Americans also have several superstitions associated with celebrating the New Year.
In the USA, there are several superstitions associated with celebrating the New Year. For example, the first minutes of the New Year should be spent in the company of immediate family and friends – it is believed that in this case, during the next 12 months, the person will be surrounded only by people he loves.
New Year's parties often stretch long – among other things, this is explained by an old belief that the more fun there is at the New Year celebration, the more joy it will bring. Eating cabbage (also associated with financial well-being) and black beans can also bring luck.
The first person to visit an American's home on January 1 can bring good or bad luck in the coming year. Good luck is guaranteed if the visitor is a tall man with dark hair. Bad luck is promised by the arrival of a person unpleasant to the hosts.
Millions of Americans start the new year with a promise to achieve certain goals or fulfill certain obligations (the term New Year's Resolutions is used for this) over the next 12 months.
• As is known, on the eve of holidays, stores hold widespread sales. At this time, you can buy a long-coveted item several times cheaper than it usually sells. What do enterprising people do who need to give gifts to many relatives, friends, or colleagues? That's right – they buy gifts wholesale, as companies or corporations typically do for their employees. The benefit is obvious: you save money and spend significantly less time searching for gifts.
A survey conducted by Marist College showed that 40% of US residents have such plans for the New Year. Most often, young people prefer to take on personal obligations. The top three most popular resolutions include: the intention to lose weight, quit smoking, and save money. 60% of respondents said they at least partially fulfilled the obligations they took on last year.
Research by Washington State University made it possible to determine what kind of obligations have a better chance of being fulfilled. As Washington ProFile notes, the authors of the study proceeded from the fact that all people are different, but they can be conditionally divided into two groups: people who pay more attention to the opinions of others about themselves, and people for whom personal self-esteem is more important. Representatives of the first group are not inclined to engage in self-control, while the second group pays increased attention to this. Therefore, members of the second group are more successful in fulfilling personal obligations.
For representatives of the first group to also succeed, very little is required: obligations must be as simple as possible. They can be stated in one phrase, like 'I will never do something again' or 'I will do this or that.' Success also depends on a number of other factors: how strong the initial desire to change life is, how clear the ways to make these changes are, how easily victories and defeats can be assessed. The last factor: such decisions should not be made at the last minute, otherwise they are doomed to failure. If these conditions are met, then a person who has taken on any new obligations feels the strength to change his life.
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