New Year's day superstitions --- do you have and practice them at this time?

Hiya MMT, We eat twelve grapes when the Clock in Madrid is striking twelve also and with turron (Marzipan) do you have Marzipan or Turron there? Do you eat it with the grapes and a bit of Champas? Cheers. Sue.xxx

Hi LAI, We have a "toron" here but I don't know if we mean the same thing, lol. It is really bananas wrapped in an edible wrapper then fried. Sorry, Champas may be here but I don't have any idea about it. How was welcoming the New Year for you?

Hi Ladym. Thanks for sharing. This is the first time I hear about the pork. Well, as you say and a lot of us here say, no harm in doing the practice, right? Of course, one's hard work and diligence count but sometimes, luck has a share too, isn't it? Did you hear about eating 12 pieces of grapes, the last piece to be finished as soon as 12 midnight strikes? It is the belief that your life will be sweet throughout the year if you do. And preparing 12 different pieces of fruits on the table on New Year's eve is believed to give abundance of food for the family throughout the year. There are all other practices that we have here. The Philippines had been under different colonization before and maybe people have "collected" these from the different culture that were here. The Chinese people have lots of these practices and superstitions. People tend to follow what they do because the Chinese are mostly successful in business and prosperous financially. Happy New Year to you!

Hiya MMT, I did´nt cut any corners yesterday either. We saw a few fireworks from Madrid and that was it for the night. Fireworks can be fun and very dangerous also. Have just done and cleared away all the dishes from New Years Day Meal thank God for that one. Now after a Shower I feel like a million Dollars ready to go again.

Hi Gabs, There are still other things that the elderly tell us. Most of them were passed to the new generation. We are practicing most of them, too. We get a lot of influence from races who ruled the country in the past. The Spaniards ruled us for 333 years and a lot after them. The Chinese friends have a lot to contribute to superstitions and beliefs in our country. I am sure you also have your share of beliefs and practices where you are. Because times have changed, others may no longer practice them now.

Hi Lelin, It is nice to hear some practices in other places. To bring good luck, we also line coins from outside the house (near the door) up to the bedroom. It is believed to bring in money from outside for the year. We also put coins in our pockets and when 12 midnight strikes, we move them with the hands to make a sound. This is believed to bring money throughout the year. Wearing of polka dot prints is also believed to bring good luck. Happy New Year to you and your family!

Wearing Polka dot prints I like that, I never heard that before.

Hi, again. I wore one with bigger polka prints to church this morning. Hope it would mean "bigger" money, lol. Happy New Year again!

I did have a nice time with friends. WE got together at one of our friend's basement and rang in the new year with a lot of fun, music and some great food. It was nice... have a nice time ahead.bye

Hi Malpoa, Well, maybe it is. That is a belief and you practice that. There is no wrong with doing that as with the other beliefs. As long as it does not harm anyone, I guess it is okay. Some people here say that there is no harm if they practice it and this might be true, so better do it rather than feeling sorry for not having done. Happy New Year, too!

Hi Triplejazzm51, They may have valid reasons for that, I guess. Maybe there were circumstances that when they do the practice, good things happen to them throughout the year. These practices had been done over the years and through word of mouth, more and more are doing it. I wonder if this works the same way as beliefs in quack doctors? They say that if you don't believe in what they do, you will not get the healing that you desire. Maybe a psychological effect thing? I don't know ...

Hi Bryan, Yes, there are lots of these practices that we do up to this time. These have been passed through generations. As all others are doing them and as we hope that something good will come out of them, we follow what others do. And, yes, you are correct, they are expensive, lol. For the 13 kinds of fruits that you need to have on your table, for example, it is surely expensive and, scarce to find. Some enterprising sellers raise their prices during this time. Happy New Year!

Hi Genericbe, Yes, we also do that; we are in the same country. We also line up coins from outside the house up to the bedroom. This is believed to bring luck and more money for the new year. I agree with you --- people should not only rely on doing these practices to be able to improve their life. Most of all, they need to work hard in order to achieve anything in life. Happy New Year!

Hi Ruchimom, It is good to know that you heard tales such as this. It means that this might be practiced by some of the people in your area outside your knowledge. Yes, this maybe done to tell people not to be lazy and do right things especially during the first day of the new year. They say what you do on the first day would seemingly be happening for the rest of the year. True or not, there is no harm in following these practices, especially if this what is done in the country or a specific place. Happy New Year to you and your family!