From Mike Watson: Open the windows and/or doors just before midnight to usher the Old Year out and the New Year in.
Wake up early on New Year’s day. Meet the New Year head on.
Have cash money on hand as you enter the New Year to ensure prosperity all year.
Stock the larder [or pantry or cabinets] before the old year is out to ensure a plentiful year to come.
No washing of clothes or dishes or other cleaning on the first day of a New Year. Some believe you will wash away your good luck, some believe you will wash someone out of the family. This also includes sweeping and mopping of floors. However, sweep the house on New Year’s Eve from back to front and out the door to sweep away bad tidings.
Eat well on the first day of the New Year. Southern traditions dictate–though menu varies from place to place and family to family: Pork or jowl meat to ensure you will eat well during the year; black eyed peas for good luck; cornbread to ensure honest and steady work; cabbage or collard greens for prosperity.
Remain at home, do no traveling, at least until someone enters your home from outside first, for good luck. The First Foot of a visitor sets the tone for the New Year: if a man enters, it is considered to bring prosperity.
Make some racket/noise at the stroke of midnight. Bang on pots and pans, ring bells, shoot off guns or firecrackers–in old times men would “shoot off an anvil.” This is to ward off evil spirits.
(Michael C. Watson – Adair County Genealogy and History Research Center)