One belief from my European culture is that, everything has to be clean before the new year, or you will live in dirt the rest of the year. And the first caller of the NEW YEAR..has to be a MALE for good luck. It used to be, visiting your home, but my dad used to call me at midnight, long distance, to wish me a Happy New Year. Yes a woman caller meant...bad luck the whole year. lol
OLD WORLD THINKING.