New years day superstitions

No but my mother had new years eve superstitions. She would send out my father at 5 minutes to midnight with a piece of coal and a penny. When he knocked she greeted him with a large whisky. It was to symbolise always having fuel, money and enough to drink in the coming year.

The "first" footer was always traditionally a dark haired male who let the new year into the home. It was believed to be bad luck for someone blonde to be first in. I believe these are Scottish customs.

My nan said doing any washing on New Year's Day was really bad luck. I don't believe in those old superstitions but I never do any washing - just to be on the safe side.

I've done a 10kg load today, I had no idea
but
at midnight we took coal out the back door and walked round and came in through the front...

which I meant to add was a bit like biglouis story. There must be something behind it and why do people go into the street and bang pans?

I just let the new year in while everyone else shouts

"Shut the door mum, it's freezing!"

"Can we open the other Quality Street now?"

"Do you want another rum and coke or are you ready for a tea?"

Like you biglouis we always did ‘first footing’ when I was young, and carried them on even now, although the drink can be whatever the first footer likes. He has to go through the house and let the old year out as well.
I always try to start the New Year with an almost empty laundry basket. It’s not a superstition, but maybe it’s based on one.

I used to clean the house thoroughly on the 31st. Not any more.

I have walked down to the river to pay my respects to Belisama. The Romans worshipped the river as a goddess . Plus it’s good exercise for me.

None!

My OH first foots us and has since my Dad died Dad did it when we got married and left me the piece of coal and salt he brought with him...we ate the black bun an the whisky was drunk .So we've always used the same coal and salt every year and its put away ntil the next .We open the doors and windows to let out the old year ,we used to hear all the ships horns on the Clyde but there aren't many now .The calendar has to be taken down at midnight and replaced by the new year's.
Its steak pie for dinner .used to be at midnight when I was wee,then the adults would all go off round the neighbours parties and come home at daybreak or later .Sober...ish because of the midnight food .
Its not the same now ,most in our street go to hotels for " the bells" so its quiet .We had just two callers this years who only stayed for an hour or so .My sons family will be here anytime for the steak pie dinner and trifle .Happy 2023 lets hope its a better year than the past 3 have been for a lot of us

kittylester

My nan said doing any washing on New Year's Day was really bad luck. I don't believe in those old superstitions but I never do any washing - just to be on the safe side.

Someone told me once that it's bad luck to do washing on New Year's Day and I wish she'd never told me!

We haven't done the first footing (oh dear!)

Its steak pie for dinner .used to be at midnight when I was wee,then the adults would all go off round the neighbours parties and come home at daybreak or later .Sober...ish because of the midnight food.
My Scottish friend told me about the steak pie and her parents first footing around the neighbours. She used to say she disliked New Year, apart from the steak pie.

Happy 2023 lets hope its a better year than the past 3 have been for a lot of us

Yes, I'll second that!

I have never heard these superstitions before but i bet they were invented by exhausted housewives.

eazybee

I have never heard these superstitions before but i bet they were invented by exhausted housewives.

😂 brilliant!!

My dear In- laws are Scottish. They loved their New Year and had their traditions/ superstition.
My MiL served Meat pies, DH loved them, FiL went out First Footing, DH has done this in the past he still has a" clean" face /shave just before midnight.
My MiL nearly had a fit when I did a load of washing on New year's day.

I had never heard of any of this until I got married.

Oh no...I thought I knew most of the olden day superstitions- Mum was pretty strict that we stuck by them,
but didn't know about not laundering on New Year's Day.
I thought that only referred to Good Friday...today I've done 2 loads to catch up from last week...

We had to clean the house hoover empty the bins and again first footer would be my dad tall dark and handsome. He would take a piece of coal and bottle of whiskey out and be let in as the bells strike midnight. Still clean my house but youngest son is the good looking first footer now!

The cleaning should be done on Hogmanay. I’ve broken my right shoulder so can do very little but DH has emptied and cleaned the crockery cupboards, bless him.
I would be very upset if the bins were emptied today, certainly no washing!
My first foot was my sister but she did bring blackbun.
I don’t consider myself a superstitious person but the rituals of New Year are very important to me.

My DH family line is gypsy/carnival folk so have rituals for a lot of things.
The new year one is , If you do washing you are washing someone out of the family. So if family member dies in next year and you washed on new years day you were responsible , also anything you do on that day you will be doing for the rest of the year. I have no such beliefs but do very little as it upsets him

I think 'How you spend 1st Jan will be how you spend the year' is why people don't do washing or cleaning on NYD. I think my mum said you shouldn't cut toenails on that day either, but I may have imagined that. I did mine yesterday just in case, likewise laundry.

DH is very strict on the no washing on New Year’s Day largely as a neighbour’s child sadly died of cot death. DH was seven, the neighbour did the washing on New Year’s Day much to the consternation of the neighbours and a few days later the child died. Obviously, it was just a very sad and tragic coincidence, but DH said that it still makes his blood run cold. So no washing in our house on New Year’s Day

Oh no, I did a red wash today, the Christmas tablecloth and napkins, and hung them on the washing line. What will the neighbours think!

Ah, the old traditions that stick with you. We still do first footing. In our version, from my Durham childhood, DH (or another dark-haired man if I had one) has to be the first over the threshold on New Year’s Day with a piece of bread for sustenance, coal for heat, a shiny coin for wealth, a twist of salt for….not sure what really, and a bottle of whisky to toast the New Year. Our whisky bottle was nearly empty this year and looked a bit pathetic so we substituted a full bottle of gin for it.

We’ve to toast the New Year with a spirit or liqueur, as it sets the tone for the rest of the year.

I don’t do housework on New Year’s Day - according to the “rules” I should do a good clean on NYE but I’ve let that bit of the tradition slide.

As for finger and toenails, my mam would have had fits if we’d cut them on a Sunday*, but I’ve never heard about it being unlucky on NYD.

Cut them on Monday, cut them for news
Cut them on Tuesday for a new pair of shoes
Cut them on Wednesday cut them for sorrow
Cut them on Thursday see your sweetheart tomorrow
I’ve forgotten what happens on Friday and Saturday, but….
Cut them on Sunday your safety go seek, for Satan will have you the whole of the week.

We haven't done first footing since we left London years ago. I took all the decorations and cleaned up tiday. DH did a pile of ironing and then we went out for a lovely lunch. Watched Cleopatra this afternoon...I had never seen the whole thing before it's a long film but I really enjoyed it.

I've done all those things, too. If certain jobs need doing, it doesn't matter what day it is. I did some washing on Christmas day, too