Be Polite
One should behave nicely on New Year’s Day and must refrain from using foul language. Ghost stories and conversations on death should also be avoided.
Black-Eyed Peas
A tradition common to the southern states of the U.S. dictates that the eating
of black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day will attract both general good luck and
money in particular to the one doing the dining. Some choose to add other
southern fare (such as ham hocks, collard greens, or cabbage) to this tradition,
but the black-eyed peas are key.
Breakage
Avoid breaking things on the first day lest wreckage be part of your year.
Crying
Avoid crying on the first day of the year lest that set the tone for the next 12 months.
Dance in the Open Air
To dance in the open air, especially round a tree, on New Year’s Day ensures luck in love and prosperity and freedom from ill health during the coming twelve months.
Drain the Bottle
Ensure yourself good fortune by draining the last dregs from a bottle of drink on New Year’s Day!
First Footing
One must never leave the home before someone comes in first. 'First footer' in the house should be ushered in with a warm welcome and should not have flat feet, cross-eyes or eyebrows stretching out to meet in the middle. It would be even better if he/she came bearing certain small gifts.
Future Groom
On New Year’s Day if, on rising, a girl should look out of her bedroom window and see a man passing by, she may reckon to be married before the year is finished.
Kissing At Midnight
We kiss those dearest to us at midnight not only to share a moment of
celebration with our favourite people, but also to ensure those affections and
ties will continue throughout the next 12 months. To fail to smooch our
significant others at the stroke of 12 would be to set the stage for a year of
coldness.
Letting the Old Year Out
At midnight, all the doors of a house must be opened to let the old year escape
unimpeded. ‘He must leave before the New Year can come in,’ says popular wisdom.
Loud Noise
Make as much noise as possible at midnight. You’re not just celebrating – you’re
scaring away evil spirits, so do a good job of it.
Lucky Babies
Babies born on January 1st are said to be the luckiest of all throughout their lives.
Money
In several countries people don’t let money, jewelry, precious items or other valuable things
leave home on New Year’s Day. Do not pay back loans or lend money or other precious items on New Year’s Day.
To do so is to guarantee you’ll be paying out all year.
Some go to the extent of not taking out garbage, or not dusting their carpets
on this day to ensure that nothing goes out of home during the year. If you must take something out from the home, let someone come (with the present) inside the home first.
New Clothes
Wear something new January 1st to increase the likelihood of receiving more new
garments during the year to follow. Red clothing is preferred for New Year’s Day since red is considered a happy colour and is sure to attract, for the wearer, a brighter future.
Nothing Goes Out
Nothing – absolutely nothing, not even garbage – is to leave the house on the
first day of the year. If you have presents to deliver on New Year’s Day, leave
them in the car overnight. Don’t so much as take out a rug or take the empties
to the recycle bin. Some people soften this rule by saying it’s okay to remove
things from the home on New Year’s Day provided something else has been brought
in first; the year must begin with something being added to the home before
anything is subtracted.
Paying Off Bills
The New Year should not be begun with the household in debt, so cheques should
be written and mailed off prior to January 1. Likewise, personal debts should be
settled before the New Year arrives.
Stocking Up
The New Year must not be seen in with bare cupboards, lest that be the way of
things for the year. Larders must be topped up and plenty of money must be
placed in every wallet in the home to guarantee prosperity. Empty pockets or empty cupboards on New Year’s Eve portend a year of poverty.
Weather
Examine the weather in the early hours of New Year’s Day. If the wind blows from
the south, there will be fine weather and prosperous times in the year ahead. If
it comes from the north, it will be a year of bad weather. Wind blowing from the east foretells natural calamities, and wind from the west foretells plenty of milk and fish for all, but death of a person of great national importance. No wind means joy and prosperity throughout the year.
Work
Make sure to do – and be successful at – something related to your work on the
first day of the year, even if you don’t go near your place of employment that
day. Limit your activity to a token amount, though, because to engage in a
serious work project on that day is very unlucky. Also, do not do the laundry on
New Year’s Day, lest a member of the family be ‘washed away’ (die) in the
upcoming months. The more cautious eschew washing dishes. Many people don’t wash hair on New Year’s day.
see also
Calendar, New Year & Nationality
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