Things to do on New Year’s Eve for luck in 2025 (and things to avoid)

On January 1, 2025By Littum

Want to make sure you start 2025 on the right foot?

Besides fireworks and New Year’s Day polar skydiverthere are plenty of traditions and superstitions to help ensure that the coming year will be a lucky one. There’s food to eat, chores to avoid and even decisions about who gets to enter your home first.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re hoping for some good energy to start the year.

When was the first New Year’s Day celebrated?

The first recorded New Year’s Day celebration dates back to 4,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, around 2000 BCE. The Sumerians, who lived in the region that is now modern Iraq, celebrated the beginning of the year during the vernal equinox in late March, according to History Channel. This was the time when the first crops began to grow, marking a time of renewal and rebirth.

However, 1 January, the date of New Year’s Day as we know it today, was first fixed by the Roman calendar reform under Julius Caesar in 45 BCE. Caesar’s Julian calendar set January 1 as the official start of the year to honor the Roman god Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions, who was symbolized by a two-faced figure looking both forward and backward.

When do we eat black-eyed peas and greens for good luck?

Traditionally, black-eyed peas and greens are eaten on New Year’s Day – preferably as the first meal of the year. The peas symbolize coins and the greens represent money, both of which are believed to bring prosperity.

But do not cook them with chicken or beef stock, as it is believed that these meats can spoil the luck. Because chickens and cows graze backwards and sideways, many believe it symbolizes regression, making them bad omens for the coming year.

Why should you avoid sweeping or cleaning on New Year’s Day?

Cleaning or sweeping on New Year’s Day is considered bad luck as it is believed to sweep away good luck. The same goes for washing clothes or taking out the trash – avoid these chores if you want to keep your happiness intact. There is also the belief that chores such as washing dishes and cleaning laundry “wash away” loved ones, so it is best to save these tasks for another day.

Is it bad luck to take a shower on New Year’s Eve?

Like sweeping, there’s a superstition out there that showering will wash your luck away, according to to CNN.

Are fireworks a symbol of good luck?

When celebrating the Chinese New Year, fireworks are especially important. They are believed to scare away the mythical monster Nian, which would terrorize villages at the beginning of the new year. The loud noises and flashes of light are believed to frighten Nian and other evil spirits.

Chinese New Year falls on January 29, 2025.

Why should you eat pork on New Year’s Day?

Pork is a popular choice for New Year’s meals that symbolize progress, and it happens to pair perfectly with both black-eyed peas and collard greens. Pigs mess up when they eat, and eating pork ensures that your year stays on track.

What is the first footer tradition and why does it matter?

In some cultures, the first person to enter your home after midnight (“First Footer”) is essential for good luck. For good luck, the first sidekick should be a dark-haired male, ideally bringing gifts such as coal, bread or salt to ensure abundance in the new year.

Does kissing at midnight really bring love and luck?

Kissing someone at midnight is said to ensure a year filled with love and happiness. Whether it’s a romantic partner or a close friend, a kiss at the stroke of midnight is believed to set the tone for the year’s relationship.

Why do we eat 12 grapes at midnight?

Eating 12 grapes at midnight is a popular New Year’s tradition, especially in Spain and several Latin American countries. The tradition is believed to bring good luck for each of the 12 months of the coming year, This is reported by CBS News.

The tradition reportedly began in Spain in the late 1800s, possibly as a way to use up a surplus of grapes harvested that year. Over time, it became a highly valued practice, not only in Spain, but in many Spanish-speaking countries.

Why do we wear yellow or red underwear?

Latin American and European countries wear yellow or red underwear for good luck.

Yellow underwear is associated with wealth and happiness, making it a popular choice for people hoping for financial abundance and a happy year ahead, according to CVT news. In some countries, such as Mexico, it is especially common for people to wear yellow underwear on New Year’s Eve to attract money and positive energy.
Red underwear is said to bring romantic luck, ensuring a year filled with love and excitement, Forbes reported. In countries like Brazil, wearing red on New Year’s Eve is a common tradition for those hoping to find love or strengthen existing relationships in the coming year.