Happy New Year!

Among the various superstitions surrounding the advent of the New Year is the nearly mandatory practice of noisemaking at midnight on New Year’s Eve.  Now looked upon as mere revelry, it once was considered protection against evil spirits, who would be scared off by all of the noise.

Whistling, however, is strictly taboo; to whistle is to converse with the devil or invite him in. Sailors, actors and actresses, and miners are particularly cognizant of the ill luck associated with whistling. On board ship, whistling is thought to raise a storm. In the theatre, it is believed to close the show prematurely. For miners, it is a sign of alarm.

A whistling girl and a crowing hen,
Always come to no good end.

New Year’s Weather 

If you’re traveling for New Year’s, see our free 7-day weather forecasts for your location.
As a reminder, we also provide free long-range weather predictions for the current and next month on Almanac.com—we’ll have a new posting on January 1!

A New Year, a New Calendar

Get out your calendar for the New Year, and write down all of the birthdays and anniversaries you want to remember. Mark school or work vacations.

It’s easy to stay organized with The 2009 Old Farmer’s Almanac Engagement Calendar.

Look inside! The week-at-a-glance format provides space for appointments, and each day offers a bit of useful advice, quirky history, or folklore.

December 30, 1953
The first color TV sets went on sale.

December 31, 1935
C. B. Darrow received a patent for his Monopoly game.

For more significant events in history,  sign up for our “Today in History” RSS feed.

Ring in the New Year with a festive drink!

This New-Year's-Day Punch should wet your whistle. If you prefer, substitute ginger ale for the champagne.

Our Carrot-Orange Fizz is not only effervescent but also somewhat healthy (a good excuse)!

Even children will enjoy this Light Wassail drink. In some countries, wassail is traditionally enjoyed on Twelfth Night (January 5) to mark the end of the Christmas holidays.

Hot Mulled Cider and Mulled Wine fill the house with a delightful aroma.

See our helpful hints for holiday punch.

Traditional Southern dish
Start the year on the right foot with Good Luck Hoppin’ John. Legend has it that it must be eaten before noon on New Year's day to guarantee good luck.

See more holiday recipes and advice.

If there is no wind on New Year’s Day, the summer will be dry; if there’s a good breeze,
there will be rain enough for a decent crop.

Use a broom to clean snow off the car. It won’t scratch the paint.

Begin the new year square with every man. –Robert B. Thomas

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