12 New Year’s Eve Traditions You Might Want To Try This Year

The New Year is just around the corner, and I don’t know about you, but I love the feeling of a clean slate. There’s something magical about that moment right before midnight — the laughter, the countdown, the sparkly outfits, and the quiet little wishes we make for the year ahead.

Some of us already have our own rituals: the champagne toast, the midnight kiss, or the group hug with the people we love most. But if you’re looking to add a few fun and lucky traditions to your night, here are 12 ideas that might bring a little extra love, luck, and good energy into 2025. Remember, it’s all about the intention behind it.

Eat 12 Grapes Under the Table

This one’s my personal favorite. My best friend and I have done it for the past three years, and it’s become our thing. When the clock strikes midnight, you’re supposed to eat 12 grapes — one for each month of the year — and make a wish with every bite. The goal is to attract luck and love for the new year. Has it worked for us? Not yet. But it’s always fun to try, and we laugh every single time as we struggle to eat all 12 before the clock finishes chiming. Remember, it’s all about the intention.

Pick Your Underwear Color with Purpose

Yes, really. In many cultures, the color of your underwear on New Year’s Eve is said to influence what kind of energy you attract in the coming year. Red is for passion and romance, pink for friendship and self-love, yellow for wealth and positivity, green for health and prosperity, and white for peace and clarity. And here’s a fun extra: write a wish for 2025 on a small piece of paper and tuck it into the pocket of your underwear. It’s a quiet little secret between you and the universe.

Run with a Suitcase

This one’s for my travelers. After midnight, grab an empty suitcase and run around your block or yard. The tradition says it guarantees a year full of travel and adventure. Just be careful not to trip — enthusiasm is lucky, but hospital visits are not.

Keep Money in Your Pocket

Start the year with a little cash in your pocket or wallet to attract financial luck. The idea is simple: begin the year with money, end the year with money.

Sweep Out the Old Energy

Before the night’s over, give your home a quick sweep to get rid of any old or negative energy. Visualize yourself clearing out all the things that held you back in 2024 and making room for better things.

Open Your Doors and Windows

When midnight hits, open your doors and windows for a minute or two to let the old year out and the new year in. Yes, even if it’s freezing. Let that fresh air bring in some new energy.

Burn a List of What You’re Letting Go

Write down the things you don’t want to carry into the new year — old habits, fears, heartbreak, negativity — and safely burn the paper. Watch it disappear and feel a little lighter knowing you’re leaving it all behind.

Make Some Noise at Midnight

Bang pots and pans, set off sparklers, or cheer at the top of your lungs. Making noise at midnight is said to scare away bad spirits and welcome in joy and laughter. Plus, it’s just plain fun.

Wear Something New

It doesn’t have to be fancy. Even something small, like a new pair of earrings or a cozy sweater, symbolizes new beginnings and invites fresh experiences into your life.

Eat Something Round

In many cultures, round foods represent good fortune and the cycle of life. Try snacking on donuts, bagels, or even round fruits like oranges and pomegranates to bring prosperity into the new year.

Toast to Yourself

We always toast to others at midnight — our friends, our partners, our hopes — but this year, raise your glass to you. For everything you’ve overcome, for how far you’ve come, and for the person you’re becoming.

Throw Lentils for Luck

This is the one I’m trying this year! In Italy and South America, lentils symbolize abundance and prosperity. You can toss them over your shoulder or eat a spoonful right after midnight to attract good fortune for the year ahead. It might sound a little silly, but it’s tradition — and who doesn’t want to start the year with a little luck?

The best part about all of these traditions is that they’re fun. Whether you’re laughing under a table with grapes in your mouth, sprinting around your street with a suitcase, or sneaking a wish into your underwear pocket, remember this: the magic is in your intention.

So have fun, make your wishes count, and start your new year surrounded by laughter, good energy, and maybe a little superstition. Because even if none of these work — at least you’ll have a great story to tell.

Featured image via Pexels