Believe or not, here are many New Year's superstitions to bring wealth or love in 2024
Superstition.
The definition, according to Miriam Webster, is"a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation."
Most of us have them. Or at least are aware of them, even if we don't necessarily believe in them. But who as a child hasn't avoided those cracks in the sidewalk to avoid breaking mom's back?
The New Year isn't immune to superstitions. Around the world, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of superstitions or traditions, that promise good luck, wealth or love in the new year.
We rounded up many of them. It's your choice on whether to be amused by them or try them out — just in case. We've tried to arrange them as much as possible into several categories.
New Year traditions and superstitions in Florida and the South
Peas, greens and cornbread: Eat those black-eyed peas and collard greens for luck in the new year. Add cornbread to the meal to symbolize gold coins. Some say the only way is to eat your peas as plain as possible to show humility. Others say you should eat 365 peas, no more, no less. Don't lose count or you'll have lots bad luck for each one that's over or under.
Burn a wish: Write a wish on a piece of paper and burn it on New Year's Eve, or better yet, at midnight.
Make lots of noise: Making noise at midnight on New Year's Eve is said to chase away bad spirits and ill intentions as you enter a new year. In some homes, it's customary to open the door at midnight when you make a bunch of noise to let all the "bad" out.
Be choosy about your first guest: The first visitor to cross your threshold and enter your home in the new year can be a bringer of good fortune — or not.
Stock the pantry: Entering a new year with a stocked pantry symbolizes a bountiful year to come. A bare cupboard could mean a barren year is ahead.
Clean the house: A clean home represents a fresh start. Some in the south take it so far as putting on a fresh coat of paint. Watch out, though. Make sure you get everything clean before Jan. 1 or the day after. Some traditions say nothing should leave the house on Jan. 1, even your Christmas tree, to signify not losing anything important to you.
Now for traditions around the world, and you may find some similar superstitions to those mentioned above. We brought more than things when we arrived to North America.
New Year's superstitions around sleep or waking
Wake up early: According to Polish tradition, if you wake up early on New Year's Day, you'll easily wake up early for the rest of the year. Is that a good or bad thing?
Put mistletoe under your pillow: The Irish believe if you put a sprig of mistletoe (or holly or ivy) under your pillow on New Year's Eve, you'll dream of your future love. Some add you need to burn the mistletoe the day to lure in love over the year.
Many New Year's traditions and superstitions revolve around food
Make Hoppin' Johns: The dish, which has roots in African and West Indian traditions, has been a New Year's fixture in the southern United States since the 1800s, with black-eyed peas representing coins and collard greens standing in for cash.
Grapes: In Spain, tradition calls for eating 12 grapes at each strike of the clock at midnight. Skipping right over the fact that cellphones don't strike the hour, you do need to eat all 12 to have good luck in the year ahead. No pressure but don't choke either.
Bread: An Irish tradition involves banging bread against the walls and doors to chase away bad luck and evil spirits, and pave the way for a healthy and prosperous new year.
Chicken: Because chickens have wings, some people believe that eating them will cause all of your luck to fly away in the new year.
Eat ring-shaped foods: Many cultures believe that eating ring-shaped foods like doughnuts, bagels, and cakes will bring good fortune full circle.
Pickled herring: In Poland and Scandinavia, people eat pickled herring at midnight to bring prosperity.
Soba noodles: In Japan, families will eat buckwheat soba noodles at midnight, which symbolize longevity and prosperity. The tradition is tied to a Buddhist temple giving out the noodles to the poor. Because the long thin noodles are firm yet easy to bite, it is believed eating them symbolizes a literal break away from the old year.
Lobster: Many cultures believe eating lobster on New Year's will bring you bad luck. Since the crustaceans move backward, that is thought to represent setbacks in the year ahead.
Pork: In Chinese culture the pig is associated with good fortune and prosperity. In German legend, pork is lucky since pigs look forward when they eat, which represents progress.
Salt or pomegranates: In Turkey, some people sprinkle salt on their doorstep at midnight to bring peace and prosperity. Others open pomegranates to attract wealth.
Onions: In Greece, people associate onions with rebirth and development, so they hang them on their doors to make sure they continue to grow in the new year.
Apple: In the Czech Republic, people predict what will happen during the year ahead with an apple. An apple is cut in half, and the shape of the core is meant to tell the fate of everyone surrounding it. A cross means someone at the party will fall ill, and a star means health and happiness for all.
Feasting: In Estonia, people are meant to feast seven, nine or 12 times on New Year’s Eve. All are considered lucky numbers. As you thought you were stuffed after Thanksgiving.
