So many traditions and superstitions for the New Year.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (39171)
December 31, 2024 12:00pm CST
Whenever the year is over and a new one begins, we usually hear about, or celebrate, with traditions.
Many people think eating black-eyed peas and cornbread will bring them good fortune. Here in the Midwest, it is generally some type of beans, and some pork, and the cornbread.
Then there is a list of things some people do that seem rather silly to me, but hey...who am I to knock their beliefs or traditions.
Some of the ones I have known of, but not followed:
Do not shower or bathe on New Year's Day, something about washing off any good luck? I am not a fan of this one.
Don't do any laundry, or cleaning. Again, supposedly you are removing any good luck coming your way if you do this.
Open your front and back door and let the wind blow through for a few minutes on New Year's Eve. (Not a chance, at the price of heating costs!)
Do not cry on New Year's Day. Not ever. It brings misfortune for the new year. Seriously?
Don't eat chicken, turkey, or anything that has/had wings on New Year's Day. It will make your good luck fly away.
The strangest one I've heard this year is you are supposed to wear polka dots. I don't even own anything with polka dots, and haven't for years.
Put money in one or both of your shoes on New Year's Day, it is supposed to lead you to prosperity in the New Year. Hmmm...
Of course, there are a lot of traditions for New Year's Day, depending on your country, your family, and what you are used to. It would take forever to list them all.
Do you have New Year's traditions?
Picture from clipart.
22 people like this
19 responses
@GardenGerty (161166)
• United States
1 Jan
@MarieCoyle You are supposed to lift your left leg as Midnight strikes so you start the new year on "the right foot". . . and that is a groaner, for sure.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
1 Jan
@GardenGerty
I wonder who thinks this stuff up, don't you?
You're right, a total groaner! 
@TheHorse (220809)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Jan
@MarieCoyle Wheee! Maybe I will take my car in to get it checked. I think they have calendars there. 
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (183044)
• United States
1 Jan
Pork roast and sauerkraut has been my New Year's meal for decades. With the lake effect s**w warning, my husband's 2nd cousin is not coming over today to make it. We will have to delay it for a day or two. Happy New Year!!!
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (183044)
• United States
1 Jan
@MarieCoyle Right now I have a mouse in the house. Not the company I was looking for. Stay safe.
2 people like this
@porwest (93231)
• United States
1 Jan
@LindaOHio I have snap traps. But of course, them being here will do you no good there. Onward and upward.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
1 Jan
I wish you had someone to stay with you part of the time. We have warnings here for Thursday for a small snow and possibly a big storm starting Sunday. Time will tell.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (168874)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Jan
But what if you don't own any poka dots?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168874)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Jan
@MarieCoyle ... they aren't the most flattering.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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1 Jan
@celticeagle
Funny how popular they once were, but now I rarely see anyone wearing polka dots.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51723)
• Canada
31 Dec
I cannot say that I know of these traditions, they are interesting though.
We like to end the year on a good note and spend time together having a nice meal out, and we always spend New Years day together, and we enjoy a delicious meal at home together.
Happy New Year to you and your family Marie.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51723)
• Canada
1 Jan
@MarieCoyle Thanks Marie.
Just a nice quiet time together, eating a delicious meal that I did not have to prepare, not that I am not thankful to be able to cook for us, but it was nice to sit and converse.
Enjoy the last of 2024 and let's pray that 2025 is a better year for both of us and our families.
I will say a little prayer tonight for Kharla's loved ones-I think of them often, I really miss her.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
1 Jan
@Juliaacv
She told me she would be getting a new great grandchild in September. She was so excited about that. I am sure she is very much missed by her family, I know we all miss her here, too.
Yes, I truly do hope for a better 2025 for ALL of us. Thank you so very much.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
31 Dec
What you do sounds like heaven to me. I hope you have a wonderful holiday, Julia.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (138024)
• United States
31 Dec
No, we don't have any traditions we do for the New Year.
I hope you and yours have a wonderful New Year this year and for all the coming years.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (138024)
• United States
31 Dec
@MarieCoyle Mom and dad always wanted their kids to eat cornbread and black eyed peas on New Year's Day. I like cornbread but couldn't stand black eyed peas.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
31 Dec
I don’t do any of them either. The only one I do try to do is the bean soup thing, in memory of my grandmother. At some point on either New Year’s Eve or the next day I always have a cup of bean soup as she did practice that tradition. The rest, I consider superstitiouns and I don’t believe in them.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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31 Dec
@DaddyEvil
A lot of people don’t like them. I will eat a small helping, but they are not as good as many other types of beans.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41843)
• United States
1 Jan
I know the ones about black eyed peas (I'm not superstitious, but I did cook a pot just cause I wanted them) and the coin in a shoe. But I don't do any of those things. Interesting post, though.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41843)
• United States
2 Jan
@MarieCoyle Is that why we used to wear a penny in loafers?
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
2 Jan
It seems that different areas of the US, as well as many other countries, all have their own little superstitions to help ensure a Happy New Year. I had never heard of the coin in the shoe thing until recently, but hey...I bet a lot of people do that one, too!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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20h
@1creekgirl
I actually saw a young lady not long ago wearing penny loafers! Remember when it was important to have a really shiny, new penny in them? They were comfortable shoes, too.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161166)
• United States
1 Jan
I eat the black eyed peas. Bob does not like them. We happen to have a ham, and we have kraut, so we are good. My cashier at Walmart this afternoon said she heard on the radio this morning that for good luck Danish people eat a donut on Christmas Eve She liked that. We were tired to go donut shopping and I do not need that kind of treat, as much as I love it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161166)
• United States
1 Jan
@MarieCoyle Bob likes it as a side for many things. I am going to go put on my polka dot leggings, and maybe my polka dot bath robe.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year.1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
1 Jan
I can eat a small amount of kraut, but then I'm done. I will eat a bit on a Reuben sandwich, I like it that way but not by itself. I used to help my grandmother make a ton of homemade kraut for canning, etc...I think I got really burned out on it.
