Thankfully, further purchases were to come.

Black-Eyed Peas: Common in the southern US, legend says that eating these tiny things will attract both good luck and money for the year to come.

First-Footer: The first person to enter your home after the stroke of midnight will influence the year ahead. Ideally they should be attractive and bearing gifts. Some die-hard believers have even been known to station a guest as the first-footer. Blonde and red-headed first footers are bad luck and female first-footers are said to bring disaster to the household.

LUCK FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Spain - The Spanish eat 12 grapes, one for every toll of the bell to bring luck for the 12 months ahead.

China - For Chinese New Year, every door is painted with a fresh coat of red paint; a symbol of luck and prosperity.

Norway - Norwegians make a rice pudding with a hidden almond, the person who receives the almond is guaranteed wealth in the coming year.

Wales - At the stroke of midnight the back door is opened and shut, a symbol of releasing the last year and shutting out its bad luck.  At the twelfth stroke, the front door is opened to welcome the New Year.  

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS, THE START

Resolutions are said to date back to 153 BC when Janus, a mythical King of Rome, was placed at the head of the calendar. Bearing two heads, Janus could look both to the past and the future and became the symbol for resolutions. On December 31st (the established day for the New Year according to the solar calendar), the Romans would imagine Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new simultaneously. Traditions of presents began with the giving of an olive branch or a small coin for good fortune.

Average user rating

   (0 vote)