MAIN Holidays New Year Customs, Superstitions & Traditions

Traditions to bring good luck for the New Year are as old as the celebrations and come from all corners of the world.

Many cultures count a tall, dark and handsome man crossing the threshold as a sign of good luck, but if the first person to enter the house is a red headed woman...the year is sure to be stressful. What single girl would argue with that one!

Others involve housecleaning...brushing the bad luck of the past out with the dust. Holding a piece of silver or gold as the New Year begins is said to increase the chances of prosperity in the coming year...some place a silver coin over the doorway or a penny on the windowsill.

An Irish tradition involves banging on the door and walls with Christmas bread to chase the bad luck out and bring good spirits to the household with the promise of bread enough in the New Year. This is probably related to the tradition of banging pots and pans in Iran, or the ancient tradition of using firecrackers to welcome in the Chinese New Year.

The youngest boy in the household lighting a candle at dusk to burn through the night until morning light is another Celtic tradition — that may be a citified version of lighting bonfires or a carryover of the Samhain tradition of lighting tapers in the windows to chase the evil spirits.

In the Philippines, children jump up and down at midnight to make sure they will grow tall. In Asia, sunrise celebrations and honoring of the ancestors and elders brings luck.

German's drop melted lead into cold water and take turns interpreting the results. This tradition has become so popular that kits are sold that include the lead pellets and suggestions for discerning what it all means!

Then there are the foods! Chiacchiere, or honey drenched balls of fried dough, always ensure a sweet year in Italy. Grapes, one for each month, make for a lucky year in Spain and many Latin countries. Eating pork, all kinds of greens, cabbage, sauerkraut, the Southern U.S. tradition of black eyed peas or anything that forms a circle - such as donuts or pretzels - make for good fortune in the coming year. In Korea, bowing to the elders and deokguk, Rice Cake Soup, are part of the sun rise celebrations.

These ancient holiday traditions are as varied as the lands where they are from, but they all have one thing in common: sharing warm personal wishes with friends and family for much happiness, health and prosperity in the New Year...

More about New Year traditions around the Web:

Ethnic New Year's Recipes - Many New Year's traditions are built around foods. In Korea, the US, Germany and throughout the world there are foods to bring luck, health and happiness in the coming year. This collection of international New Year recipes has pretzels, Hoppin' John with black-eyed peas, collard greens, Korean Rice Cake Soup (deokguk) and many more recipes for traditional foods for good fortune in the New Year...

New Year's Festivals Around the World - Tour the customs associated with the New Year alphabetically starting in Austria and ending in Vietnam. The foods for health and prosperity as well as traditional good luck symbols are explained...

Irish Christmas and New Year Customs and Superstitions - The Celtic traditions and superstitions left over from the Druids form the basis for traditions in Ireland. Much of the mythology of New Year's comes from the ancient Samhain festivals...

New Year's Superstitions in Scotland and Wales - First footing, letting in the New Year, and water traditions may ring a bell if your family heritage includes some Celtic roots. These beliefs were transported to other lands by immigrants and many have become common in other ethnic communities...

also see in New Years -> New Year's Eve Party Ideas

How to Make (and Keep) a New Year's Resolution

Share Your Recipes in the Chiff Chef Recipe File
Browse -> Black Eyed Peas | Champagne Punch