And I also learned that, in at least one respect, I must have been living a sheltered life all these past 80 years, 'cause I honestly cannot recall ever having heard of any superstitions connected to New Year's. As it turns out, however, several have sprouted up over the centuries in relation to this particular holiday. Following are some of the ones I found:
Get a midnight kiss. It may seem like kissing someone at midnight is a way to show your excitement for the new year. But actually, it's thought that if you kiss someone you love as the clock strikes midnight, those sentiments will continue for the next 12 months.
Eat 12 grapes (no more, no less) at midnight. This food superstition originated in Spain and is meant to bring you luck for the year ahead. Just eat 12 grapes at midnight--one for every month--or put them on a skewer and serve as a fun New Year's Eve cocktail garnish.
Keep some extra cash in your wallet. Want to enter a year full of financial prosperity? Then make a run to the ATM, so you can fill your wallet with cash. Also, don't loan out any money on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, and don't start the year with any stupid debts, or you could set a precedent for the months ahead.
Fill up those cupboards. Check and see which grocery stores are open on New Year's Eve, because it's considered bad luck to start the new year with bare cupboards (signaling poverty and hardship).
Open those doors at midnight. Actually, do it just before midnight, so you can let the old year out and welcome the new one. (It doesn't have to be for long...even those who believe in this superstition can get cold).
Don't clean the house. If you're concerned about "sweeping" or "washing" away any luck coming your way, don't do any cleaning--including dishes and laundry.
Fill up on collard greens and black-eyed peas. If you want to keep with Southern tradition, eating black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year's Day supposedly will bring good luck and prosperity, respectively, in the months ahead.
Avoid shedding tears. Save your tears for another day, because crying on New Year's Day could set a year of sadness in motion.
Skip eating lobster, even if it's calling your name. Many cultures believe that eating lobsters before midnight is bad luck, because they move backward, therefore setting you up for a year of setbacks.
Don't leave the house...until someone enters from the outside first. And who that person is supposedly will say a lot about the luck you'll have in the new year. (In Scotland, the first person in your home also has to bring you a gift.)
Eat herring. Whether you like your herring pickled or fresh, eating it in some form at midnight is considered good luck in Germany and Sweden.
Make some noise. You may love buying noisemakers and fireworks to set off at midnight, but did you know the tradition originated from a superstition that making loud noise at midnight would scare away evil spirits and omens?
Beware eating chicken. Similarly to lobster, chicken also is a superstitious food to eat on New Year's Eve, because chickens have wings, and all your luck could fly away.
Carry an empty suitcase around. It can just be around your house for a few minutes, but in Colombia, it's seen as setting yourself up for adventures in the new year.
Were you born on New Year's Day? Then superstition says you'll automatically be lucky throughout your whole life, even more so if you're born at midnight.
After a holiday season of making merry, exchanging gifts, and perhaps indulging in a Christmas dessert or two (or, let's face it, maybe several), a new year brings the chance to start fresh. When the clock strikes 12 midnight on December 31, you'll want to give yourself the best chance possible of making 2024 your best year yet.
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