(NewsNation) — If you’re hoping to ring in a better year in 2026, myriad New Year’s superstitions promise to bring luck, wealth and love your way.
Here are a few superstitions to consider as 2025 draws to a close:
Eat grapes
Eating 12 grapes for each chime of the clock as it strikes midnight is a Spanish tradition to bring in prosperity. Some people also combine it with other lucky traditions, like eating while crouched under a table.
Eat black-eyed peas and collard greens
The Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas and collard greens is said to bring in wealth for the upcoming year, with the greens representing dollars and the peas coins.
Open doors and windows
Having doors and windows open as the clock strikes midnight is said to let out the old year and welcome in the new one, according to Irish tradition.
Welcome a visitor
According to the Scottish tradition of Hogmany, the first person to cross the threshold in the new year dictates how the new year will go. In first-footing, the luckiest person is a tall, dark-haired man bearing gifts like coal (for warmth), shortbread (for food and good luck) or whisky (to toast the new year).
Jump over 7 waves
Brazilian tradition includes dressing in all white and jumping over seven waves, making a wish with each one, with the goddess of the sea ensuring they will come true.
Wear red underwear
Several Latin American countries insist it’s good luck to wear red underwear to ring in the new year. Italy also has a tradition of wearing red for good luck. If you have red polka dots, you can double up on your good luck, as in the Philippines, wearing polka dots is said to bring good luck.
Make noise
Many cultures include the tradition of making noise to banish evil spirits and bring in the new year — so shout, cheer or bang pots and pans at midnight.
Don’t clean
According to Chinese superstition, cleaning your house on New Year’s Day washes away the good luck you’ve stored up for the new year, so avoid sweeping away your luck and let the laundry and dishes wait until Jan. 2.
Don’t eat lobster or chicken
Both foods are considered unlucky — chicken because it has wings to make your luck fly away, and lobster because they walk backward, the opposite direction of where you want to be going in the new year.
Don’t lend (or spend) money
Lending money or spending it on the first day of the year is said to mean that money will be flowing out of your wallet all year, so consider paying your rent early this month.