Revealed
DIRTY DANCING?
New Year’s Day superstitions – Is it bad luck to do washing on January 1st?
Find out about why people kiss when the clock strikes midnight
NEW Year is a very special holiday, which sees people reflect on the preceeding year while looking forward to the next one.
To ensure that they have good fortune in the new year, many people follow a complex series of superstitions. But how true are these mysterious legends?
3
3
No washing on New Year's Day
Most people will have heard of the New Year superstition which claims that no laundry should be done on January 1.
This myth states that washing your clothes on New Year's Day could lead to "washing a loved one away" and could even lead to bad fortune.
Similarly, some people believe that doing any cleaning, sweeping or wiping around the house could have a similar effect.
Most Read in Lifestyle
In other cultures, it is also believed that whatever a person does on the first day of the year will be reflective of the next twelve months.
So, in this case, it means doing chores, such as laundry, will essentially bring with it a year of hard work.
A total mystery
It is unknown where or when the tradition of avoiding housework on New Year's Day originated.
However, that hasn't stopped people from following it for years.
It is believed that this particular superstition is particularly observed in southern US states.
In extreme cases, people don't even take out their bins.
3
A slew of superstitions
The laundry rule isn't the only superstition that is associated with New Year.
Some people believe that you should not have empty pockets on New Year's Eve as that may be an sign that you will have low income.
Another popular legend that people follow is the infamous kiss at midnight.
According to some, this is not just as a mark of affection, but in order to ensure our feelings remain for the other person over the next twelve months.
It is also believed that at the stroke of midnight, you should make as much noise as possible in order to scare the devil off from approaching.
There are many other superstitions including:
- You should lead into the new year with your right foot
- Hitting bread on your doors and walls will fend off evil spirits
- Crying on the first day of the new year will set a bad tone for the next 12 months
- Opening your front door before midnight will allow the old year to exit and the new year to enter
- Taking seven laps around your home will help you lose any negative energy you may have been harbouring
- Eating black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year's Day will supposedly bring good luck and prosperity
Topics