30 Old Wives’ Tales to Do (or Avoid) at New Year for a Better Year Ahead

This post is just a bit of fun. Whether you fully believe in old wives’ tales, half-believe, or think they’re complete nonsense, these traditions can be a lovely way to pause, reflect, and set intentions for the year ahead.

New Year has always been full of traditions, superstitions, and little rituals that promise to bring luck, love, health, and wealth into the year ahead. Some people swear by them, others think they’re complete nonsense – but either way, they’re a bit of fun and a lovely way to reflect, reset, and start the year with intention.

Recently, I was chatting to my Mum about my grandma – who I sadly never got to meet – and she told me something that really stuck with me. Like many families, we had little New Year traditions that were passed down without much explanation, just a quiet belief that they mattered. Every New Year, my Grandma would make her eldest son (my uncle, who had dark hair) walk through the house holding either coal, bread, or money. He would enter through the front door, walk all the way through the house, exit through the back door, and then return again. The idea was to bring warmth, food, and wealth into the home for the year ahead.

Whether it worked or not, who knows? But it got me thinking about all the old wives’ tales people used to follow – and some that people still follow today – to encourage a better year ahead.

So here are 30 old wives’ tales for New Year, plus a bonus one I’ve seen floating around online. Take them with a pinch of salt, try the ones you like, laugh at the rest – and most importantly, enjoy welcoming in the new year in your own way.

1. Walk Through the House With Coal, Bread, or Money

This is the tradition my grandma followed as mentioned above. Coal symbolises warmth, bread represents food, and money stands for wealth. Walking through the house with these items is said to invite comfort, nourishment, and financial security into the year ahead.

2. Eat 12 Grapes at Midnight under the table

This one has been all over social media recently. The idea is to eat 12 grapes at midnight, often under a table, making a wish with each grape. Each grape represents a month of the year and is meant to bring love, health, wealth, or whatever you’re hoping for.

3. Eat Something Round

Cakes, doughnuts, bagels, or bread rolls all count. The circular shape symbolises the year coming full circle and is said to bring good luck.

4. Eat Your Greens

Eating green vegetables like broccoli, kale, peas, or cabbage is believed to attract money and prosperity. Greens are associated with wealth – and they’re good for you too, so it’s a win-win.

5. Don’t Eat Chicken or Lobster

Apparently the superstition is that chicken and lobster move backwards. Eating them on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring setbacks. I’d never heard of this one before, but it’s an interesting excuse to plan a different meal.

6. Clean Your House Before New Year

This is something I’ve done for years. Cleaning before New Year is believed to sweep away bad luck and negative energy, making space for fresh beginnings.

7. Don’t Clean on New Year’s Day

On the flip side, cleaning or doing laundry on New Year’s Day is said to wash away good luck – and in some traditions, even symbolise losing a family member. I avoid cleaning on New Year’s Day completely.

8. Take the Bins Out Before Midnight

Make sure all rubbish is taken out before midnight on New Year’s Eve. Taking bins out on New Year’s Day is believed to throw away good luck.

9. Carry a Coin at Midnight

Having a coin in your pocket or purse at midnight is said to ensure you don’t start the year with no money and encourages financial stability for the year ahead.

10. Don’t Lend or Borrow Money

Lending or borrowing money on New Year’s Day is believed to bring financial struggles throughout the year.

11. Midnight Kisses and Love Luck

If you’re in a relationship, kissing at midnight is said to strengthen love and joy. If you’re single, some say kissing at midnight can bring bad luck in love – so maybe wait until a few minutes past if you want to find love next year.

12. Make Noise at Midnight

Making noise at midnight such as fireworks, shouting, banging pots – all said to scare away evil spirits and negative energy.

13. Open Doors and Windows

Opening doors and windows at midnight allows the old year to leave and welcomes the new one in.

14. Wear Red or Yellow Underwear

Red underwear is believed to bring love, while yellow underwear is said to attract wealth. New Year’s Eve just got colourful.

15. Jump Into the New Year

Jumping at midnight symbolises leaping into the new year with positivity. This is especially fun with kids.

16. Eat Something Sweet

A sweet treat at midnight is said to ensure a sweet year ahead.

17. Stay Awake Until Midnight

Falling asleep before midnight is believed to mean a tired year ahead. Easier said than done as we get older!

18. Don’t Break Anything

If you break something on New Year’s Day it is said to mean clumsiness for the rest of the year.

19. Don’t Spill Drinks

If you spill a drink on New Years Eve it is said to symbolise money slipping away. Maybe use a cup with a lid just in case.

20. Clear Out Your Purse or Wallet

Get rid of old receipts, expired cards, and clutter. Making space is believed to invite abundance.

21. Pay a Small Bill Early

Paying a bill before New Year shows you are in control of your finances and sets a strong tone for the year ahead.

22. Write Down a Money Goal

Write one financial goal and place it in a jar to revisit at the end of the year.

23. Don’t Argue About Money

Avoid money stress or arguments on New Year’s Day. Start the year calm and clear-headed meaning you will have calm over finances for the year ahead.

24. Write Down What You’re Letting Go Of

Write down something you’re leaving behind and, if you can, safely burn the paper as a symbolic release. If you are unable to burn it, tear it into small pieces and throw it into the rubbish bin outside the house before midnight on New Year's Eve.

25. Write One Goal for the Year Ahead

Instead of resolutions, choose one meaningful goal you’d like to achieve by the end of the year.

26. Don’t Have an Empty Cupboard

Starting the year with empty cupboards is said to bring scarcity. Many people make sure they have food in the house before midnight so they begin the year feeling abundant rather than lacking.

27. Don’t Cry on New Year’s Day

Crying on New Year’s Day is said to bring sadness for the rest of the year. Whether you believe it or not, it’s a gentle reminder to start the year with kindness towards yourself.

28. Wear Something New

Wearing something new on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day symbolises fresh beginnings and is believed to attract new opportunities.

29. Don’t Leave Dishes Dirty Overnight

It’s said that going into the new year with dirty dishes brings unfinished business and chaos. Washing up before bed on New Year’s Eve symbolises closure and starting the year organised.

30. Light a Candle at Midnight

Lighting a candle at midnight is believed to bring clarity, protection, and hope into the year ahead. Some people use white for peace or green for abundance.

Bonus Tip: Cook a Homemade Meal

Cooking at home on New Year’s Day sets the tone for frugal wins and healthier habits. I’m cooking a roast dinner for my son and I.

As a solo mum, I’ve learned that sometimes it’s not about whether something works in a literal sense – it’s about how it makes you feel. These little rituals can bring comfort, hope, and a sense of control, especially when life feels unpredictable. Do these old wives’ tales really work? Who knows. Some I do out of habit, some I do because they make me feel positive, and some I just laugh at. But they’re a lovely way to reflect, reset, and start the year with intention.

Whether you believe in them or not, the most important thing is going into the new year feeling hopeful, calm, and ready for a fresh start.

Let me know which ones do you do, which ones won’t you touch, and which ones do you think are complete nonsense?

Until next time 

Rachel 

Solo Mum to One