New Year's Superstitions

or why our luck will be mixed this year. Hat Tip to the Happy Catholic

From Snopes:

... Because January 1 is the first day of the new year, we have drawn a connection between what we do on that day and our fate throughout the rest of the year. Here are some of the ways we attempt to guarantee a good outcome through our acts on that portentous first day:

Kissing at midnight: We kiss those dearest to us at midnight not only to share a moment of celebration with our favorite people, but also to ensure those affections and ties will continue throughout the next twelve months. To fail to smooch our significant others at the stroke of twelve would be to set the stage for a year of coldness.

Stocking Up: The new year must not be seen in with bare cupboards, lest that be the way of things for the year. Larders must be topped up and plenty of money must be placed in every wallet in the home to guarantee prosperity.

Paying Off Bills: The new year should not be begun with the household in debt, so checks should be written and mailed off prior to January 1st. Likewise, personal debts should be settled before the New Year arrives.

First Footing: The first person to enter your home after the stroke of midnight will influence the year you're about to have. Ideally, he should be dark-haired, tall, and good-looking, and it would be even better if he came bearing certain small gifts such as a lump of coal, a silver coin, a bit of bread, a sprig of evergreen, and some salt. Blonde and redhead first footers bring bad luck, and female first footers should be shooed away before they bring disaster down on the household. Aim a gun at them if you have to, but don't let them near your door before a man crosses the threshold. ...

Nothing Goes Out: Nothing — absolutely nothing, not even garbage — is to leave the house on the first day of the year. If you've presents to deliver on New Year's Day, leave them in the car overnight. Don't so much as shake out a rug or take the empties to the recycle bin. Some people soften this rule by saying it's okay to remove things from the home on New Year's Day provided something else has been brought in first. This is similar to the caution regarding first footers; the year must begin with something's being added to the home before anything subtracts from it. ...

Black-Eyed Peas: A tradition common to the southern states of the USA dictates that the eating of black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will attract both general good luck and money in particular to the one doing the dining. Some choose to add other Southern fare (such as ham hocks, collard greens, or cabbage) to this tradition, but the black-eyed peas are key.

Work: Make sure to do — and be successful at — something related to your work on the first day of the year, even if you don't go near your place of employment that day. Limit your activity to a token amount, though, because to engage in a serious work project on that day is very unlucky. Also, do not do the laundry on New Year's Day, lest a member of the family be 'washed away' (die) in the upcoming months. The more cautious eschew even washing dishes.

New Clothes: Wear something new on January 1 to increase the likelihood of your receiving more new garments during the year to follow.

Money: Do not pay back loans or lend money or other precious items on New Year's Day. To do so is to guarantee you'll be paying out all year.

Breakage: Avoid breaking things on that first day lest wreckage be part of your year. Also, avoid crying on the first day of the year lest that activity set the tone for the next twelve months.

Born on January 1: Babies born on this day will always have luck on their side. Barbara "baby boon" Mikkelson (1 January 2003)

So, how'd lucky will we be here at the House of Chez Casa? (OK, sorta, or uh-oh!) Assessed with tongue firmly in cheek...

Kissing at Midnight? Sorta -- We passed the peace just before Midnight.

Stocked up? OK -- Plenty of food, also grocery shopped today.

Bills Paid? OK -- The computer pays most of the bills. The rent check was mailed before the 1st, but won't get delivered until at least the 3rd (no mail on 1/2 this year (link will change after Tuesday).)

First Footing? OK. First person across our threshhold, at around 12:40 AM, was tall, dark (though graying a bit) and handsome. Also male. My Mom came over later in the afternoon, bearing a gift for Izzy.

Nothing goes out? Uh-oh! Garbage set out when we heard the trucks coming. Who knew they'd be collecting it today? Rugs (plural--what was I thinking?!) shaken out -- all this before the shopping expedition, so nothing was counter-acted.

Work? Uh-Oh! I did nothing related to my work, except check the cell phone settings. However, Izzy spent the day grading and posting scores. As an average, it goes more to the unlucky side. And then there's the laundry...4 loads so far, including lots of things to be freshened up that had been in the back of the closet (see New Clothes.) Lots of dishes...cannot have dirty dishes about when your Mom is headed over....

New Clothes? Sorta. I wore stuff almost no one in SC has seen. I've been re-discovering stuff I hadn't given away that now fits again. Expect to see some 80's style shoulder pads in the near future.

Lending Money or stuff? OK -- Nobody asked.

Breakage or Crying? OK. No breakage thus far, no crying until I started looking at how unlucky we might be...

Born on January 1? Got us one of them. Let's hope that makes up for the laundry, rug-shaking and grading.

Now to the kitchen to eat black-eyed peas & cornbread.