100 New Year Superstitions From Around the World

New Year superstitions have been passed down for generations, shaping how people welcome fresh beginnings, good luck, love, and prosperity. From what you eat at midnight to what you wear, clean, or avoid, these beliefs are all about setting the tone for the year ahead. Whether you follow them seriously or just for fun, this list of 100 New Year superstitions offers a fascinating look at traditions from cultures around the world.

Food and Drink Superstitions

• Eating grapes at midnight brings good luck for each month of the year
• Eating black-eyed peas symbolizes prosperity and financial success
• Lentils are believed to attract wealth and abundance
• Eating pork represents progress and forward movement
• Avoid eating chicken to prevent luck from flying away
• Eating fish brings abundance and fertility
• Ring-shaped foods symbolize continuity and eternal luck
• Avoid lobster because it moves backward
• Eating cabbage represents money and good fortune
• Champagne at midnight symbolizes celebration and success

Clothing and Appearance Superstitions

• Wearing red underwear attracts love and passion
• Wearing yellow underwear brings happiness and optimism
• Wearing white symbolizes peace and new beginnings
• Wearing green attracts wealth and growth
• Wearing gold or silver invites prosperity
• Avoid wearing black to prevent bad luck
• New clothes symbolize a fresh start
• Avoid torn or old clothes to prevent hardship
• Dressing elegantly invites success
• Wearing polka dots symbolizes money

Money and Wealth Superstitions

• Carrying money in your wallet ensures financial stability
• Avoid lending money on New Year’s Day
• Avoid borrowing money at the start of the year
• Place coins in your pockets for good fortune
• Counting money before midnight attracts wealth
• Empty wallets invite financial trouble
• Paying off debts before New Year brings prosperity
• Avoid spending money on January 1
• Keep money in your home for abundance
• Giving money away brings generosity and future rewards

Home and Cleaning Superstitions

• Clean your house before New Year’s Eve
• Avoid sweeping on New Year’s Day
• Taking out trash on New Year’s Day removes luck
• Open doors and windows at midnight to welcome luck
• Decorate with fresh flowers for positive energy
• Avoid broken items in the home
• Keep lights on to attract positivity
• Burn old notes to release the past
• Avoid cleaning after midnight
• Keep your home full and welcoming

Love and Relationship Superstitions

• The first person you kiss at midnight influences your love life
• A midnight kiss ensures romance all year
• Couples celebrating together stay together
• Single people should stand near couples to attract love
• Avoid arguments on New Year’s Day
• Writing a loved one’s name attracts commitment
• Eating sweet foods brings sweet relationships
• Avoid crying on New Year’s Day
• Holding hands at midnight strengthens bonds
• Saying loving words invites harmony

Luck and Good Fortune Superstitions

• First-footing brings luck depending on who enters first
• A dark-haired visitor brings good fortune
• Hearing loud noises scares away evil spirits
• Fireworks invite luck and prosperity
• Bells ringing symbolize joy and clarity
• Laughing at midnight brings happiness
• Avoid breaking things on New Year’s Day
• Smiling into the new year brings positivity
• Making noise ensures protection
• Starting the year happy attracts luck

Travel and Movement Superstitions

• Traveling on New Year’s Day brings a year of travel
• Walking forward into midnight symbolizes progress
• Jumping at midnight helps you leap into success
• Avoid staying in bed all day
• Step into the new year with your right foot
• Avoid backward movements at midnight
• Driving smoothly predicts a smooth year
• Avoid accidents to prevent bad luck
• Opening gates invites opportunities
• Crossing thresholds carefully brings balance

Wishes and Intentions Superstitions

• Make a wish at midnight for it to come true
• Write goals before midnight to manifest them
• Burning wish papers releases intentions
• Saying intentions aloud strengthens them
• Avoid negative thoughts at midnight
• Focus on gratitude to attract abundance
• Light candles to guide the year ahead
• Write down what you want to let go of
• Visualizing success attracts achievement
• Keeping intentions secret protects them

Behavior and Etiquette Superstitions

• Avoid sleeping before midnight
• Stay awake to welcome opportunities
• Be kind on New Year’s Day
• Avoid gossip to prevent negativity
• Speak positively about the future
• Share food to invite abundance
• Avoid complaining on the first day
• Express gratitude to set the tone
• Laugh often to invite joy
• Avoid breaking promises

Cultural and Symbolic Superstitions

• Round fruits symbolize wealth and continuity
• Lighting incense cleanses energy
• Wearing charms protects against misfortune
• Keeping plants alive symbolizes growth
• Avoid cutting hair on New Year’s Day
• Writing the year’s date brings focus
• Watching the sunrise brings clarity
• Setting clocks correctly ensures alignment
• Hearing music attracts happiness
• Welcoming the year with hope brings lasting positivity

New Year superstitions reflect humanity’s shared desire for hope, luck, and fresh beginnings. Whether you believe in them deeply or enjoy them as cultural traditions, these rituals add meaning and fun to the transition into a new year. Choose the superstitions that resonate with you, leave behind what doesn’t, and step into the new year with optimism, intention, and a little bit of magic.