Happy New Year! (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

New Year’s Eve traditions are supposed to bring luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. From midnight kisses and countdowns to good wishes and resolutions, all customs are part of gesturing in the New Year.

Since I’m just as superstitious about bringing in any bad luck, I’ll bring forward some New Year’s traditions so you can decide how to best gesture in 2024. I’m only always here to help.

Eating 12 grapes at midnight (Las doce uvas de la suerte) is thought to have originated in Spain in the late 1800s. There are rules, people. The logic, and I use the word loosely, is to eat one grape at each of the 12 gongs while reflecting on each month. To do so will bring good luck for the coming year and ward off witches. Don’t let your mind wander, or it’s a year of doom and gloom. Focus. Focus. Focus. A glass of wine would be a logical substitute, but I don’t set the rules.

Other “good luck” food traditions include eating dumplings and circular cakes while avoiding poultry dishes. I’ve always made my children eat black-eyed peas and collard greens. Collard greens represent dollar bills, while the peas represent coins. “Collard greens bring money that folds while black-eyed peas bring money that jingles.” My family perfected the art of choking down a spoonful to get me off their backs. Seriously, It’s a side dish — such drama.

Decorating the house with bay leaves is seen as a symbol of good health, peace and wisdom. On a side note, bay leaves aren’t poisonous but can present a choking hazard if swallowed, as the fibrous leaf isn’t digestible. Please be careful while cooking with — or warding off evil with — the herb. Open doors and windows at midnight to release the bad spirits outside and bring prosperity inside. Don’t forget to make some noise and scare away any bad mojo. Fireworks for Saranac Lake’s North Country New Year will do the trick.

This last one is a rule I strongly encourage everyone to follow. Don’t clean the house on New Year’s Day; you will wash away any good luck. Mission accomplished. However you gesture in the New Year, I wish you a healthy, happy 2024.