New Year’s Superstitions From Around the World Explained

Superstitions for Luck & Prosperity

Eating 12 grapes at midnight (Spain)

This tradition started in the late 1800s and really took off in the early 1900s, partly thanks to a major grape surplus. The idea is simple and symbolic: one grape for each month, eaten at midnight, to lock in good luck for the year ahead.

Black-eyed peas and collard greens (United States, Southern states)

This New Year’s meal has deep roots in Southern and African American history, where these foods were affordable and filling during hard times. Over time, black-eyed peas came to represent coins and collard greens came to symbolize paper money, turning a practical meal into a hopeful tradition.

Long soba noodles at midnight (Japan)

Known as toshikoshi soba, this custom is about more than just eating noodles. Their length represents a long life, while the fact that they break easily reflects the idea of leaving behind struggles from the previous year.

Honey-based foods (Ancient Roman tradition, still practiced in parts of Europe)

Ancient Romans believed starting the year with honey would lead to sweeter days ahead. That belief spread across Europe, where honey became a symbol of abundance, happiness, and good fortune.

Starting the year with money in your wallet

This superstition is based on the idea that the way you begin the year sets the tone for everything that follows. Carrying cash on January 1 is meant to signal financial stability and avoid starting the year empty-handed.

Avoiding lending or borrowing money on New Year’s Eve or Day

Many cultures believe that giving money away at the start of the year invites ongoing financial loss. The logic is symbolic rather than literal: you want the year to begin with gain, not debt.

Keeping cupboards full

This tradition comes from times when food scarcity was a real concern. A full pantry on New Year’s Day represents security, preparedness, and the hope that the household will not struggle in the months ahead.

Wearing polka dots (Philippines)

Polka dots are popular because their round shape looks like coins. Wearing them on New Year’s Eve is meant to attract wealth, a belief influenced by Chinese symbolism and widely embraced in Filipino culture.

Superstitions to Remove Bad Luck

Making loud noise at midnight

The idea of making noise to scare away evil spirits goes back centuries. Fireworks and cheering were believed to clear out negative energy before it had a chance to follow people into the new year.

Cleaning before New Year’s Eve

Cleaning ahead of midnight is meant to physically and symbolically clear out the bad luck of the past year. It represents closing unfinished chapters before starting fresh.

Avoiding cleaning on New Year’s Day

In Chinese tradition, cleaning on the first day of the year risks sweeping away newly arrived luck. This belief has spread widely and is now followed by many people outside East Asia as well.

Smashing plates (Denmark)

In Denmark, breaking plates outside someone’s door is actually a friendly gesture. The more broken dishes you wake up to, the more luck and strong relationships you are believed to have.

Jumping off chairs at midnight (Denmark)

This playful ritual is about physically jumping into the new year. It symbolizes leaving bad spirits behind and starting fresh with intention.

Throwing out old furniture or possessions (Italy, some regions)

In parts of Italy, people once marked the new year by getting rid of old items. The act symbolized cutting ties with bad memories and making room for something better.

Opening doors and windows at midnight (Philippines and Latin America)

Opening doors and windows allows the old year to leave and the new one to enter. It reflects the belief that movement and airflow help reset energy and invite good fortune.

Superstitions for Love & Relationships

Kissing at midnight

The midnight kiss became popular in Europe in the 1800s and quickly spread elsewhere. It is believed to secure affection and emotional closeness for the year ahead.

Choosing who you are with at midnight

Older folklore suggested the first person you see in the new year influences your luck. That belief evolved into intentionally surrounding yourself with people you care about when the clock strikes twelve.

Wearing specific underwear colors (Latin America)

Different colors carry different meanings, with red linked to romance, yellow to luck, and gold to wealth. These traditions blend indigenous symbolism with European cultural influences.

Sleeping with mistletoe under the pillow (Ireland)

Mistletoe has long been tied to love and fertility in Celtic folklore. Placing it under a pillow was believed to inspire dreams of a future partner.

First-footing (Scotland)

In Scotland, the first person to enter your home after midnight is thought to set the tone for the year. A dark-haired guest bearing small gifts was traditionally seen as the luckiest sign.

Why These Superstitions Endure

These superstitions persist because they offer people a sense of control during a moment that naturally feels uncertain. The transition into a new year is full of unknowns, and symbolic rituals help make that shift feel intentional rather than random. By performing small actions tied to luck or protection, people feel more prepared to face what comes next.

They also promote optimism and confidence. When someone believes a ritual will bring good fortune, it often creates a positive mindset going into the year. That optimism can shape behavior, making people more motivated, hopeful, and open to opportunities, which in turn reinforces the belief that the superstition worked.

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