The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ON NEW YEARHS DAY, THE FIRST PERSON IN YOUR HOUSE SHOULD HAVE DARK
HAIR AND BE CARRYING WINE AND AN ORANGE.

Submitter comment: THE WINE SIGNIFIES THAT THE HOUSEHOLD WILL BE MERRY AND THAT
EVERYONE IN THAT HOUSEHOLD WILL HAVE A GOOD, HEALTHY YEAR.
THE ORANGE IS FOR PROSPERITY AND FERTILITY AND THE DARK HAIR FOR
GOOD LUCK THROUGHOUT THE NEW YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings:

686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1948