Superstitions That Make You Say No Way

I’m the least superstitious person I know, but I came across these New Year’s Day beliefs and thought that they’re quite interesting indeed and are worth sharing, even if only for a chuckle.

Empty pockets or empty cupboards and larders on the first day of the year means a whole year of want

Better get that shopping done then. But don’t empty cupboards reflect on a neglectful attitude to shopping or a poverty-stricken life, rather than their state on New Year’s Day? Maybe the simple fact that we have cupboards indicate a measure of wealth. After all, I know some homeless kids in Malawi who sleep in their school hall and have no cupboards whatsoever.

Make as much noise as possible on New Years Eve to scare away the evil spirits.

Ahem, I shall congratulate the next door neighbors this New Year’s Eve, rather than go over and ask them to turn down their music at 3 in the morning.

Open all the doors at the stroke of midnight so that the bad and negative things of the old year can escape.

All of the negatives have to escape before you can welcome the good and positive in. Not a very easy thing to do if you live in England where it’ll probably be raining at the stroke of midnight.

Don’t sweep the house, take out the garbage or shake out your front door mat on New Year’s Day because you sweep all the good luck out on this day if you do.

This will come as good news to the kids and my husband (well all right, to me as well) since cleaning and taking out the garbage is not something we collectively like as a family.

The ideal, first person to step into your house on the first day of the year should be male and dark-haired.

It’s especially lucky if he is carrying a lump of coal or a piece of bread. If the first person to enter your house on this day is a fair-haired woman, she should back out so as to fool the bad luck to go back out with her. See, this is the one I like! My husband is dark-haired, so I’ll give him a piece of coal (if I can find one) in one hand, and a slice of bread in the other. There! We’re sorted for 2009! Though, I’ve got to make sure my daughter who happens to be light-haired, is securely locked away.

Couples who want to have a good, harmonious year together, should kiss on the stroke of midnight.

Any reason is a good reason for a snog.

If you lend out money, have outstanding payments (to you) due, or pay back any loans on New Year’s day watch out because you’ll be doing that for the rest of the year.

Make sure that Triond gets those payments in before the usual 15th of the month deposits then.

Under no circumstances should you break anything on the first day of the year as this pattern of breakages will follow you all the way to the end of the year.

It’s plastic fantastic all round then. One can’t take the risk of serving food or drinks in glass or ceramic dishes. Ouch!

If you are single, dance around a tree on New Year’s Day because this will ensure good luck in love and health all year through.

Also make certain that the first person you lay eyes on when you wake up on New Year’s Day is a person of the opposite sex. This way you’ll be sure to marry in the coming year. ‘Here comes the bride, dom dom da dom…’

Make sure that you drain all the dregs from all your drinks on the last day of the year as this will ensure good luck for the year to come.

Most people already do this one. I suppose this means good luck all round.

Visit me in my lair, where you can find other odds and ends and interesting stuff. The Relationship Supermarket.com