By La Revista Binacional
Every country, culture or even family has different traditions when the clock strikes midnight on December 31. The New Year is here, and everyone needs to start it off right. There are certain activities and traditions performed to welcome the new year but, is it true tradition or is it simply superstition?
Here is a list of the most popular ones:
- Midnight Kiss. Whoever you kiss will be your new relationship. It is believed to ensure a loving and affectionate relationship in the coming year.
- Open Doors at Midnight. Even if it is cold outside, open doors to let bad vibes out and good vibes in.
- Cleaning the House. In many cultures, cleaning the house before New Year’s Day is seen as a way to sweep away the old and make room for the new. It symbolizes starting the year with a clean slate.
- Fireworks and Noise-Making. Many cultures believe that loud noises scare away evil spirits and bring good luck. Fireworks, firecrackers, and noisemakers are commonly used to create a festive and noisy atmosphere.
- Not eating lobster. Lobsters are said to move backwards. If you eat lobster before midnight, your year will have setbacks.
- Throwing things out the window. Another way to bring in positive vibes to your household.
- First-Footing. In Scotland and parts of northern England, the “first-footer” is the first person to enter a home after the stroke of midnight. This person is expected to bring good luck, usually by carrying symbolic gifts like coins, bread, salt, or whisky.
- Running 7 times around your house. This is for good luck. If you live in an apartment building, just run around the room you are in when midnight arrives.
- Danish tradition of breaking dishes. It brings good fortune. (As long as it is not your grandma’s best China).
- Colored underwear. If you wear red underwear, you will find love. If you wear yellow, you will have money. Blue is health. Green is prosperity. Pink is harmony. White is peace. Going commando? Incredibly lucky!
- Eating grapes. 12 to be exact. One for each month. Make a wish on each one.
- Running with an empty suitcase. This will guarantee travel.
- Putting money in your wallet. Everyone needs to start the year with cash in their wallet to make sure there will always be money in their pockets.
- Resolution Making. Making New Year’s resolutions is a widespread tradition. People set goals and make commitments to improve themselves or their lives in the coming year.
- Not crying. The idea that you shouldn’t cry during this time is influenced by the desire to start the new year on a positive note, surrounded by joy and optimism. It’s often seen as a time for celebration, reflection, and setting positive intentions for the coming year.
As we bid farewell to the old and embrace the new, the tapestry of New Year’s traditions we’ve explored reveals the rich diversity of human customs that unite us in the celebration of fresh beginnings. Whether you’re clinking glasses at midnight, breaking plates for good luck, or quietly making resolutions, the essence of these traditions lies in our collective hope for a brighter future.
Are you making any of these traditions this New Year’s? Let us know in the comments!
