I think we can all agree… 2020 has been completely draining. So let’s start this New Year off on the right note. While we can’t promise that these popular New Year’s Eve superstitions from all around the world will actually bring you luck but there’s no harm in trying!

From foods to eat at midnight, supposedly in Spain, grapes are a go-to, to wearing red underwear for more romance, these superstitious beliefs are all said to lead to good fortune. We’ll cheers to that! So in the hours before the countdown, put on a festive playlist, pop some champagne, and see how many of these you can get done before watching the ball drop.

There are a ton of cultures who agree that how you spend New Year’s Day will set the precedent for how your year will go. Here are some of the superstitions:

  1. Carry Around an Empty Suitcase
    According to USA Today, in Latin America, it’s believed that lugging around your empty suitcase will bring a year full of adventure and travel.
  2. Eat Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens
    If you’ve ever lived in the Southern United States, you probably know that what you eat on New Year’s Day matters. Many people believe green foods bring you money while Black peas reflect prosperity. So stock your plate with collards and black-eyed peas, as both are thought to send wealth your way.
  3. Make a Lot of Noise
    If you’ve ever wondered why noisemakers tend always to be available on New Year’s Eve, according to lore from around the world, the loud sounds can ward off evil spirits. Kinda like the traditional firecrackers of Chinese New Year, which are traditionally celebrated in late January or early-to-mid February. So cheer, scream, set off fireworks and bang pots and pans for fun AND fate for 2021.
  4. Wear Red Underwear
    If you’re looking for love in the New Year, then you should consider putting on a pair of red underwear! This superstition comes from Latin America, where they suggest that the red undergarment will bring you passionate relationships in the New Year.
  5. Eat 12 Grapes at Midnight
    Most Americans celebrate New Year’s Eve with charcuterie trays, snacks, and champagne. But in Spain, the tradition is to eat 12 grapes at midnight. It’s actually an old ritual that dates back to the 1880s, according to NPR. It is believed that if you can finish your 12 grapes (one for each month of the year) before the clock strikes 12:01, you’ll have good luck.
  6. Clean Your House!
    There is an old legend in China and Latin America that if you clean your house, you are literally sweeping the negativity away from your family and life, according to the New York Times.
  7. Or…Don’t Clean Your House
    While some belief in a deep New Year’s Eve clean, others who celebrate this Chinese superstition, say try to avoid doing laundry, dishes, and/or taking out the trash on New Year’s Day. They say it is the thought that purging things from your life on the first of the year, can cause you to throw your luck.
  8. Make Sure You Have Cash in Your Wallet
    This superstition suggests that doing so before midnight will bring in a year of prosperity.
  9. Go Grocery Shopping Before the Virtual Ball Drops at Midnight
    Some believe entering the New Year with bare cabinets and cupboards will bring a year of scarcity. So stock up!
  10. Open Your Doors and Windows
    There is one popular superstition in the Philippines that you should open doors and windows just before midnight to let out the old year and let in the new.
  11. Eat King Cake at Midnight
    Associated with New Orleans, eating a doughy king cake represents the end of the Christmas season. But be on the lookout for a golden coin or a plastic baby. If you find it, your year will be filled with wealth and prosperity, according to an old legend.
  12. Kiss Someone at Midnight
    Everyone has heard this superstition! Grab someone at midnight and give them a smooch. Supposedly that’s who you’ll spend your new year with

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