Though we may say that we don’t believe in superstitions, most of the times we all follow them unintentionally, such as many of us cross fingers for good luck, wearing lucky or avoiding unlucky dress or even shoes, getting married on a rainy day and stopping dog’s howling are just a few examples.
Growing certain plants in homes like money plant and avoiding resting under a peepal tree for the fear of ghosts and bad-spirits is also a sign of being superstitious. The most mysterious ones are about the full moon or new moon and the black cats.
Advanced scientific education, modern technology or religion doesn't allow or justify superstitions; still people all around the globe follow them as a social norm for the sake of their own fears and doubts – maintaining a sense of hope to ‘control own fate’.
New Year’ Eve is also associated with certain strange myths and weird superstitions that are followed by many across the world. In fact, people sometimes do propitious works to endeavour lady-luck and hold back tribulations or antagonism just to make sure that the coming year would be thriving and prosperous in terms of health, wealth, fame and love, then the last one.
Some even believe that whatever thing an individual do on 31st December and on the New Year’s Day – that is 1st January; will influence coming year’s happenings. This is the reason that no New Year is complete without talking about the beyond belief myths and superstitions that surround it.
Here, I have compiled some of the strange, nonsensical yet interesting age old superstitions regarding New Year's Eve; these have come from all the corners of the world.
No Sweeping Day:
You should not do any cleaning or dusting in your home on New Year's Eve. It is inauspicious and can sweep away the good luck of your whole family.
Wearing New Clothes:
Make sure to wear new clothes on New Year’s Eve as it ensures plenty of new clothes for the whole year to jazz up your wardrobe.
No Empty Pockets:
Avoid wearing a dress with empty pockets on New Year’s Eve; it demonstrates a year of very low or no income.
Want to Travel?
If you want a lot of travelling in coming year, you have to walk around outside with a big suit-case on December 31st till clock strikes midnight. This act of yours will definitely bring lots of travelling.
For Health:
Try to eat smoked sausages with boiled cabbage on first day of January to remain healthy through out the year.
Say no to Chicken:
If you cooked any chicken based dish on New Year's Day, you will have monetary troubles for the rest of the year.
Don't Do Laundry:
If you do your laundry, you'll certainly wash out your luck or will face a year of hard work. Doing laundry on this day is also associated with facing a family member’s death.
Eating Greens for Fortune:
Try to eat something green such as cabbage, collard greens, mint, mustard greens, kale or spinach and coriander leaves to bring wealth for the entire year. Some suggests that eating only cornbread will bring instant cash.
Crying Cats:
Avoid hearing cats crying, it brings bad omen for the rest of the year.
Don’t Weep:
Don’t be sad or your sobbing on this day will signifies the continuation of this act throughout the coming year.
No Precious Stuff Should Leave Home:
Make sure that you don't let cash, ornaments, precious items or other valuable things to anyone on first day of the year because it shows wealth would be flowing out whole year.
Make Noise and Hang Lemon:
To scare evils, you should make loud noises. Fireworks and bell-ringing at midnight are perfect examples. Hanging Lemon in the doorway helps in warding off bad spirits or evils.
First Visitor:
First visitor on first day of the New Year signifies marriage balance throughout the next 365 days. If a man enters your door then husband has more authority for the whole year and if a woman enters– then wife will enjoy her full-fledged powers.
Damage and Wreckage:
Don’t break or smash anything on this day otherwise you shall have a hurtful New Year. Breaking mirror or any glass ware brings dreadful omen, it reveals that 'wreck' will be your buddy throughout the year.
Do Some Work:
If you want a guaranteed development in your profession, then do some kind of hard work on 31st December and 1st of January.
