30 Best New Year's Superstitions That Just Might Bring You Good Luck

For those in Scotland, the first person to step into your home after midnight is known as the "first-footer," and is said to set the tone for your luck in the year ahead. And tradition holds that it's especially fortunate if that visitor is a tall, dark-haired man.

In many cultures, breaking glass or dishes on New Year's is thought to chase away evil spirits and clear out negativity, symbolizing a clean slate for the year ahead. This tradition is really taken to heart in Denmark where people visit friends' and loved ones' homes to throw plates and glasses against their exterior walls. By New Year's morning, a big pile of broken pieces is actually a good sign: the more shards you find, the luckier your year is expected to be.

Here’s another good-luck tradition straight from Scotland! Eating this classic Scottish dish made from minced sheep's pluck is said to bring a heap of good luck in the new year. It is often associated with the celebration of Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year's Eve.

If you're not an early riser, this could be the year that you make the change! According to Polish tradition, waking up early on New Year's Day means you'll easily wake up early for the rest of the year. So set that alarm and prepare to become an early bird.

Most everyone is familiar with the Christmas tradition of kissing under the mistletoe, but there's another romantic notion about this plant that you should know for New Year's Eve. The Irish believe that if you put a sprig of mistletoe (or holly or ivy) under your pillow on the holiday, you'll dream of your future love.

Did you know that chicken is a superstitious food to eat on New Year's Eve? This is because chickens have wings, so some people believe that eating them will cause all of your luck to fly away in the new year! So, you might want to skip the bird this time around.

Depending on where you're located, you'll have to bundle up for this one! Brazilians believe that you'll have good luck for the whole year if you jump over seven waves on New Year's Eve. You get one wish per wave, so start making your 2026 wish list.

Families in Ireland believe that banging loaves of Christmas bread against the walls and doors will ward off evil spirits and pave the way for a healthy and prosperous new year. So, you definitely knead to try this one!

Having wealth in 2026 could be as easy as popping on this fun print for your New Year’s Eve outfits. At least, that's according to a Philippines tradition. Since polka dots resemble the shape of a coin, wearing the pattern is said to bring prosperity for the months to come.

In Italy, it's quite literally out with the old and in with the new! At midnight, some will throw old items like dishes, clothes, and even furniture out the window to symbolize letting go of the past and making room for all the good fortune the new year will bring.

This one might be easier said than done, but hold in those tears on January 1! Across cultures, crying is said to set a negative tone for the new year. Instead, have fun and think happy thoughts with the use of New Year's Eve games and funny New Year's jokes.

Now this is a superstition you can definitely get behind! Many cultures believe that eating ring-shaped foods like donuts, bagels, and cakes will bring good fortune full-circle. In Greece, a special sweet bread called vasilopita is served at midnight. A coin is placed inside the batter and whoever finds it in their slice will have extra luck!

Get New Year's Eve dessert recipes.

Start the new year off right when you well, step into it with your right foot. In Argentina, stepping forward with your right foot right at midnight is said to bring good luck for the year. This tradition is also honored in various ways across several other cultures, too.

Ree makes Hoppin' Johns every year—and she's not alone. The dish, which has roots in African and West Indian traditions, has been a New Year's fixture in the Southern United States since the 1800s, with black-eyed peas representing coins and collard greens standing in for cash. Ree's version includes black-eyed peas, bell peppers, and torn-up kale.

Get Ree's recipe.

Noisemakers are so much more than just fun. 😉 A superstition has it that making lots of noise will ward away evil spirits. So break out the noisemakers and turn up the New Year's Eve playlist!

Old folklore has it that smooching your loved one at the stroke of midnight will bring luck for the year to come: Historians have traced New Year's Eve kisses back to multiple festivities, including the Romans' celebration of Saturn and a Viking festival called Hogmanay. Get your puckers ready with the best lip balms!

Chances are you're already drinking your fair share of grapes come midnight. But in Spain, revelers also eat 12 grapes for each stroke of the clock.

Tidy up, and not just because you're expecting company for New Year's Eve. In China and Latin America, legend has it that cleaning your house will literally sweep away negativity from your life.