Re: I did one thing

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/1/04 7:31:06 PM Central Standard Time,

mjs93311@... writes:

> I ran a load of laundry, now feel too lazy to fold the towels and

> put them away.

Marta,

Have you never heard that doing laundry on new years day washes

someone out of your family???!!!!!!

More superstitions follow...interesting!

Nothing Goes Out: Nothing — absolutely nothing, not even garbage — is to

leave the house on the first day of the year. If you've presents to deliver on

New Year's Day, leave them in the car overnight. Don't so much as shake out a

rug or take the empties to the recycle bin. Some people soften this rule by

saying it's okay to remove things from the home on New Year's Day, provided that

something else has been brought in first. This is similar to the caution

regarding first footers; the year must begin with something's being added to the

home before anything subtracts from it. One who lives alone might place a lucky

item or two in a basket that has a string tied to it, then place the basket

just outside the front door before midnight. After midnight, the lone celebrant

hauls in his catch, being careful to bring the item across the door jamb by

pulling the string rather than by reaching out to retrieve it and thus breaking

the plane of the threshold.

Black-Eyed Peas: A tradition common to the southern states of the USA

dictates that the eating of black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will attract both

general good luck and money in particular to the one doing the dining. Some

choose to add other Southern fare to this tradition, but the black-eyed peas are

key.

Work: Make sure to do — and be successful at — something related to your

work on the first day of the year, even if you don't go near your place of

employment that day. Limit your activity to a token amount, though, because to

engage in a serious work project on that day is very unlucky. Also, do not do

the

laundry on New Year's Day, lest a member of the family be 'washed away' (die)

in the upcoming months. The more cautious eschew even washing dishes.

New Clothes: Wear something new on January 1 to increase the likelihood of

your receiving more new garments during the year to follow.

Money: Do not pay back loans or lend money or other precious items on New

Year's Day. To do so is to guarantee you'll be paying out all year.

Breakage: Avoid breaking things on that first day lest wreckage be part of

your year. Also, avoid crying on the first day of the year lest that activity

set the tone for the next twelve months. Other superstitions attaching to the

beginning of the new year are:

Letting the Old Year Out: At midnight, all the doors of a house must be

opened to let the old year escape unimpeded. He must leave before the New Year

can come in, says popular wisdom, so doors are flung open to assist him in

finding his way out.

Loud Noise: Make as much noise as possible at midnight. You're not just

celebrating; you're scaring away evil spirits, so do a darned good job of it!

According to widespread superstition, evil spirits and the Devil himself hate

loud noise. We celebrate by making as much of a din as possible not just as an

expression of joy at having a new year at our disposal, but also to make sure

Old Scratch and his minions don't stick around. (Church bells are rung on a

couple's wedding day for the same reason.)

The Weather: Examine the weather in the early hours of New Year's Day. If

the wind blows from the south, there will be fine weather and prosperous times

in the year ahead. If it comes from the north, it will be a year of bad

weather. The wind blowing from the east brings famine and calamities. Strangest

of

all, if the wind blows from the west, the year will witness plentiful supplies

of milk and fish but will also see the death of a very important person. If

there's no wind at all, a joyful and prosperous year may be expected by all.

Born on January 1: Babies born on this day will always have luck on their

side.

It is unlucky , therefore, to see the New Year in with no food or drink in

the cupboards. They will remain bare for the

ensuring twelve months. The same is said

to be true with money.

Rise early to ensure a busy and profitable year at work, all those in

employment should do something that reflects their work in some way, even if

they

take the day off. Wearing something new on New Year's Day promotes the chances

of receiving further new clothing in the year ahead.