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As the holiday season comes to an end, the new year begins and brings all sorts of celebration. No matter how you celebrate, one thing is for certain— you're going to want to start January 1 off with some good fortune. There are tons of New Year's superstitions, like making noise, eating certain foods and wishing each other well, that are said to bring positive vibes. But to bring you even more prosperity, you can wear or decorate with some lucky New Year's colors.
In many different countries, wearing a certain color on New Year's Eve is an age-old tradition. For example, in Brazil, people wear white to bring peace into the new year. In Italy, red is the color to don for success. But if you won't be dressing up in a NYE outfit and would rather buy some fun party decorations, you can incorporate a specific shade to match your ideal theme of the year.
With this list of hues, you can find just the one that aligns with your values and even New Year's resolutions to make the most out of your celebration. Take a look below to learn more about popular New Year's colors and their meanings to enter 2024 in style and with luck.
Pink: Friendship
Pink represents friendship, inner peace and approachability. The color is said to improve relationships, and encourage love and affection. If you are hoping to strengthen your connection with people in the New Year, give pink a try.
Orange: Amusement
Orange has come to symbolize "frivolity and amusement," suggests Shutterstock. And we can all use the reminder that life is short, and we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously.
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Green: Prosperity and New Beginnings
Green is closely associated with nature. Just think of the spring, as the snow thaws and plants begin to bloom again — the color is everywhere! Green is closely tied to vitality and new life.
Yellow: Hope and Optimism
In Western cultures, the color yellow conveys optimistic attributes like happiness and positivity. It's also the color of sunshine and sunflowers (and who doesn't love either?). Add some yellow accents for a touch a brightness!
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Red: Joy and Ambition
You'll see this color all over Lunar New Year celebrations. That's because red symbolizes fire, and it is thought to bring good luck and good fortune.
Purple: Powerful and Luxury
Purple has long been associated with royalty, but do you know why? For centuries, purple dye was made by harvesting sea snails, which made the color rare and very expensive. Now, the color purple is more accessible, but it still carries that regal air. Purple decorations or party lights help create a funky atmosphere.
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Silver: Sleek and Modern
Shiny and futuristic, silver is a color that has been closely associated with New Year's celebrations in recent history. Perhaps this is because the metallic hue is so reminiscent of the shiny new technology "tomorrow" will bring?
Blue: Positive and Relaxing
Yes, we do call them "the blues," but this color has actually been known to induce feelings of calm and relaxation. In fact, in many Latin American countries, blue symbolizes hope and good health.
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White: New and Pure
Like the first snowfall, white is often linked to purity and serenity. An all-white color scheme will give your New Year's party a clean slate, perfect for new beginnings.
Gold: Success and Money
We often see the metallic gold color used for money or trophies to symbolize success and accomplishment. Who wouldn't want to ring in the new year with a little good fortune and money?
Katie Bourque
As an Editorial Fellow for Good Housekeeping, Katie covers health, beauty, home, and pop culture. Outside of the office, you can find her killing it on the karaoke machine or listening to true crime podcasts.
Cameron Jenkins
Staff Writer
Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.
