sparkling fairies, and any other mythical entities or figures that might help us. Even those who shy away from lavish celebrations and prefer to spend December 31st at home in pajamas succumb to superstition, wearing something red, lighting a candle, or enjoying a dish of lentils. As they say, prevention is better than cure. And you can never have enough luck and positive energy. As New Year's Eve approaches, let’s review some typical New Year’s traditions and good-luck rituals.

The Foods You Shouldn’t Miss on New Year’s

Lentils

Small and round, they resemble coins. Gathered on a plate, they form a treasure. For this reason, since the time of the ancient Romans, the first legume cultivated in history has been considered a good omen for finances. The more you eat, the richer you become. In Italian culinary tradition, they are often paired with zampone, cotechino, and sausages—pork-based products also symbolizing abundance and good fortune.

12 Grapes

In Spain, the lucky New Year’s Eve snack consists of 12 grapes, eaten 12 seconds before midnight, one for each chime of the clock. The number symbolizes the months of the year, and it is believed that eating them welcomes good luck and prosperity while warding off evil spirits. Be careful: finding a spoiled grape is a bad sign.

Collard Greens and Black-Eyed Peas

If you’re in the southern United States on New Year’s Day, you might find a dish of collard greens and black-eyed peas on the table. The resemblance of the greens to dollar bills and the peas to coins promises fortune and prosperity. Spending the holidays in Germany? Here, the tradition is similar but includes pork and sauerkraut.

Bread (to Throw at Walls)

To ward off evil spirits and bad luck, according to Irish tradition, you should stock up on bread, preferably stale. Throwing it against doors and walls is said to create a noise that scares away malevolent little creatures and, consequently, keeps misfortune at bay.

Pomegranate

The pomegranate holds significance in various cultures: in Jewish tradition, it is linked to the commandments of the Torah, while in Christianity, its red juice symbolizes martyrdom and redemption. For Greeks, it symbolizes abundance, fertility, luck, and prosperity. According to an old custom from the island, after having it blessed, the fruit is hung on the door from Christmas until New Year’s. On January 1st, it is thrown against the door until it breaks into 13 pieces—one for each month of the year and an extra for good luck.

Dried Fruits

For prosperity, fertility, and to ward off troubles, dried fruits must not be missing from the New Year’s Eve table. Specifically, seven types: hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, dates, figs, and raisins. Their sweet flavor adds a touch of sweetness to the new year. Additionally, keeping the pit of the first date eaten in your wallet could bring financial advantages.

No to Chicken, Lobster, Crab, and Shrimp

Among the foods to avoid on New Year’s Eve and January 1st are chicken, lobster, crab, and shrimp. Why? Chicken has wings and symbolizes luck flying away. Lobsters, crabs, and shrimp walk backward, which might hinder progress or leave us stuck in a situation, preventing us from achieving our goals. Who wants to take the risk? It’s better to choose a different menu.

New Year’s Eve: Traditions, Rituals, and Small Gestures to Attract Luck

Wearing Red Underwear

The custom is said to originate from Eastern folklore, where the color red was believed to scare off Niàn, a giant monster with a long head and sharp horns that emerges from the sea on New Year’s Day to feast on humans. Wearing red, especially underwear (which must be gifted), is also part of Italian and some Latin American traditions to attract luck, abundance, and passion.

Lighting a Candle

Lighting a white candle before midnight and letting it burn is a way to purify oneself, promote renewal, and celebrate the new year. To attract love, you can opt for a red candle, while a green one is believed to help increase financial gains. It’s a small gesture that requires little effort, sets the right mood, and might bring some joy along with it.

Fireworks

Invented by the Chinese in the 8th century AD, fireworks reached Europe in the 13th century AD, where they began to be used for military celebrations. Why are they still part of our tradition? Combining fire, light, and noise, fireworks are an ancient ritual to scare off evil spirits and attract good ones with their colorful sparkles.

