By John Maguire
In the first edition of Buried Treasure for 2026, John Maguire of ArtsGroupie CIC explores the rituals, superstitions and everyday traditions that shape how we welcome a new year. Drawing on memories from a working-class Liverpool upbringing and customs passed down through generations, John reflects on “living heritage” and why these Old New Year practices still matter. As 2026 is recognised as a year of living heritage in the UK, this piece considers how ritual, memory and shared belief help us navigate change in a fast-paced world.
In my working-class upbringing, superstitions and rituals were woven into everyday life, such as not crossing on the stairs or avoiding walking under a ladder. My mum always kept a rabbit’s foot in her purse for luck, given to her by her grandma. I cannot say why it was lucky; I’d say it hadn’t been particularly lucky for the rabbit!
2026 is a year of “living heritage” in the UK, so I thought in this Buried Treasure, we would dive into some New Year rituals and where they come from. These “Old New Year” traditions feel even more vital in our fast-paced digital world. One tradition I have started is to make not so much New Year’s resolutions as New Year’s wishes: a list of wants for the forthcoming year for my family, my friends, and me. I focus on experiences and how I want to develop. These go into an envelope and are popped away with the decorations, ready to be looked at the end of the year. This act of anamnesis—intentionally recalling these past hopes—allows me to see how I have developed. It is a way to design your own future; to plot your own story, so to speak.
I am of Irish descent, and Liverpool’s customs largely reflect those of the broader British Isles due to migration and cultural exchange. My nan brought a ritual from her Irish ancestors she called “seeing the New Year in”—a tradition involving opening the back door just before midnight to “let the old year out,” and then opening the front door to “welcome the new year in.”
But the threshold isn’t the only place we invite change; my sister looks to the very corners of the home. Performing a thorough spring clean before the New Year is a common custom to ensure a fresh start and ward off evil spirits. However, one of the most prevalent historical customs in Liverpool is “First Footing.” The core idea is that the first person to enter a home after the stroke of midnight brings good luck for the year ahead.
First Footing:
- The Ideal Guest: A tall, dark-haired man was believed to bring the best fortune.
- Unlucky Visitors: Women or fair-haired men were historically considered bad luck, a superstition possibly stemming from Viking invasions.
- Symbolic Gifts: The visitor would bring tokens to ensure the household had all it needed: Coal for warmth, Bread for sustenance, Money (a silver coin) for prosperity, and Greenery for a long life.
These traditions of commensality—the sharing of food and resources—ensure that prosperity is distributed throughout the community. Many “old” customs also involve specific symbolic foods:
- In Italy and South America, lentils are eaten because their shape resembles coins, symbolising future wealth.
- In Brazil, poultry is avoided because chickens scratch backwards, which is believed to cause setbacks.
- In North Macedonia, a coin is baked into bread (called pita or maznik); whoever finds it wins the year’s luck.
I particularly like the Romanian tradition in which people dress as bears and dance to ward off evil spirits, known as the “Jocul Ursului” (Dance of the Bear). I may take this up and head to my nearest woods, Childwall Abbey Woods. Keep an eye on the local papers for any bear sightings!
However you choose to welcome 2026, we hope it is enjoyable and that the year ahead is prosperous. Does your family still practice “First Footing,” or do you have a modern ritual of your own?