Common New Year Superstitions

It is generally believed that whatever you do on the first day of the year will set the pattern for that whole year.


  • Open the doors at midnight for the quick and easy escape of the old year and to allow wisdom to enter.
  • Wear new clothes on New Year day to enjoy getting many new garments during the year.
  • To bring prosperity, fill up all cup boards, wallets, etc.
  • Don’t cause damage to anything on the first day.
  • Don’t weep or cry.
  • Don’t use foul language.
  • Don’t take a head bath.
  • Don’t wash clothes and dishes.
  • Eating black eyed peas and greens brings good luck and prosperity.
  • Cutting a long noodle into smaller bits may bring bad luck and may shorten life span.
  • Eating twelve grapes at midnight of the New Year eve will convert all the following twelve months into happy months.
  • A baby is lucky for ever if born on the first day of a year.
  • Receive money, jewelry, precious items etc, but don’t allow them to go from your house on the first day. Nothing is to go out from home.
  • Don’t go out of your house before the entry of someone.
  • It is good if the first person entering our home appears physically fit. He is called ‘lucky bird’.
  • The first person who comes in should bring gifts.
  • Clear all debts before the arrival of New Year.
  • Make loud noise during the New Year celebration to scare evil spirits away.
  • Undertake easy job as the first job.
  • Drain out the last remnants of a hot drink bottle on New Year day, to bring good fortune.

Happy New Year.

Funny superstitions part II

  • A spoken statement is considered true if a wall lizard makes a sound on completion of the statement.
  • Bulls will chase if a person is in red dress.
  • If you step on a lemon coated with turmeric or kumkum, which is kept intentionally on a 3 way junction, ghost will enter you.
  • Don’t enter a house with your left foot first. Always step in using right foot.
  • It’s bad to cut hair and nails on Tuesdays.
  • If any dog howls at night, it may be suspected that someone may die in the vicinity.
  • If you carry non vegetarian food at night, carry an iron nail or a piece of charcoal along with it so as to avoid attracting ghosts.
  • If a crow crows near your house guest will arrive.
  • Seeing of a fox in the morning is a good omen.
  • If a looking glass (plane mirror) is broken on Tuesday, it is a bad omen.
  • Never look at a mirror at night.
  • Throw a coin or many coins in the river, when you cross it.
  • Incidents happen in an early morning dream will happen in real life.

Funny superstitions

The following superstitions are funny.


  • If a black cat crosses your path, cancel your journey.

  • If a cat crosses you on your way from left to right, it’s ok to proceed. If it crosses from right to left, go three steps backwards and then proceed.

  • Don’t step on a lemon which is on the road. Bad things will occur.

  • Wearing of burnt clothes, falling of lizard on some parts of the body, hooting of an owl, crow comes in flight and touches your head, and dog howls like fox are bad omens.

  • If you slip or if anyone sneezes while going out, you should return, sit for a while, drink some water and then proceed.

  • Tying a lemon in front of a truck and a slipper behind the truck will make it to run without any problem.

  • Never ask anyone 'Where are you going?'

  • If you drive over a pig, sell the vehicle.

  • Seven years of bad luck if you break a mirror.

  • Never buy any metal object on Saturday. It brings bad luck.

  • While starting for a journey, if you see anyone carrying wood, get back home and start with a delay.

  • Never eat during an eclipse.

Household Superstitions by Joseph Addison

  Visions and magic spells, can you despise, And laugh at witches, ghosts, and prodigies? Going yesterday to dine with an old acquaintanc...