What are some of the superstitions about Christmas and New Years?

Answer 1

Christmas_Eve-The festivities for Christmas get into full swing on Christmas Eve with feasting and merriment.

- the Yule log is traditionally lit and burned on Christmas Eve. The log should not be purchased, nor should it be from a tree felled for the purpose, it is luckiest if it is "found." The log should burn throughout the night and it is considered unlucky for it to go out. Ashes from the Yule log are used by some pagan practitioners, in protection spells for the household.

- Stockings- the tradition of hanging stockings from the fireplace mantle in wait for Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Pere Noel, is believed to originate with the legend of St Nicholas who tossed three coins down the chimney of a poor family with three unmarried daughter. The coins were said to have landed in the girls freshly washed stockings, left by the fire to dry. The coins gave each of the three girls a small dowry and made it easier for them to find a good marriage.

Christmas,Food

-Mincemeat tarts - eat one mincemeat tart each day of the 12 days of Christmas (in silence), to ensure one happy month for each in the new year.

A variation on the above suggests that each of the mince tarts must be eaten in a different household or made by a different cook for this to work.

Mince tarts are the common form this treat is made in as it is very unlucky to cut a mincemeat pie.

It is thought unlucky to eat mince tarts any other days but the 12 days of Christmas.

It is unlucky to refuse a mince tart when offered as it suggests the turning down of the good things in life.

- Christmas cakes- are usually eaten on Christmas Eve. It is bad luck to cut into a Christmas cake before the day dawns and a piece must be kept until Christmas Day to ensure good luck for the household.

When making Christmas cakes every member of the household should take a turn stirring it, to be included in the "luck of the household".

-Christmas pudding- during the making of a Christmas pudding all members (including men and children) of the household should take a turn at stirring it (clockwise is best). If a young woman does not take her turn at the stirring, she can forget about marrying in the coming year. Those who do help with the stirring are allowed to make a wish (which should be kept secret for it to come to past) for the coming year. In many households items were added to the pudding just before it was cooked. A silver coin - for luck; a ring - for marriage; a thimble - for prosperity. And in some households a bit of cloth or rag was added - finding it in your piece of the pudding foretold of a year of poverty.

Decorations,

-Decorations should not be put up until Christmas Eve however, modern times have seen this superstition pretty much ignored.

-The evergreen tree represents good fortune and fertility.

-Decorations must be taken down by the 6th of January (twelfth night), to ensure the running of the household will not suffer undo delays. It is said both taking them down before or after that day are inauspicious.

Other Superstitions About Christmas

-The doors to a dwelling should be thrown open at midnight to allow all evil spirits to leave.

-A Christmas candle should be left burning all night long in a window to ensure the household's luck for the coming year.

It is a sign of coming misfortune if the candle goes out before all members of the household are out of bed.

-There are tales that all animals in the barnyard kneel down in reverence of the birth of Christ and that for the hour before midnight they are given the power of human speech.

It is said to be lethal to overhear their conversations.

-The first person to open the door on Christmas morning will be extra lucky for the coming year.

-If the first person to visit on Christmas day is a dark haired man, he will bring good fortune with him, particularly if you offer him something to drink.

If however your first visitor is a woman or a red-head, the household is doomed to misfortune.

-Fairies are legend to hold mass at the bottom of mines at midnight to honour Christ.

-If an unwed girl taps on the hen house door on Christmas Eve and gets a reply from the hens, she will not marry in the coming year, however, if the rooster answers her, there is a wedding in her future.

New Year's EveThe tradition of kissing your spouse or life-mate on the stroke of midnight may well have it's origins in the old superstition that how you spend the new year is reflected in how you will spend the coming year.

-Debts and loans should be paid off before the stroke of midnight to ensure that the household will be prosperous and not incur additional debt.

-Clipping your finger (and toe) nails, and having your hair trimmed on New Year's Eve or the few days leading up to it will start your year on a positive note, ensuring good health in the coming year.

-People believe that evil spirits (demons and devils) are repelled by loud noises, so New Year's Eve revelries are often loud and boisterous with noise makers and horns adding to the din.

-This is reflected in the tradition of the ringing of church bells to frighten the devil away.

-The hearth fires should be carefully tended as having the fire go out is a portent of misfortune.

New Year's Day-People try not to do anything on new yea's day they don't intend to do a lot of in the coming year, so they avoid breaking things, having arguments, or doing unpleasant things.

-Children born on the first day of the years are said to be extra lucky throughout their lives.

-It is not advisable to lend money or things you cherish on New year's day as it foretells of a year of having the things you care about leaving your household. In fact some folks take this so seriously that if they are delivering late Christmas gifts on New Year's Day, they put the gifts into their car the night before to be sure nothing leaves the household on New Year's Day.

-Dress well on new year's day to ensure a year of being well clothed.

-Throwing things away, or even sweeping dirt out your door could encourage your positions to leave (or be taken) in the coming year. Some people take this to such an extent that they don't even throw the garbage out that day.

-Make sure your cupboards, wallets,(purses) and bank accounts are as full as you can make them to ensure the coming years as prosperous.

-The Scottish Celtic tradition of the "First footer" is followed in many places.

The first person to enter your home after the stroke of midnight is very important. It should be a dark-haired male, who steps in with his right foot and brings bread (to ensure there is no want in the household), coal (to make sure the hearth fires do not go out, and a coin (for prosperity) with him. To ensure your household's good fortune offer him a drink, and when he leaves he should go out through the back door, taking the last of the past year's misfortunes with him. It is also believed that he should not be cross-eyed, flat-footed, have eyebrows that met in the middle or trip when he enters. Also of note, if your first visitor is a woman, or worse still a red-head, it is seen to be extremely unlucky.

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It is considered unfortunate to leave your home on New Year's Day until after you have had a visitor, preferably one carrying a gift.

-Washing dishes or doing laundry on New Year's day is said to foretell a death in the family in the coming year.

-In some cultures it is not lucky to wash your hair on New Year's Day (washing the luck away.

-Some cultures encourage the wearing of red clothing to bring happiness to the wearer.

-Working on New Year's day is not believed to be a good thing, the notable exceptions are the feeding and tending of family and livestock, and a token something to ensure advancements in your career.

-It is considered unlucky by many traditions to open a calendar before the first day of the New Year.

-The direction of the wind at sunrise on New Year's Day foretells the coming year.

-Wind from the north means bad weather is coming.

-Wind from the east famine or some other major misfortune is on the way.

-Wind from the south means fair weather and prosperity or in the offing.

-Wind from the west foretells of an abundance of milk and fish, but also the death of a distinguished or important personage to come.

-If there is no wind at all, a joyous and prosperous year is in store for one and all..