NEW Year superstitions are rife at the beginning of year and leave some absolutely baffled.

We take a look at odds claims like why you should not do your washing on the first and last day of the year.

Is it bad luck to do washing on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day?

The superstitious amongst us claim that no laundry should be done on January 1, with some traditions claiming that pile of dirty clothes should remain untouched from Christmas until New Year’s Day.

According to the myth, washing your clothing on these days can actually lead to ‘washing a loved one away’ – basically you could kill a relative simply by washing your pants.

In some cultures, it is also claimed that whatever a person does on the first day of the year they will be doing for the next 12 months, so doing any chores will essentially bring with it a year of hard work.

Others claim that doing any washing of clothes or dishes around the New Year will wash away all your good luck.

Where did the superstition originate?

It is unknown where the bizarre superstition originates, but what is more baffling is that so many people observe it.

Some of the more staunch believers have been known to avoid washing even the dishes during this time for fear of the superstition coming true.

It is believed that this particular superstition is particularly observed in southern US states.

What other superstitions do we associate with New Year’s Eve and Day?

Some people staunchly believe that you should not do any cleaning or dusting in the house on New Year’s Eve.

They say that it is an ominous act and can sweep away the good luck of the entire family.

Others insist that you should not have empty pockets on New Year’s Eve since it may be a sign of very low or no income in the year to come.