As we bid farewell to 2025 and welcome in 2026, many people will be hoping for a better year ahead. You can try one of these 10 superstitions to bring some luck and prosperity in the coming year
Mia O’Hare Showbiz Reporter
15:26, 31 Dec 2025
You could have a better 2026 if you follow these traditions (Image: Liliya Krueger via Getty Images)
As we prepare to bid farewell to 2025 and welcome in 2026, there are a host of long-standing traditions you can partake in to ensure the coming year is a lucky one.
Over the years, many have adhered to various superstitions believed to bring good fortune for the new year. Some of these customs are widely recognised, while others might be less familiar.
As we approach the stroke of midnight, here are 10 ways you could potentially boost your luck for 2026. Whether you’re a firm believer in these superstitions or simply looking for some New Year’s Eve fun, here’s how you can ring in the new year.
Ring in the new year with some superstitions (Image: Janina Steinmetz via Getty Images)
Wear polka dots
If you’re still deciding on your New Year’s Eve attire, why not consider incorporating some polka dots? This tradition hails from the Philippines, where the round dots are thought to symbolise coins. According to this belief, wearing this pattern could usher in wealth and prosperity in the upcoming year.
Leap from a chair
In Denmark, it’s customary to jump off a chair or sofa as midnight strikes, reports the Express. This act is seen as a symbolic leap away from any misfortune and a fresh start for the new year. However, failing to make the jump is said to invite bad luck for the entirety of 2026.
First-footing
This Scottish custom focuses on the first event after the clock has chimed midnight. The first person to step over your threshold after midnight is believed to bring good luck for the year ahead.
Ideally, you’d want a tall, dark-haired man bearing symbolic gifts such as coal, bread, salt and whisky. This long-standing tradition ensures the household is blessed with good fortune, health and abundance in the coming year.
The notion that a dark-haired first-footer brings more luck originates from the Viking era, where a fair-haired individual might bring bad luck or even pose a threat. It’s also considered unlucky for anyone to exit the house before the first-footer arrives.
Smash glass or crockery
In numerous cultures, smashing glass or dishes is thought to fend off evil spirits and dispel negative energy. It symbolises a fresh start for the upcoming year, and by New Year’s Day, a large pile of broken pieces is seen as a positive sign. The more fragments you discover, the luckier 2026 is believed to be.
Mistletoe beneath the pillow
If you’re hoping to find a romantic partner in the new year, Irish superstition dictates that you place a sprig of mistletoe under your pillow before drifting off on New Year’s Eve. You might even dream of your future spouse, and it’s said to be a method of attracting love in the forthcoming year.
Crush a pomegranate
Crushing a pomegranate symbolises good luck, prosperity, fertility and abundance in Greek and Turkish customs. The more scattered seeds there are, the more fortune, health and happiness there will be in the home. Pomegranates are often hung on doors ready to be crushed at midnight.
Thump some bread
In Irish tradition, families are known to bang loaves of bread against doors and walls at midnight to ward off evil spirits, hunger, and misfortune. This act is believed to usher in good luck and prosperity for the new year. While this custom has waned in popularity, it has been replaced by the practice of banging pots and pans to create loud noises.
Kiss
The quintessential New Year’s Eve kiss is thought to set the stage for love and fortune in the forthcoming year. This tradition is believed to fortify relationships for couples and stave off solitude for single individuals.
Eat 12 grapes
A custom that originated in Spain involves eating 12 grapes as the clock chimes 12 times at midnight. This is believed to bring good luck for each month of the upcoming year. The idea is to consume a grape with each chime to ensure a year filled with prosperity and abundance.
Open doors and windows
As the clock strikes midnight, it’s customary to open the doors and windows of your home to bid farewell to the old year and its troubles. According to Irish tradition, opening the front door invites the new year, good luck, and a fresh start into your home.
