New Year's Superstitions

Okay, how may of you were taught to: 1) take down your Christmas tree before January 1st - lost four relatives last year, somebody goofed up! 2) not do laundry on January 1st, or you'll wash three relatives away in the next year - have a cycle on soak as of 11:58 p.m. or would have ruined two of my son's new shirts. (They already look faded!) 3) eat collard and black eyed peas for prosperity in the new year - Mom also says something about cooking with ham jawls...have no idea what that is I am going to research these old wifes' tales. I wonder if it's a southern thing. Latino countries have a big Christmas celebration on Jan. 6th, so I know they don't have the tree superstition. Are these sayings silly? Absolutely! Why do I follow them? I must be superstitious! Mom said we don't have enough faith. I don't think that's it...but why ask for trouble. J/K LOL Do you have any "uhhh...hmmm" unusual rules that you were taught? Happy New Year, Everyone!!! Much love to you! Becky

My girlffriend's DH is Hungarian and they believe that removing all meat containing bones from your freezer will result in a financially properous New Year. Not sure where the corilation is there. Every year she reminds me to remove the boned meats from my freezer and every year I laugh. I've never tried it....hmmm....maybe that's what's wrong with my finances!LOL

How interesting!?! I haven't had boned meat in my freezer for years, so I know that one doesn't work. Okay, that sounds kind of bad. You know what I mean, since I don't cook much and all.

Okay - I'm the superstitious queen...... I NEVER take my tree down until Little Christmas (Jan 6th - the day the wise men got to Bethlehem) (The year I did take my tree down early was the year I lost BOTH parents!!!! - NEVER AGAIN!) I've always heard eat some type of green - not just collards....(YUK) I don't eat black eyed peas (Again - YUK) (I'm making corned beef and cabbage!) to ensure the "greens" in your wallet I have to have money in my pocket at Midnight in order to ensure continued money year roud I have to have shoes on my feet at midnight so I'll always have protection from the Elements I toast with my left hand so my right hand can be free to work I've heard of the Laundry thing - but never really paid attention to it! (I can't remember being "well enough" to do laundry on New Years day any way! I'm a freak - I know!!!! Happy new year to all!!!!

You are a riot!!! Everything I read was different from my mom and MIL's thing about the Christmas tree being down by New Year's. It's weird! They both called me in the early years of our marriage to make sure my tree was down on time. Both grew up in GA, but in different areas. I am soooo compulsive, that I have really been wanting to do laundry all day...just because I can't. Wonder where my son gets his rebellious streak! LOL

we are soooo funny! my superstition traditions are a smidge different. you have to keep your tree up till jan 1st. i have a small one on my station at work and i have been told to put it away all week. no way i told them. the first thing in your mouth after midnight to eat should be some kind of pork and sour krout. (my mom use to put washed coins in it) and at the stroke of midnight you should throw a peice of bread a lump of coal and a peice of silver into the wind so you will not be hungry, cold, or broke all year long. my mom also says to say rabbit rabbit rabbit at the stroke of midnight each month on the 1st. i cant remember why. i got all of these from my mom, she has done these for years and truly believes them. we do them for fun at out house to keep the tradition up. and hey,,,, it cant hurt (knock on wood) LOL jerri

How fun! I really like the "throwing" things in the wind one. The symbolism is cool! I knock on wood too!!! LOL