New Year’s superstitions have one job: make a fresh start feel a little more powerful. Whether you treat them as tradition, a fun challenge, or a “can’t hurt” insurance policy, the most popular rituals all point to the same idea—what you do at the turn of the year sets the tone for what comes next.

Below are the best-known New Year’s rituals—what they are, where they’re popular, and what they’re said to bring. (And yes, we’re covering the one everyone asks about: which underwear color is supposed to attract money.)

🍇 The 12 Grapes at Midnight (Spain → Latin America → Everywhere)

If you’ve ever watched people speed-eat grapes while staring at the clock, you’ve seen one of the world’s most famous New Year’s traditions: eating 12 grapes at midnight. The idea is simple—one grape for each chime, representing each month of the year ahead. Finish all 12 in time, and you’re said to be setting up the next 12 months for good fortune.

In many Latin American households, the grapes are as essential as the countdown itself. Some people add a personal twist—making a wish with each grape, or taking note of which grapes taste sweet versus sour. In recent years, you’ll also hear playful variations (like eating them under a table), but the classic version remains the “one grape per chime” ritual.

Quick tip: choose small, seedless grapes and take your time—New Year’s luck should never become a choking hazard.

🧺 “No Laundry” on New Year’s Day (US & UK)

The laundry superstition is a classic across parts of the US and the UK: don’t wash clothes on January 1. Depending on who you ask, it either “washes away” good luck, sets you up for endless chores all year, or—at its most dramatic—symbolizes loss.

In practice, many people treat it as a gentle rule of thumb: start the year with rest, not errands. If you like the superstition but can’t skip chores entirely, some households compromise by doing laundry on December 31 and keeping January 1 as a true reset day.

For a simple explainer of how this belief is commonly described, see this overview from The Spruce .

🩲 The Underwear Color for Money (Plus Love, Peace and Fresh Starts)

If one New Year’s superstition has become a global conversation starter, it’s this: wearing a specific underwear color at midnight to attract a specific kind of luck.

In many parts of Latin America, the most famous “money” choice is: yellow underwear—said to invite financial success, prosperity and better luck with money.

Other widely repeated meanings include:

• Red — love, passion, romance
• White — peace, calm, clarity
• Green — health, renewal, growth

A fun extra rule you’ll hear in some families: the underwear should be new—and sometimes even gifted—to “count.” Whether you follow that part or not, the modern logic is clear: it’s a small symbolic act that makes your intention feel real.

🧳 The Suitcase Walk or Run (Latin America’s “Travel Luck” Ritual)

In several Latin American countries, one of the most joyful superstitions is the empty suitcase walk—or, if you’re feeling bold, a suitcase run—right after midnight. The belief: carrying luggage into the New Year helps attract travel opportunities, movement and new experiences in the months ahead.

Some people step outside and back in again; others do a lap around the block. The suitcase is often empty to symbolize “space” for new trips and new plans.

💸 “Don’t Start the Year With an Empty Wallet” (US, UK & Beyond)

This one is widely shared across cultures: carry at least a little cash into the New Year. The idea is that an empty purse or wallet signals scarcity—while a little cash suggests money will keep flowing.

In the US and UK, it often shows up as a practical habit: pay down what you can, avoid overdue bills if possible, and keep a small note in your wallet as a symbolic “seed” for better finances.

🚪 Open the Door at Midnight (Let the Old Year Out)

In many homes, someone opens a door or window right at midnight—to let the old year out and welcome the new one in. It’s common in parts of Latin America and also appears in European traditions, including some UK households.

If you want to try it, it’s more about symbolism than drafts: take a breath, open the door, and set a clear intention for what you’re leaving behind.

🍽️ Lucky Foods for Wealth (US, UK & Latin America)

Food traditions are where luck gets delicious. Different cultures eat foods that resemble money, abundance or forward movement:

• Lentils (common in parts of Europe and adopted widely) — coin-like, tied to prosperity
• Black-eyed peas (US South) — a prosperity staple for New Year’s Day
• Pork (popular across multiple traditions) — linked to progress and plenty
• Grapes (Spain/Latin America) — luck across the months ahead

The point isn’t perfection—it’s choosing a ritual that feels meaningful. Even a small bowl of lentils or a simple New Year’s Day meal can become a personal “good luck” anchor.

For another quick explainer of widely known New Year’s traditions and their meanings, you can also browse Encyclopaedia Britannica’s guide to New Year traditions .

🧹 No Sweeping, No Taking Out the Trash (Money-Luck Logic)

Another superstition with a “don’t throw away your luck” theme: avoid sweeping, deep-cleaning, or taking out rubbish right after midnight or on New Year’s Day. In some traditions, it’s believed you could accidentally sweep out prosperity and good fortune.

The practical compromise: do a quick tidy on December 31, then keep January 1 gentle—more reset than scrub.

Why People Still Do It (Even If They Don’t “Believe”)

Superstitions survive because they work in a different way than facts: they turn a calendar change into a moment of intention. Whether you’re eating grapes, skipping laundry, or pulling on yellow underwear for “money luck,” the ritual becomes a signal—this year, I’m trying again.

And if you want the simplest, most universal New Year superstition of all? Start with something you can control: set one small goal, do one small act of kindness, and make it your first “lucky” win of the year.