Season’s Grinnings

Storied superstitions promise health, wealth, and good fortune for the holidays and new year

Want to improve your chances for good luck, health and happiness during the holidays and into 2025? Try following some storied superstitions that have made the rounds through Europe and into America.

Accepting an invitation to join family or friends for the Christmas Day meal is a good start. Superstitious tales state that declining such an offer could be unlucky. If you will be the guest at a meal, don’t refuse any food because it could take away the host’s Christmas spirit.

Good luck can also be found in the kitchen and dining room. If baking, don’t cut or eat cake before Christmas Eve because waiting will increase your good fortune. When Christmas morning comes, eat a raw egg for blessings of strength in the new year.

If you host the Christmas feast, set an even number of place settings regardless of how many guests you expect—odd numbers are considered bad luck. And ensure garlic is on the ingredient list or placed in a bowl under the table so all guests can expect strength and good health in the new year. For additional good fortune, put a fish scale under each diner’s plate.

According to various beliefs, holiday meals should not include crustaceans, beef, or poultry. As backward and sideways walkers, crabs and lobster are believed to impede forward movement in the new year. Similarly, since cattle are known to graze standing still, eating beef could imply a year of stagnation. Winged fowl, or poultry, are said to fly away with one’s good fortune, so it should not be served.

When all guests are seated for the meal on Christmas Day, ask them to sip saltwater three times to ensure more good luck.

The Christmas season would be nothing without the sweetness of apples and apple-filled desserts. End your Christmas dinner by having everyone cut an apple in half and check its shape. If the core resembles a star, then good luck will follow. Other shapes could imply the opposite.

Another dessert tradition, mince pie should be sampled at as many homes as possible during the holidays to encourage numerous happy months ahead. Eating plum pudding on Christmas Day is another essential, as superstition states it will lead to friendship in the coming year.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are no strangers to food legends. To usher in the new year and ensure luck and success, sit under a table at midnight and eat twelve grapes one at a time within the minute that the clock strikes twelve.

To gain wealth, serve lentils, black-eyed peas and colorful greens on New Year’s Day. Cornbread, lemon curd, and other yellow foods are said to provide prosperity and happiness.

Superstitions are also associated with Christmas trees and plants. Don’t forget to place a sprig of mistletoe over a doorway for the season. Kissing under the plant will ensure continued love, vitality, and fertility. Placing a bird’s nest on the tree or adding bird-related ornaments is believed to bring health, happiness, and prosperity. Another custom that originated in Germany involves hiding an ornamental pickle on a tree. The first person to find it on Christmas morning will have good fortune and get an extra gift from Santa.

Without exceeding superstition, add a ritual or two to your holiday traditions, and you may get a boost for good luck, health, and prosperity in the new year.

Good luck!