Traditions and superstitions have arisen to coincide with New Year celebrations. Many are associated with bringing good luck and good fortune to the household. Customs and traditions vary across the world and complement the many forms of New Year celebrations that are observed throughout the year.
One of the oldest and simplest traditions to follow is to open the front and back doors to the house at the strike of midnight to let the old year out as the New Year comes in.
First Footing and Other Traditions
The observance of First Footing has several variations. The aim is to be the first person to cross the threshold after the stroke of midnight. Traditionally, if a tall dark handsome man crosses the threshold he will bring good fortune to the household. If the first footer is a red haired woman, the year ahead will be stressful. In Scotland first footers traditionally carry a bottle of whisky or some alcoholic beverage to share with the occupants of the house but all first footers should carry a lump of coal which ensures the house will be warm and safe and a piece of shortbread to ensure the household will not go hungry during the coming year.
A variation of a sanhaim tradition (which is believed to be the origins of the modern day Halloween festival) is for the youngest boy in the household to light a candle at dusk which is allowed to burn through the night. If the candle goes out the household will suffer ill fortune by the end of the year
New Year's Day is just one of a number of days when it is considered bad luck to wash clothes. Believed to have originated in Devon the following rhyme describes this superstition; 'Pray don't 'ee wash on New Year's day or you'll wash one of the family away'. Another version of the rhyme is 'Wash a blanket in the month of May and you'll wash a member of the family away'.
Good fortune will follow if a chimney is swept on New Year's Day, but don't sweep the floor or a friend will be swept away.
Over recent years it has become traditional for crowds to gather in Trafalgar Square to hear the chimes of Big Ben ring in the New Year, or for people to gather in Times Square for the countdown or to see spectacular firework displays such as those that see in the New Year over Sydney Harbour.
New Year Traditions from Around the World
In the Philippines it is traditional for children to jump up and down at midnight to ensure they grow up to be tall.
Firecrackers, especially those made from red paper are traditionally set off in Chinese New year celebrations. The Chinese believe that evil spirits are frightened by loud bangs and are fearful of the colour red. It is believed that the bang of the firework followed by a cascade of red paper after the explosion is enough to frighten the evil spirits away.
In Japan it is traditional to dress in new clothes at New Year (Genjitsu) and sit down to a meal of soup, black beans and sea weed which symbolises happiness. Children received New Year gifts, usually money sealed in special envelopes.
In Denmark broken crockery is stored throughout the year in order to be thrown around the homes of friends. A pile of broken dishes in the garden and on the doorstep is regarded as a sign of having many friends.
However the New Year is spent, it is a time to enjoy the company of friends and relatives
Sources:
- VisitScotland.com
- Teachervison.fen.com
- Encarta
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Father.Time.net
- NewYear.com
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