I spent this past New Year’s with my husband’s younger brother’s Manhattan loft overlooking the Empire State Building. It was certainly what we’ve been used to. The past few New Year’s parties we’ve gone to parties with my family. This party was full of younger couples and twenty-somethings. While it was refreshing to be around hip younger partiers for a change, it became apparent that my husband and I were some of the oldest attendees around 12:20 we had to pack up our sleeping kids (there were only a few parents at the party, and we were half of them.)
As mother elder, I got a chance to look towards some cute lovebirds in their habitat. At midnight, the entire party went up the roof to get a glimpse of the fireworks. Very romantic. While hubby and the kids and all huddling together in the cold, I eavesdropped on a short conversation between a boy and girl. They couldn’t have been older than twenty-five.
Boy: “Did you it’s good luck to kiss someone at midnight?”
Girl: “Is it really?”
(they kissed)
Boy: “By the way, I’m …”
Girl: “Nice to meet you. I’m …”
Hubby and I laughed out loud. Oh the kids these days. I guess when you’re young and drunk, classiness isn’t much of a thing. Anyway, that young man’s pickup line inspired me to write this post on New Year’s superstitions.
- Kiss someone at midnight. We all should be familiar with this one. It means good luck in your love life for the next year.
- First guest. The first person to enter your home after midnight determines the types of guest you’ll have all year. The ideal first guest should be bringing gifts :).
- New clothes. As part of a new beginning, one should wear new garments.
- Things stay in the house. While it’s good luck for people to come and go. No items should leave the house. Even the trash shouldn’t be taken out till the 2nd. This is allow proper transition.
- No house work. Doing chores on new year’s day suggest a year of toil.
- Foods to eat. Pork is supposed to bring prosperity (but not if you’re kosher.) This is because pigs supposedly dig forward when they eat. Chicken on the other hand is bad luck, because it suggests they “scratch the dirt” meaning struggling money-wise.
- Black-Eyed Peas. No, not the band. Eating the food will bring in prosperity.
- Drain the bottle. It’s good luck to finish a shared bottle on New Year’s.
- Yellow underwear. Yellow supposedly send out good social vibes and will help you find the love of your life.
On that, it seems all these superstitions are random acts to bring in money, or excuses for boys to get kisses from girls. I can’t blame them lol. Superstitions or not, cheers to you and yours for a wonderful 2013!
If you enjoyed this article, Get email updates (It’s Free)