Traditions - Are You Wearing Something New?
By Anna
@LadyDuck (458050)
Switzerland
January 1, 2019 8:26am CST
Every country has different traditions and superstitions to start the New Year.
In Italy, in the past, the tradition suggested to wear something new for the first day of the year.
A new dress, or shirt, anything new, that is a symbol of prosperity and brings good luck for the rest of the year.
The old tradition has been forgotten.
Now people wear red underwear for luck and to find the true love. Not an Italian tradition, surely an imported one.
Wearing something new, has become a lost tradition, killed by "globalization".
Do you have a New Year tradition that you still respect?
86 people like this
94 responses
@Marilynda1225 (79708)
• United States
1 Jan 19
I don't have any New Years traditions but I like the idea of wearing something new.
6 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79708)
• United States
2 Jan 19
@LadyDuck I have on new earrings...does that count?
4 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
2 Jan 19
@LadyDuck I bought two packages of new socks but had to give then away to my daughter as they were a tad to small for me.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
1 Jan 19
Happy New Year, Anna.
We don’t seem to have any special traditions in the USA, although we are a melting pot of many cultures. Those people certainly have their own traditions. On one of our vacations to Italy, we were told by our guide that the Italians threw dishes out of their windows on New Year’s Eve. Of course we didn’t see that from our hotel.
Our family tradition is to call or FaceTime each other as soon as possible to wish each other a happy new year.
Wearing red underwear is a way to end lower body problems. I learned that in a parapsychology class. Our dog had a problem, so I put him in red bikini undies and believe it or not, he was immediately cured!
I never heard of wearing something new as a tradition, but I wear something new every day.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
1 Jan 19
Since I was a little kid I wear something new for the 1st day of the year, anyway it does not hurt. In the south of Italy they used to throw dishes out of the windows on New Year’s Eve, this is true and it was better not to be in Naples on that day. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
5 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
1 Jan 19
We don't have any New Year traditions that we follow. We always wear nice clothes on New Year's Eve, but we usually wear clothes that we find in our closet instead of buying new clothes.
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@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
1 Jan 19
@LadyDuck It is the first that I hear about lentils as a New Year tradition. I read that some people from my country used to hold a coin in their hands when the next year started. They believed that they would have enough money the following year if they did that. I don't think people do it anymore.
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@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
1 Jan 19
@Porcospino In the United States they do not eat lentils, but black eyed beans, another small round legume.
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@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
4 Jan 19
Although I did not buy anything new because I did not see anything I liked and they were way overpriced for what they were.
I was quite shocked at the prices one shop was charging for clothes that were like paper to the touch and tact.
I try to keep the tradition as much as I can beautiful table setup by the way.
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@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
4 Jan 19
@LadyDuck
Yes its really nice.
Good idea to buy those as its so very very cold right now.
Stay warm.
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@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
5 Jan 19
@lovinangelsinstead21 It is really cold this morning, I am wearing long pants and a wool sweater to work at my computer.
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@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
19 Oct 19
Today I am still in my green warm robe that belonged to my Mother RIP
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@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
24 Oct 19
@LadyDuck Oh so lovely see Anna. It makes us feel better.
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@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
24 Oct 19
@TiarasOceanView She was a wealthy woman and had beautiful things.
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@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
2 Jan 19
Wearing polka dots has been a popular new year tradition here as it will bring some good luck like more money.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
2 Jan 19
@ilocosboy We buy fruits that are composed of round parts, usually grapes and pomegranates.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
2 Jan 19
@LadyDuck and fruits. In here the people are exerting effort just to buy 12 round shape fruits for 2019.
1 person likes this
@MissNikki (5237)
• Maple Ridge, British Columbia
19 Jan 19
Not many new year traditions here, other than kissing your spouse or loved one at the stroke of midnight. I like the idea of wearing something new on the 1st. Maybe I will try that next year.
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@MissNikki (5237)
• Maple Ridge, British Columbia
19 Feb 19
@kepweng This conversation has given me a good laugh.
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@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
5 Jan 19
In my country most people follow certain traditions like wearing a new yellow underwear for prosperity, also when the clock strikes 12 at midnight on New Year's Day people stepped out their houses and carry a suitcase filled with clothes to bring travels among others. What I do is to be by the window and watch the dark sky and give thank God for another year, and wish the best for the new year ahead. Happy New Year (a little late by the way) :)
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@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
6 Jan 19
@jvicentevalera Italians are very different from north to center and south, we do not have the same ancestral origins.
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@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
5 Jan 19
@LadyDuck :D That's great, in my country people do the same thing in every region. That's nice that one can find a different variety of traditions down there :)
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@ThreeTeddies (2038)
• United Kingdom
1 Jan 19
I am wearing a new T-shirt but that's more of a coincidence 'cos it was a Christmas gift.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
1 Jan 19
@ThreeTeddies I hope your wish becomes true.
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@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
2 Jan 19
@sofssu Well, traditionally in China red is a color for good luck. Red, corresponding with fire, symbolizes good fortune and joy. I suspect that the Chinese brought with them this tradition that evolved in the Western culture associating red - fire - love.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95134)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Jan 19
My grandmother and mom both always fixed some kind of cabbage on New Years day. Supposed to give you money all year.
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@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
1 Jan 19
@wolfgirl569 I think I am skipping dinner, I had too many lentils, I wanted to be sure not to miss money.
@wolfgirl569 (95134)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Jan 19
@LadyDuck I plan on shredding some cabbage for dinner tonight.
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
2 Jan 19
I'm more familiar with the idea of wearing something new for the bride on her wedding day, but I'm sure not many do the things in that poem or whatever it was from long ago. I know that I didn't worry about that.
I don't have any new year tradition. Many years I've been working. I've gone in early before, but since most of the world sleeps in the morning would be boring. Now, with me working the afternoon shift it's busier since most people are by that time bored and getting out of their homes. I'm still not back to work yet, though. Just been doing a small amount of mylotting in between doing my bookwork which I'm trying to get accomplished before I do go back to work.
Lovely table setting by the way. You sure love to be detailed when setting your table and other decorations.
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@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
2 Jan 19
In our tradition, everything (not only something) must be new for the bride. I mainly rested yesterday, I spend some time myLotting, I prepared the smoked ham and lentils for the New Year lunch and we skipped dinner. I like a nicely dressed table, not only for the holidays.
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@LadyDuck (458050)
• Switzerland
7 Jan 19
@MarshaMusselman I wore everything new the day of my wedding, all white, because I married in Church and I was very young. That was my only wedding.
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
7 Jan 19
@LadyDuck Thank you, for mentioning lentils. I made some soup last week that has loads of veggies in it along with lentils and odd shaped pasta that was very good. I have some leftovers to eat which I remembered last night after eating something else. I might have forgotten the soup again.
Here, all brides do mostly wear everything new, but the rhyme chanted before weddings only say something new, if I remember correctly. I went new with my first marriage, and borrowed a dress that was blue for my second time around.
I was going to take a picture of the picture I have in a frame of that day, but it wasn't where I thought it was, so maybe I can find it in my wedding album later today.
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@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Jan 19
I don't have any traditions handed down, but my personal tradition is not to cook on New Year's Day. I do all the cooking and preparation the day before. I used to have an open house on New Year's Day, but it wasn't attended, so I stopped having it. Though if people want to stop by, they're more than welcome.
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