Midnight Kiss (Under a Mistletoe)

Why do we kiss at midnight on December 31st? There’s a superstition that if you kiss someone at that hour and get goosebumps, your love will last all year. More widespread is the tradition of the midnight kiss under a mistletoe branch. Its origin is unclear. Vikings associated mistletoe with Freya, one of Odin’s wives, known as the protector of love and lovers. Others link the mistletoe-kiss-New Year combo to Scandinavian mythology. The mistletoe’s red berries represent the tears shed by the goddess Frigg for her son Balder’s death, struck by a mistletoe arrow. Balder came back to life, and in joy, the pagan deity kissed those passing by the plant.

Stocked Pantry and Full Wallet

As we prepare for the new year and before supermarkets close for the holidays, we shouldn’t forget to stock the pantry with everything we need and keep as much money as possible in our wallets, ensuring that the next 12 months are free of financial difficulties and hopefully full of great earnings.

An Empty Suitcase

Those dreaming of a globetrotting future, spending the year traveling the world, should carry an empty suitcase on New Year’s Eve. In Colombia, this peculiar accessory blends seamlessly with the glitter and elegant outfits of end-of-year parties, guaranteeing journeys and adventures for the next 12 months.

Open Doors and Windows

In the Philippines and Ireland, at the stroke of midnight on December 31st, it’s customary to open all the doors and windows of the house to let out bad vibes and allow good fortune to enter. It’s also a symbolic way of letting go of the old year and welcoming the new one. Not advisable if you’re sensitive to the cold.

Polka Dots

Sometimes red underwear isn’t enough. A little extra luck is always welcome. How to get it simply? In the Philippines, they recommend wearing an outfit or accessory with polka dots, as their round shape resembles coins and symbolizes wealth, abundance, and success for the new year.

The Importance of the First Guest

New Year’s in Scotland is called Hogmanay, and among its many traditions is First-Footing. This custom holds that the first visitor of the year will bring luck and prosperity to the household they enter. This person is ideally male, tall, dark-haired, and handsome, and should bring a small symbolic gift such as cookies, sweets, whisky, or a piece of coal for the fireplace. In return, the man is allowed to kiss all the women in the family.

Starting Off on the Right Foot

In the United States, the word “right” can mean both “correct” and “right (side)”. Perhaps for this reason, it is believed that the best way to start a new year is by stepping into your home with your right leg and foot first. Who wouldn’t want to remember this little “trick” in exchange for 365 days where everything goes smoothly?

Burning Wishes

In Russia, on New Year’s Eve, one minute before midnight, it is customary to write a wish for the upcoming year on a small piece of paper, which is then burned. The ashes are sprinkled into a glass of champagne to be drunk within the first minute of the new year. And voilà, that dream is believed to come true.

Throwing Dishes or Old Objects Out the Window

In Italy and other parts of the world, getting rid of the old, breaking with the past, and opening up to welcome the new year means disposing of dishes and other items. Tradition suggests throwing them out of the window, but to avoid accidentally hitting and injuring someone, it's advisable to break glasses and tableware on the floor inside your home instead.

Watch the Weather

Can the wind’s direction predict the course of the year? Some believe that if the wind blows from the south in the early hours of New Year’s Day, the year ahead will be prosperous. However, if it comes from the north, brace yourself for problems and financial difficulties. Winds from the east are said to bring famine and calamities, while those from the west herald a year of richness and abundance.

Things Not to Do on New Year’s Eve

Don’t Cry

It doesn’t matter if we’re feeling sentimental, if we’ve just watched the saddest movie ever, or if there was absolutely nothing under the Christmas tree for us—crying on January 1st is strictly forbidden. Otherwise, you risk carrying that sadness and negativity throughout the entire year. So remember: no tears!

Don’t Clean the House

Neat freaks, keep your hands off the duster and the washing machine! According to ancient Chinese tradition, cleaning the house or doing laundry on New Year’s Day is a no-no. Sweeping away dust or dirt is believed to also sweep away good luck. Who’s willing to take that risk?