Thu Jan 01 14:40:00 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article rewrite:

Summary:

The Australian Women’s Weekly explores various New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day superstitions from around the world, offering a lighthearted guide to potentially improve your luck in the coming year. These traditions range from avoiding laundry and keeping your pantry stocked to smashing plates on a friend’s doorstep and carefully considering who your first guest is on New Year’s Day. The article also suggests specific foods and practices believed to bring prosperity, love, and good fortune.

News Article:

Avoid Laundry, Stock Up on Pasta: Quirky New Year’s Superstitions to Try

Australian Women’s Weekly – As 2025 draws to a close, many are looking for ways to ensure a prosperous and happy 2026. Forget resolutions – The Australian Women’s Weekly has rounded up a collection of quirky New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day superstitions from around the globe that you might want to try out.

According to various “old wives’ tales,” doing laundry or cleaning the house on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day is a big no-no, as it supposedly “washes away” good luck. Instead, focus on filling your cupboards to the brim, as a full pantry is said to bring abundance.

Feeling adventurous? In some parts of Italy, people throw old furniture out the window to welcome new experiences. However, if smashing household items is too extreme, consider opening your windows to let fresh energy flow through your home.

Food plays a significant role in many New Year’s traditions. Wear polka dots and serve pizza (or Japanese Toshikoshi Soba) for prosperity. Avoid lobster, which walks backward, and instead opt for clams, mussels, or prawns for good luck. Don’t forget the Spanish tradition of eating 12 green grapes at midnight, one for each month of the year.

If romance is on your mind, try sleeping on a sprig of mistletoe. For good luck and friendship, follow the Danish tradition of smashing plates on a friend’s doorstep (perhaps give them a warning first!).

In Scotland, “first-footing” is a serious business. Good luck is said to follow if a tall, dark-haired man is the first to enter your home after midnight, bearing gifts. Unfortunately, women and fair-haired men are considered unlucky in this tradition.

Whether you’re a believer or just looking for some fun, these New Year’s superstitions offer a unique way to welcome 2026. Just remember to take them with a grain of salt (and maybe stock up on some extra plates).

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