‘Constellation’ ball unveiled in Times Square after nine-year redesign
The iconic Times Square “Constellation” ball got a nine-year makeover with 5,280 crystals and advanced lighting ahead of New Year’s Eve.
Don’t shower on Jan. 1, 2026, if you want to be lucky next year.
There are many superstitions dictating what you should do around New Year’s to make the next year lucky: eating 12 grapes, kissing someone at midnight or even wearing pink underwear, to name a few.
But there are also activities to avoid: according to lore, you shouldn’t sweep or shower if you want 2026 to be lucky.
Here are five things not to do on New Year’s Day.
Don’t sweep or clean your house
Cleaning or sweeping on New Year’s Day is considered bad luck, as it’s thought to sweep away good fortune. The same goes for doing laundry or taking out the trash — avoid these chores if you want to keep your luck intact.
There’s also the belief that chores like washing dishes and cleaning laundry “wash” loved ones away, so it’s best to save these tasks for another day.
Don’t shower
Like sweeping, there’s a superstition that showering will wash away your good luck, according to CNN.
Don’t keep the doors and windows closed
Despite the cold, superstition says you should open your doors or windows at midnight to let the old year out and the new year in.
Don’t sleep in
According to Polish tradition, waking up early on New Year’s Day will help you wake up early all year round.
Don’t eat lobster, crab or chicken
While you should eat foods like pork on New Year’s Day because pigs “root forward,” you should avoid lobster because they “walk backward,” Linda Pelaccio, who hosted the culinary radio show “A Taste of the Past,” previously told USA TODAY.
Crab and chicken are also out because crabs walk sideways and chickens, like your luck, could fly away, according to a Pittsburgh tourism website.
Contributing: Katie Landeck, Brandi Addison
