13 Southern Superstitions to Bring in the New Year
Southerners are big on superstitions and in Liberty County, we are sure to follow them very carefully! Many of our superstitious ways have been carefully passed down and kept alive and well through many generations. They have been working for as long as we can remember, so why stop following them now?! Start your new year by following these southern superstitions, and it will be one of your best years yet. Keep reading and learn more about 13 of our most treasured ones!
1) A Bird in the House
You will see slight panic on some faces when there is a bird in a house! This is because some people believe that a bird in the house foretells death.
2) Itchy Nose
If your nose itches, this is a sign that company is coming. People still tell us that we will have company soon when we scratch our noses! Our grandmothers would say something similar growing up, and it stuck with us.
3) Bed Head
People believed that waking up with crazy hair is the creepy sign of witches sneaking into your room and playing tricks on you while you sleep.
4) Palm Itching
It is believed that when your palm is itching you will either give or receive money depending on which hand it is.
5) Don’t Take Pictures
Every now and then we encounter people who do not want their picture taken. As funny as it may sound in our technological world, there are still people out there who believe that every time someone takes your picture, they capture a piece of your soul.
6) Don’t Put Your Pocketbook on the Floor
According to lots of Southern ladies your bag should never hang lower than your moneymaker or you will be in financial distress. Long story short – don’t put your bag on the floor or you will be broke!
7) Never Leave a Rocking Chair Rocking
It is said that if you rock an empty rocking chair, you are inviting spirits. This is one of the first superstitions a resident will tell you when if you move here. After all, you don’t want any ghosts or evil spirits in your house!
8) Never Eat Both Ends of a Loaf of Bread
If you eat the ends before you eat the middle, it is said you won’t be able to make ends meet. We’re not sure where this superstition came from, but eating the ends first would definitely cause the bread to dry out quicker.
9) Hang a Mirror by the Door to Protect Against Evil
A folk belief is that the Devil is so vain that he will get distracted by his reflection until the sun rises and forget to enter. This may also work for some people!
10) Black-Eyed Peas will Bring Good Luck
This southern superstition says that if you eat black-eyed peas just after midnight or on New Year’s Day, you will be prosperous in the coming year. Some Southerners will even tell you to eat one pea for every day of the new year. Bring a good appetite for dinner this year!
11) Haint Blue
People used to believe that spirits could not cross over water, so they would paint porch ceilings and doors a special shade of blue called Haint Blue to ward off evil spirits.
12) Bottle Trees
Strolling the streets in a small town may render a lot of unfamiliar sights like the bottle tree! Deeply superstitious people believed that evil spirits could be caught in glass bottles placed outside. When the spirit was caught, one could cork the bottle and throw it into the river to wash it away.
13) Open the Window When Someone Dies in a Home
If you live in the South for a while, you will see some strange things. When someone dies in a home, people often open the windows and cover all mirrors. It is believed that this allows the soul to leave and not be captured.
Ring in your new year the right way by testing out some of our most treasured traditions! Most all of these superstitions are still alive and being honored in Liberty County. Get out and #ExploreLiberty in 2024, and you may see some!
