New Year Eve traditions?

[Smoosplace]

Many years ago, when we went out and left the house on New Years Eve, my dad would leave on the table; salt for flavour, bread for food, water for drinking, brandy for social times, a piece of coal for warmth, coins for wealth, candles and matches to light the dark days.

I'm just wondering if anyone else does this or something similar on New Years Eve?

He would also let my mum in the house first, when we came home, as she had dark hair. It was meant to represent a chimney sweep, for good luck.

My husband looks at me strange, when I try to replicate it each year (minus the brandy and coal) as his family never did this at all.

What weird, wonderful and superstitious traditions do you or your family have?

[Disney Ash]

I grew up in a northeast mining village, my parents always put a piece of coal outside for the “First Foot” to bring in, we typically had people visiting so my mum would shove someone out side right before midnight.

[Daisy_Do_72]

My parents were irish,so not sure if this is an Irish tradition or not.
But at midnight we had to open the back door to let the old year out, then open the front door to let the new year in!
😂

[Ellelledee]

On 31st of December the first thing my mum would say was “when you go outside today the first man you see will have as many noses as there are days left in the year” as a child this blew me away! But I still expect her to say it. Anyone else parents say this?

We didn’t really have parties as such but my mum would keep the front door locked until the “first dark haired stranger” came over the threshold. If we were up and there was someone who didn’t live there with dark hair she would send them out of the back door and make them wait at the front door until midnight to let the new year in.

[disney_l81]

Originally Posted by Daisy_Do_72

My parents were irish,so not sure if this is an Irish tradition or not.
But at midnight we had to open the back door to let the old year out, then open the front door to let the new year in!
😂

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We do this too, as well as the letting someone in first with dark hair. Not Irish, but from the next isle over (isle of man ) Also never do any washing on New Years day, my nana always used to say it means you wash a family member away (not taking any chances )

[Charl_bb]

Wear something new in new years day!

[Sandraoh40]

Originally Posted by Daisy_Do_72

My parents were irish,so not sure if this is an Irish tradition or not.
But at midnight we had to open the back door to let the old year out, then open the front door to let the new year in!
😂

See more...

This is what we do. I don’t have a black door as I live in a flat so I open the kitchen window instead. My papa lived with us growing up and this was his tradition. My brother lives in Abu Dhabi and he does this as well. ( he normally face times me at the bells over there and shows me he has done this )

[EssexSue]

My family always sang the Miners Dream of Home on New Years Eve. I have absolutely no idea why, to my certain knowledge no member of my family has ever worked in any kind of mine.

[Island mamma]

First foot through the front door after the bells has to be male and carrying wood, peat or coal for the fire, food (usually shortbread) for sustenance and whisky to toast the new year according to my family tradition. Some years we have tied it in a wee bag to the back of the dog ( black lab), let him out the back and whistled for him at the front. My own personal tradition is to change all the beds on New year's Eve so we all start the year fresh 😂

[Tinkerbell]

Here in My part of Spain, we have dinner at about 10pm, we will be going to friends in the village. Mainly seafood, tapas and cava. At midnight, as the clocks strikes, every “bong” you eat a grape! Can’t stand grapes so I join with the kids and have smarties 😂