New Year Traditions - Perakis Currency (2024)

FAQs

What is the tradition to bring money to the New Year? ›

The midnight kiss is a well known tradition throughout the world. However, many couples will also hold onto the same dollar bill together to help bring wealth into their new year. It's believed the higher denomination of the bill, the better.

Stepping on money on New Year's Eve can bring good fortune for the New Year. It's not bad luck to spend money on NYE, as this money should be used towards your first purchase in the New Year, which brings luck and wealth throughout the year.

It was custom to place a silver coin outside the house on New Year's Eve, if the coin remained there the following day it would indicate a prosperous year ahead. This led to the custom of placing a piece of coal, a piece of bread and a silver sixpence outside the house for good luck and prosperity.

Most Latinos want to have money or coins (some insist on silver) in hand, in their pockets or inside their shoes, as the clock strikes 12 on New Year's Eve. Putting money in your shoe and pockets, or holding money in your hand when the clock strikes midnight is believed to bring you good fortune and prosperity.

The first is that you should place loose change on every window sill and entrance to your home before midnight on NYE to guarantee money for the coming year. This is said to have started in Scotland. In a similar custom from Germany, people place a quarter or other silver coin under the doormat before midnight.

Bad luck from this is described as “na-lunis-an.” The start of the year is also important: Giving or spending money on New Year or Good Friday brings bad luck. Paying debts on New Year or Good Friday brings bad luck.

Per tradition, it's said you shouldn't clean your house (yep, including doing the dishes!) lest you accidentally sweep or wash good luck away. You also shouldn't start the year off with an empty fridge or pantry.

Avoid breaking things on the first day. Don't cry on the first day of the year. At midnight, open all doors to let the old year escape. Make loud noises at midnight to scare away evil spirits.

Although much of the world festively rings in the new year each December 31, we don't all celebrate the same way. In the United States, we all know the traditions: the ball drop at Times Square, sharing a kiss with a loved one at the stroke of midnight, and countless amounts of fireworks.

Why do you toss a coin on new year's Eve? ›

Romanians believe that tossing a coin in the river on New Year's Eve will bring good luck. In Scotland, a tradition known as “footing” determines whether your household will be prosperous.

“Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you'll have good luck. This is true around the world too; the US Silver Dollar is often referred to as the 'lucky' silver dollar, while the Japanese five-yen coin is often placed inside a new wallet when given as a gift to wish the receiver good luck.

The most common of all the wealth-orientated New Year's Eve superstitions is to be carrying money at midnight. Believers consider this superstition will provide positive financial outcomes in the new year. So, make sure you leave a few dollars in your purse or wallet, just in case.

Traditional year-end rituals also center around the quest for good karma: Cubans and other Hispanics open the front door at midnight and throw out a pail of water. The ideas is to wash awat all the bad things and start all over.

New Year's Eve in Spain

While most people drink a glass of champagne at midnight, the Spanish take a different route. In Spain the tradition is to eat twelve grapes at the turn of the year, one for each stroke of the bell.

The Prosperity Ritual

When you return home for the first time in the new year (perhaps after a late-night party), have a bowl of coins sitting outside your front door. Bless them for everything you want in the new year—a handful for abundance, a handful for a healthy baby, etc.

The most common of all the wealth-orientated New Year's Eve superstitions is to be carrying money at midnight. Believers consider this superstition will provide positive financial outcomes in the new year. So, make sure you leave a few dollars in your purse or wallet, just in case.