I have researched New Year’s good luck superstitions beyond what is reasonable for a logical person. But as the thirteenth grandchild of perhaps the most superstitious woman who ever lived, I know better than to scoff too much. If you think about it, most of the superstitions have some basis in reality. Even though she has been gone for more than thirty years, I can hear my grandmother gasping when someone would put shoes on a table. Tables are where people eat and think about the dirt and germs that are on the bottom of shoes that have been worn outside. In the days before Lysol it may have been a superstition, but that was just because they hadn’t coined the term germophobe yet. So we still respect the no shoes on the table one. And I sound just like her when I gasp if I see someone else put shoes on the table.
It got me thinking about the New Year’s superstitions that I had researched. There are some easy ones, spend the day doing something you want to spend the year doing. It is really a practice in intention. If you make the effort to do it day 1, day 2 will be easier. Also, think about the old saying “begin as you intend to proceed.” Makes sense! From there spend sometime working makes sense, too. We want to spend the year working! Now to don’t take things out of your house on New Year’s Day, that one is a little harder. In my mind, it means you spend time before cleaning out the house (we did that this weekend) so again, you are going into the new year with things in order.
My favorite might be wear new clothes (some as specific as new underwear) on New Year’s Day. If you think about the attitude you have when you are wearing a new outfit, this one makes perfect sense. It is like “suiting up” for what is to come. Bring it on new year, I’ve got this!!!!
Now on to the crazier ones. Open all your doors at midnight is attributed to letting out all the evil spirits. Seems crazy! Who would do that? Well, the traditional “make a ton of noise with noise makers and screaming” that is commonplace at NYE celebrations...that is also to scare those evil spirits away. The way I see it, I unintentionally have done this one tons of times so why not take the next step and open all the doors.
A funny one I found is throw out your old broom on NYE. I think this is symbolic of leaving the residue of the prior year in the prior year. I am in.
How about not speaking ill of the prior year, only forward-looking to the new year. This is just positive psychology. What’s next?
Eat black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day. I’ve got nothing on this one but I like black-eyed peas and ham in the crockpot and roasted Brussels sprouts so what the heck!
What are your favorite traditions or superstitions for the new year?
My favorite might be wear new clothes (some as specific as new underwear) on New Year’s Day. If you think about the attitude you have when you are wearing a new outfit, this one makes perfect sense. It is like “suiting up” for what is to come. Bring it on new year, I’ve got this!!!!
Now on to the crazier ones. Open all your doors at midnight is attributed to letting out all the evil spirits. Seems crazy! Who would do that? Well, the traditional “make a ton of noise with noise makers and screaming” that is commonplace at NYE celebrations...that is also to scare those evil spirits away. The way I see it, I unintentionally have done this one tons of times so why not take the next step and open all the doors.
A funny one I found is throw out your old broom on NYE. I think this is symbolic of leaving the residue of the prior year in the prior year. I am in.
How about not speaking ill of the prior year, only forward-looking to the new year. This is just positive psychology. What’s next?
Eat black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day. I’ve got nothing on this one but I like black-eyed peas and ham in the crockpot and roasted Brussels sprouts so what the heck!
What are your favorite traditions or superstitions for the new year?
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