New Year’s Traditions for Good Luck

The tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve didn’t start with the New York City ball drop. In fact, the earliest record of a New Year’s festival dates back to 2000 BCE in Mesopotamia, according to Britannica. It’s not just one celebration, however. With so much history, it’s no wonder that New Year’s Eve traditions have taken on a life of their own, spanning cultures and centuries to ultimately become what they are today — myriad rituals and superstitions used to ring in the new year right.

Whether you’re looking to bring forth some good fortune for the year ahead or want to know how to ward off any bad luck coming your way, these new year superstitions from around the world may be worth a try.

For Good Luck

Break Dishware

Frowned upon at any other time of the year, smashing a plate is considered good luck for the new year in Denmark. The basic idea is to break dishes on your loved ones’ front steps on New Year’s Eve, and the more shards you have the next day, the more well-liked you are. Better than a double-tap on social media.

Eat 12 Grapes

When it comes to good luck foods for the new year, this Spanish tradition is a popular one. The rules state that you must eat one grape at each of the clock’s 12 midnight chimes. But that’s not all. You must also ruminate on their importance while doing so. If you succeed, good luck is promised to you for the next year, but failure to finish your grapes when the clock stops chiming will result in misfortune in the new year.

Leave Doors and Windows Open 

Keeping your doors and windows open on New Year’s is said to let the old year out and the new year in. Sounds like a fresh start.

Hang Bundles of Onions

A bit reminiscent of hanging garlic to ward off vampires, the Greeks hang onions over their doors for the opposite: to let the good luck in. Why? In Greece, onions are symbols of prosperity as they sprout when ignored. After the onions have been outside, parents bring them in on New Year’s Day and use them to gently bump their children’s heads to wake them up.

Jump Seven Waves

Taking a leap into the ocean during January might not seem worth it — even for all the good luck in the world — but revelers in Brazil believe that good luck will come your way in spades for doing it. The tradition includes wearing all white, running into the ocean at the stroke of midnight and jumping over seven consecutive waves, one for each of the Umbanda divine spirits. If you partake, you also get one wish per wave.

Weekend Road Trips in the Northeast

Looking for a weekend getaway? The Northeast is full of fascinating museums, natural beauty, quirky destinations and more. Just hop in the car and head out on one of these road trips.

Go now!

Predict with Wax

Can wax tell the future? Folks in Germany seem to think so. Melt wax on a spoon and over a candle before dumping it into cold. As the wax morphs and shifts, different shapes mean different outcomes. While round globs of wax predict good luck rolling your way, sharp or spiky shapes predict hardships.

Throw Water Out the Window

In this Puerto Rico tradition, dumping a bucket of water out a window is done to drive away any lurking evil spirits.

Potato Predictor

As another good luck food for the new year, potatoes are believed to predict the financial future for the next year. The Columbian tradition is to put out three potatoes (any kind will do) under the bed of each family member. One of the potatoes should be peeled, one half-peeled and one unpeeled. The unpeeled potato symbolizes money, the peeled potato is a bad financial omen and the half-peeled potato signifies half-and-half. Each person must grab one potato without looking, and whichever one they pick predicts if they’ll have more money or more problems in the coming year.

Make a Lemon Pig

Pigs are a symbol of prosperity, so to bring that luck into the home, some have taken to making pigs out of lemons for their new year’s tradition. To make your own, use the lemon’s nub-end as its nose, add two cloves for eyes, cut ears at the top and toothpicks at the bottom for its feet. To ensure extra luck, place a coin in its mouth as well.

Wear Red

In Chinese Lunar New Year traditions — celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice, usually landing between mid-January and mid-February — wearing red and using red decorations sweeps out any bad luck from the past year. The color symbolizes luck, happiness and celebration and is said to bring good fortune.

To Avoid Bad Luck

• No chores. Some say it’s bad luck to clean on New Year’s Day. What you do on New Year’s Day is what you’ll be doing all year, so choose wisely. This includes no sweeping, as it will sweep away your wealth.
• No hair washing. Washing your hair on New Year’s is said to wash away good luck. Is it bad luck to shower on New Year’s Day? Going by this rule, probably. We wouldn’t risk it.
• Steer clear of lobster, crab and chicken, as these animals walk backward or sideways, symbolizing moving backward.
• Avoid crying or speaking negatively to yourself and others to prevent those words and feelings from making their way back to you in the form of misfortune.

What’s your favorite New Year’s tradition or superstition? Let us know in the comments!

Sarah Vincelette

Based in Rhode Island, Sarah has been a copywriter and content producer with AAA Northeast since 2021. When she’s not scouring the best spots for all things food and drink or whipping up her own versions of tasty meals, you can often find her in the garden, planning her next trip or sipping on (another) hot coffee.