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Thank you. From the blackest corners of your mind, they call, pulling you deep into shadow, twisting your senses, keeping you from sleep.

It's time to face your darkest fears.

This is Tales to Terrify. Good evening, children of the night, and welcome to a brand new year.

Ah, kind of feels like a breath of fresh air, doesn't it?

I'm feeling pretty good about it.

I hope you've taken precautions, though.

There are few days of the year that have as much ritual and superstition,

as much symbolic significance as New Year's Day, after all.

And this turn around the sun seems to have taken on even more meaning than most.

New Year's traditions run the gamut, and really depend on what part of the world you're in. But the goal seems to be pretty much the same, no matter where you are, or what superstitious hoops you have to jump

through. They're all designed to give you the best shot at good luck and prosperity in the new year.

Things like eating round, coin-like foods to bring wealth.

Opening the window to let negative energy out.

Cleaning house, or specifically not cleaning house, depending on who you ask,

dressing up like demons or bears and roaming the streets, or even

wearing red underwear. If there's something you want to bring on, or ward against, I can almost

guarantee there's some kind of New Year's ritual or activity you should do or not do to make it happen.

For my family, that usually meant my Hungarian grandmother showing up to our house

...