The Most Popular New Year's Eve Superstitions from Around the World

According to USA Today, in Latin America, it's believed that lugging around your (empty) weekender will conjure a year full of adventure and travel.

If you've ever lived in the Southern United States, you probably know that what you eat on New Year's Day matters. Many below the Mason-Dixon line believe green foods bring you money while peas reflect prosperity. So stock your plate with collards and black-eyed peas, as both are thought to send wealth your way.

If you've ever wondered why noise makers tend to be readily available on New Year's Eve, it may not be just because they're amusing. According to lore from around the world, the boisterous sounds can ward off evil spirits (one example is the traditional firecrackers of Chinese New Year, traditionally celebrated in late January or early-to-mid February). So cheer, scream, set off fireworks and bang pots and pans—for fun and fate.

Looking for love in the New Year? Consider slipping on a pair of red underwear. The superstition, which is believed to derive from Latin America, suggests that the undergarment will bring you impassioned relationships.

While most Americans associate New Year’s Eve with bite-sized snacks and champagne, in Spain, the tradition is to eat 12 grapes at midnight (of course, Cava wine follows). In a ritual that dates back to the 1880's, according to NPR, it's believed that if you can finish your 12 grapes (one for each month of the year) before the clock strikes 12:01, you'll have good luck.

Legend in China and Latin America has it that the act of cleaning literally sweeps negativity away from your family and life, according to the New York Times.

While some believe in a deep New Year's Eve pre-clean, others who subscribe to this Chinese superstition, avoid doing laundry, dishes, and/or taking out the trash on New Year's Day, as it's thought that purging things from your life on January 1 can cause you to throw or wash away your luck.

This superstition suggests that doing so before midnight will usher in a year of prosperity.

Entering the New Year with bare cabinets and cupboards can be a bad sign. Some believe the emptiness will signal a year of scarcity. So stock up accordingly.

One popular superstition in the Philippines? Opening doors and windows just before midnight to let out the old year and let in the new.

Buckwheat soba noodles are sometimes eaten at midnight in Japan to see out one year and welcome in the new. The reason? According to CNN, ingesting the noodles will bring about longevity and prosperity.

For many, the dense, doughy king cake, generally associated with New Orleans, represents the end of the Christmas season. But be on the lookout for a golden coin or a plastic baby. If you find it, your year will be filled with wealth and prosperity, according to legend.

Are you looking for luck in the love department? Well, then grab someone and give them a smooch. According to Entertaining from Ancient Rome to the Super Bowl: An Encyclopedia, the first encounter of the New Year can determine how you'll spend the next 365 days.

Several cultures revere the pig, and for good reason: This laid back animal rarely startles or attacks, and in China, the pig is associated with fortune and prosperity. According to Reader’s Digest, the succulent swine won’t just fill you, it will bring you wealth and help you move forward.

Vasilopitta has been around for centuries. In fact, the history of the sweet Greek bread can be traced back to the ancient festivals of Kronia and Saturnalia. And while the weighty desert is similar to king cake, this particular treat—which contains a gold coin—can only be made (and consumed) on New Year's Day. It's thought that whoever finds the coin will have a year full of luck.