Thirteen Rounds
In Greece, breaking pomegranates on the floor on New Year's Eve is thought to bring good luck. Each family member takes turns hitting the fruit with a spoon and then smashing them into 13 rounds, which is tied to the 12 months of the year—plus an additional round for prosperity!

Jump off a Chair
In Denmark, jumping off a chair at midnight is believed to banish bad spirits and bring good luck. Talk about leaping into the new year!

First-Footing
In Scotland, the first person to enter your home after the stroke of midnight is called the "first-footer" and is believed to bring good fortune for the year to come. It's considered especially lucky if the first-footer is a tall, dark-haired man.

Break Glass
In many parts of the world, breaking glass or dishes for New Year's is believed to ward off evil spirits and negativity, while also symbolizing a fresh start for the new year.

Eat Haggis
In Scotland, eating this traditional Scottish dish made from minced sheep's pluck is believed to bring good luck in the new year. It is often associated with the celebration of Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year's Eve.

Wake Up Early
If you're not an early riser, this could be the year that changes everything for you. 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!

Put Mistletoe Under Your Pillow
We're all familiar with the Christmas tradition of kissing under the mistletoe, but there's another romantic notion about this plant that you should know. The Irish believe that if you put a sprig of mistletoe (or holly or ivy) under your pillow on New Year's Eve, you'll dream of your future love.

Don't Eat Chicken
Did you know that chicken is a superstitious food to eat on New Year's Eve? Because chickens have wings, some people believe that eating them will cause all of your luck to fly away in the new year!

Jump Seven Waves
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 2024 wish list.

Bang Some Bread
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.

Wear Polka Dots
Having wealth in 2023 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 the pattern resembles the shape of a coin, wearing it is said to bring prosperity for the months to come.

Throw Things Out Your Window
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.

Don't Cry
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.

Devour Ring-Shaped Foods
Now this is a superstition we could 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!

Step With Your Right Foot
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.

Make Hoppin' Johns
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.

Make Some Noise!
Noisemakers aren't 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!

Kiss at Midnight
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 our 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!

Eat 12 Grapes
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.

Clean Your House
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.

Or Don't!
On the other hand, some say cleaning or sweeping on January 1st will "wash away a loved one" in the next year. It might be morbid, but at least you officially have permission to skip your chores!

Eat Pickled Herring
In Poland and Scandinavia, people eat pickled herring at midnight to bring them prosperity for the year to come (the fish is silver like coins!). It's an easy tradition to honor: Just add herring to a smorgasbord platter with other smoked fish, bread, and more.

Open Your Doors and Window
Opening your doors and windows just before midnight is believed to let the old year out and the new one in. Don't worry, there's no rule that you have to keep them open for long!

Fill Your Cabinets
It's considered bad luck to start your New Year with bare cupboards—some believe it will mean scarcity in the coming year.

Snack on Soba Noodles
In many Japanese households, families will eat buckwheat soba noodles, which symbolize longevity and prosperity, at midnight.

In Latin American countries including Mexico, you'll find red, white, and yellow pairs of underwear in abundance at stores around the New Year: Red underwear symbolizes romance, while white stands in for peace and yellow is thought to bring you wealth.

Many cultures believe eating lobster on New Year's will bring you bad luck. Why? The crustaceans move backwards, which represents setbacks in the year ahead.

But Add Pork to the Menu
In Chinese culture the pig is associated with good fortune and prosperity, and according to German legend, pork is lucky because pigs look forward when they eat, representing progress.

Carry an Empty Suitcase
Want to manifest more travel adventures in the year ahead? Carrying around an empty suitcase on New Year's Eve might do the trick, according to a Latin American superstition.