I very rarely eat a donut. I like them way too much...I had one in September, an apple cider donut. Christmas eve, I had a homemade cinnamon donut. I think I ate one earlier in the year...they are so, so good.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
1 Jan
@GardenGerty
Surely with all of those polka dots, you will have a banner year, Heather!!
Today, my son wants hash brown casserole. He absolutely loves that...so yes, I made it for dinner tonight, it's ready to put in the oven.
Happy New Year to you and Bob and the kitties!
@much2say (56523)
• Los Angeles, California
31 Dec
On New Year's Eve, we eat soba - a Japanese buckwheat noodle soup. Because it's sort of healthy (high in soluble fiber?), growing up we were told it "cleanses" all the bad stuff (your gut and life) from the year away 
.
We also do all the cleaning on or before NY's day . . . so everything is clean as we bring in the New Year. (Shhh, I haven't done a whole lot of cleaning today yet 
).
My parents told us not to do chores or fight on NY's day . . . that whatever we do on this first day of the year will set the tone for the rest of the year .
These are loosely some Japanese superstitions we grew up with . . . but eh, we loosely follow them 
.
.
We also do all the cleaning on or before NY's day . . . so everything is clean as we bring in the New Year. (Shhh, I haven't done a whole lot of cleaning today yet ).
My parents told us not to do chores or fight on NY's day . . . that whatever we do on this first day of the year will set the tone for the rest of the year .
These are loosely some Japanese superstitions we grew up with . . . but eh, we loosely follow them .1 person likes this
@much2say (56523)
• Los Angeles, California
22h
@MarieCoyle Many people probably haven't tried soba. But I guess it's a "thing" now with certain special diets (less gluten and such).
I had decided early on that I'm just going to be me on New Year's Day - I was always mostly well behaved anyway 
.
.1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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20h
@much2say
Being you is a good thing to be, dear.
The trouble with being well behaved, is sometimes, it's just not very fun. Darn! 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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31 Dec
I don’t think I have ever had the soba you describe.
I have heard that in the past, some parents really stressed to their children to be well behaved on New Year’s Day.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
1 Jan
Well, some of them are really rather silly, for sure. I've never believed in superstitions. However, I had an Irish great grandmother who completely and totally believed (or at least, had me convinced she did) that Ireland truly does have faeries. She told me so many stories about them, that I was completely convinced. Ah, memories!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
1 Jan
@allknowing
Here in the US, it seems we often hear of traditions, etc. from all over the world, as we are a huge melting pot. At least it's interesting!!
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (72520)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Jan
George and I usually don't do anything for new years except enjoy each other's company.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (72520)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Jan
@MarieCoyle It has and far from over.
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@MarieCoyle (39171)
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1 Jan
@kaylachan
I know you do what you do out of love for George, but I also know being a caregiver can be exhausting.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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1 Jan
I am glad you have each other. I hope George continues to improve. It's been a long haul for both of you.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108885)
• Marion, Ohio
31 Dec
I hadn't heard most of those. My family always said to eat pork and cabbage for prosperity.
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@MarieCoyle (39171)
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31 Dec
I have heard of the pork and cabbage tradition, but I honestly don’t know of anyone here who eats that for New Year’s dinner. It seems many areas eat different things to celebrate.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108885)
• Marion, Ohio
31 Dec
@MarieCoyle I think a lot depends where your family came from. I am going to make teriyaki cubed pork chops, gravy, rice and sauerkraut for dinner tomorrow. It won't hurt
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
1 Jan
@wolfgirl569 It sounds as if you are starting out 2025 with a good, hearty meal. Make enough for leftovers, and maybe you can skip a day of cooking!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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1 Jan
Some people don't do traditions, and some do. We are all different. Bland? Hmm...
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37996)
• Philippines
2 Jan
The chicken and the polka dots are common here, polka dots are coins for money luck.
We used to jump in new years eve I forgot the reason.
We empty the laundry and I clean a lot
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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2 Jan
I didn't clean today, except doing the dishes from the food I cooked. Oh, and myself....I took my shower!
@Deepizzaguy (104686)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
31 Dec
I do not really have any New Year's traditions other than tuning to the television stations celebrating the new year.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104686)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
1 Jan
@MarieCoyle I might tune in just for being curious.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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31 Dec
I personally can’t imagine wanting to be in Times Square as they said on the news that they expect over a million people there. We will probably watch a movie.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (39171)
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31 Dec
I agree, it’s fun to read about but I’m not doing those things.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (2638)
• India
1 Jan
Well, every country has some superstition or tradition regarding New Year. I have seen that most people ensure that they will not spend any money or purchase anything on New Year. They either do it on New Year eve or on the next day following New Year. This is because of a supersitition that we tend to spend more if we make any purchases on 1st of the year or the 1st of the month. My Dad used to follow that. I have not been into that but then there are times I tend to see my spends increasing and makes me wonder if its because I did not honour the tradition. I have not heard much on the ones you have mentioned. They are interesting. Enjoy your time!
@MarieCoyle (39171)
•
1 Jan
I haven’t heard the ‘no spending’ thing about New Year’s. But honestly, most everything is closed anyway except for some restaurants and gas stations.
