New Year Superstitions

We tend to equate coincidence and positive outcome because of some obscure thing we’ve done. Favorite sports team won because you forgot to change your socks (which is nasty, by the way), then you might think those are lucky socks and never wash them again because it’ll wash off the mojo.

So, what are some of the most popular New Year superstitions that people think will bring them luck or good fortune the following year?

One of the most popular is the midnight kiss. They say it’s so the loving sentiments will continue for the next year. But let’s be real; you just want to use that as an excuse to get a kiss from your crush. My wife and I got so distracted working on a 1,000 piece “Friends” puzzle last year that we completely missed midnight. We seem to still be fine.

Eating twelve grapes. But only twelve. No more and no less. One for each month. Do raisins count?

Full cupboards. I don’t know if I really want to go to the store so close to the holidays because so many other people are swarming the stores to buy for their family gatherings, but I did get a freezer full of beef I bought from my neighbor’s farm.

Here’s one I like:  don’t clean the house. It could wash away all the good luck. So don’t do laundry or clean anything. But on second thought, do you really want to start the new year with a dirty house? I’ll still be vacuuming and doing laundry.

Opening your doors and windows just before midnight to let the old year out and the new one in. Yeah, and let out all that warm air you’ve paid for? I’m turning into my parents.

There’s a southern tradition to eat collard greens and black-eyed peas to bring good luck and prosperity. I like food, so why not make it part of a NYE feast? There’s also pork and sauerkraut, pickled herring, or anything in the form of a circle (such as donuts and bagels). Of those, I’m most likely to eat the donuts, so I’ll be at the donut shop loading up on good luck.

Here’s one I won’t do:  avoid eating chicken because they have wings and can fly away. I’m a huge fan of Chick-fil-A, so that ain’t happening.

Tell us about your New Year superstitions or anything else New Year-related and tag us on social! @flywithaopa on Instagram, @flywithaopa on TikTok, @aopa on Twitter, and @AOPAPilots on Facebook