New Years Traditions, Superstitions and Good Luck

As we round the corner to the end of the year, it’s a fun time to think about New Year’s traditions, superstitions and good luck.  You may not believe in any of it, but it is interesting to hear the meaning behind certain customs that have weaved their ways into our modern lives.  And if you’re in need of a bit of luck this New Year, maybe try a few of these traditions to turn the tide on your happiness in the coming year.

Fireworks Celebrations:  Fireworks are a beautiful and exciting way to celebrate a New Year, but they also have a specific purpose.  It was once believed that making lots of loud noise on New Years will scare away evil spirits.  Fireworks are definitely loud but you can also use instruments, noise makers and shouts to keep evil at bay in your New Year.

Kissing at Midnight:  Kissing at midnight symbolizes closeness and love in the coming year.  While those who don’t have a significant other may hate this tradition, it also works by hugging a friend.  But make sure it is someone you actually like because you may be connected to this person for the entire year!

Eating Black-Eyed Peas and Greens:  These New Years food traditions began in the South but have made their way across the globe.  Black-eyed peas represent good luck and can be prepared in a variety of ways to bring on goodness.  Greens stand for money.  So eating your spinach, kale and broccoli on New Years may just make you richer…or at least bring you the wealth of better health.

Stay Home and Don’t Wash Anything:  Many people believe you should not leave your house on New Years Day and that you should not take anything out of your house either.  Similarly, some believe that washing anything – from clothes to dishes – can wash away good fortune.  So stay put and don’t do chores – can you handle that?

New Years Celebrations Represent the rest of your Year:  Whatever you do on New Years may be a tell-tale sign of your year to come.  If you celebrate with friends and family, your year will be full of togetherness.  But if you cry on New Years, you may have a year of sadness.  Also, try not to break anything on New Years day to avoid a “broken” year.

Babies Born on New Years are Extremely Lucky:  Did you know it is considered extra good luck to have January 1 as your birthday? Many Asian traditions say that babies born on New Years are very lucky in life, and so are their families.

Other intriguing New Years Traditions and Superstitions:

• Open all of the doors to your house at midnight to let the old year escape and welcome in the New Year.
• Sleep with a lucky horseshoe under your pillow on New Year’s Eve.
• The Dutch eat doughnuts on New Years to symbolize the full circle of the year.
• In Venezuela, people walk around the house with a suitcase full of money to encourage a year of wealth and adventures.
• People in Greece bake a coin into a cake.  Whoever finds it will have good luck for the year.
• In Italy, people toss old items out of their windows to make room for new good luck.
• Spanish people often eat 12 grapes on the New Year to symbolize 12 months of sweetness.

We wish you a happy and fortunate New Year!

The post New Years Traditions, Superstitions and Good Luck appeared first on Leading Lady.