New Year’s Traditions & Superstitions

New Year’s is always an exciting holiday, as we say goodbye to one year and welcome another. It’s a time for celebration, renewed optimism, and fresh starts. For many, the tone and course of the coming year is set by performing various traditions and observing specific superstitions at New Year’s. There are many New Year’s traditions and superstitions related to good fortune, health, prosperity, and love, to ensure the New Year is the best one ever.

An ever-popular tradition is for one to kiss their spouse or significant other at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. However, for many, this classic tradition goes much further and represents a superstition, as it will ensure a close relationship for the year ahead. If this isn’t performed, it means a cold relationship for the year ahead.

Another popular New Year’s Eve superstition is to ensure that all doors and windows are left open at midnight to allow the old year to escape. For many, creating lots of noise (my family and I bang pots and pans) at the stroke of midnight will scare evil spirits away. Dancing around a tree is considered to be another way of bringing good luck, love, and prosperity in the coming year. It has also been suggested that having a well-stocked pantry will ensure prosperity in the New Year, while an empty pantry will undoubtedly bring a year of misfortune.

For many, food is an important part of their New Year’s rituals. Black-eyed peas are a popular choice in the southern United States, as it is said they will bring good luck and money in the coming year if eaten. Another lucky food is lentil soup, as lentils have the appearance of coins. One superstition surrounding food at New Year’s is to avoid eating chicken or turkey on the first day of the year since these birds scratch backwards and therefore, the person will spend the coming year struggling for prosperity.

There is also the superstition to wear something new on New Year’s Day. The belief is that if someone wears something new, they will receive more new pieces of clothing throughout the year ahead. Red clothing is the preferred choice, as it is considered a happy colour and will surely attract a brighter future.

Another common New Year’s Day superstition is the “first-footer.” This is the first person to walk through the door after the stroke of midnight. They should be warmly welcomed, as this will influence the year ahead for those residing in that home. This person should also knock when they arrive and should exit through a door different from the one they entered.

Some other common New Year’s Day traditions include the rule of not taking any garbage out of the home or anything else that day and not spending any money. This also goes for repaying loans that day or lending others money. If this is done, it represents money being paid out for the rest of the year. Lastly, crying must be avoided on New Year’s Day or the remainder of the year will be spent doing so.

On New Year’s Eve, I will be attending the Town of Orangeville’s “First Night” celebration. I encourage you to go as it is a wonderful community event, complete with pyrotechnics at 9:30 p.m., horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, Elias on Fire and other street performers, and Mysterion the Mentalist and Dicky Dean's Magic Show on the indoor stage. This year's “First Night” celebration will run from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, please visit the Town of Orangeville’s website at: http://www.orangeville.org/news_detail.php?id=945.

New Year’s traditions and superstitions have a long history in our culture and can add to the joy and hope associated with the holiday. It is my hope that whatever New Year’s traditions you celebrate with your loved ones, you have a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012!