Carp scale: After enjoying a traditional meal of Silvesterkarpfen (or "New Year’s Carp") on New Year’s Eve, it's considered lucky for Germans to keep a scale from the carp in their wallets throughout the year to bring wealth and luck. Removing the scale is considered removing the luck.
Potatoes: On New Year’s Eve, Colombian households have a tradition of placing three potatoes under everyone's bed: one peeled, one not, and the last one only partially. At midnight, each person grabs for one with their eyes closed and depending on the potato they select, can either expect a year of good fortune, financial struggle, or a mix of both. And if the potatoes stay there all year, a whole crop could be under there and ready for the next year.
Things to do to have good luck in the coming year
Jump seven waves: Brazilians believe that you'll have good luck for the whole year if you jump over seven waves on New Year's Eve. You get one wish per wave. In Florida, this would be very possible, but maybe not during a northeaster.
Step with your right foot: In Argentina, stepping forward with your right foot right at midnight is said to bring good luck for the year.
Burn scarecrows: To banish any ill fortune or bad things that happened in the past year, Ecuadorians set fire to scarecrows filled with paper at midnight on New Year’s Eve. They also burn photographs of things that represent bad memories. According to tradition, it's thought doing so helps to banish any ill fortune or bad things that have happened over the last 12 months.
New Year's superstitions and clothes
Wear polka dots: According to a Philippines tradition, since the dots resemble coins, wearing polka dots should bring prosperity for the months to come.
It's all in the underwear: Across Latin America, you'll find stores selling lots of red, white and yellow underwear around the new year. That's because of what they symbolize: Red for romance, white for peace and yellow for wealth and luck. Wonder if there are red, white and yellow ones — or would it work to wear three pairs?
In and around the home, yours as well as friends and family
Throw things out the window: In Italy, some will throw old items like dishes, clothes, and even furniture out the window to symbolize letting go of the past and making room for all the good fortune the new year will bring. Others say it's only soft things you should throw out. HOAs probably frown on any window chucking, though.
Clean the house: In China and Latin America, cleaning your house is supposed to sweep away negativity from your life. If you start the year fresh, it will continue that way. Don't like to clean? How about this one: Others say cleaning or sweeping on Jan. 1 will "wash away a loved one" in the next year.
Open doors and window: Open your doors and windows just before midnight to let the old year out and the new one in.
Fill the cabinets: It's considered bad luck to start the New Year with bare cupboards. Some believe it will mean scarcity in the coming year.
Throwing dishes: In Denmark, it’s traditional to throw plates and dishes against your friend’s and neighbor’s front doors. The more plates you find outside your house, the more luck you'll have in the New Year. Whatever you do, don't throw the dishes at someone.
Crossing the threshold: In Scotland, the first person to cross your threshold after midnight on New Year’s Eve is thought to be an omen for the year ahead. The first person to enter the home should come bearing gifts — such as coins, coal, bread, salt, and a “wee dram” of whiskey — to bring the best luck for the house. Traditionally, a tall dark-haired male is picked to be the first one inside, while big blonde strangers commonly armed with axes and swords at the door meant trouble. Ya think?
Things you should — or shouldn't do — to bring good luck into 2024
Don't cry: Across cultures, crying is said to set a negative tone for the new year.
Make some noise: A superstition has it that making lots of noise will ward away evil spirits.
Kiss at midnight: Old folklore has it that kissing your loved one at midnight will bring luck for the year to come.
Carry an empty suitcase: Carrying around an empty suitcase on New Year's Eve is though to bring a year of adventure and travel.
Lead pouring: In Germany and Finland, people melt a small piece of lead or tin and pour it into a container of cold water. The shape it forms is meant to reveal that person’s fate for the year ahead. Memories of Harry Potter reading tea leaves are dancing in my head right now.
Use round things: Filipino people try to use as many round things as possible to represent coins and wealth.
Beating each other up: An annual Peruvian festival has competitors face off in a ring for a round of bare-knuckle brawling, which is overseen by local policemen. Apparently the fights are friendly, and represent a fresh start for the year. Taking a pass on that one.
Bells ring 108 times: This Buddhist tradition is believed to banish all human sins and bring good luck. It’s also good luck to be smiling or laughing going into the New Year.
Shred old papers: After shredding all of their old documents and papers, Argentines throw them out of the window to look like clouds of confetti. This symbolizes leaving the past behind.
Talk to livestock: In Romania, farmers communicate with their livestock. If they succeed, good luck comes their way. No sure here how success is measured..
Burning effigy: In another burning superstition, an effigy of an old man — which represents the old year — is burned at midnight. The burning symbolizes the passing of grievances from the old year and makes room for a new year to be born.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: New Year's traditions, superstitions to bring luck, wealth or love
