You are correct in that one can not actually see a new Moon, at least with the unaided eye, unless there is a solar eclipse (which requires proper eye protection). If one were somehow to see a new Moon on a non-eclipse day, then that would really be a stroke of luck! However, an alternate meaning of 鈥渘ew Moon鈥 refers to the time when the thinnest of crescents first becomes visible. Similarly, we are guessing that 鈥渘ew Moon鈥 in this bit of folklore actually means 鈥渁round the time of the new Moon,鈥 such as a day or two after, when the crescent is just beginning to show.
You are correct in that one can not actually see a new Moon, at least with the unaided eye, unless there is a solar eclipse (which requires proper eye protection). If one were somehow to see a new Moon on a non-eclipse day, then that would really be a stroke of luck! However, an alternate meaning of 鈥渘ew Moon鈥 refers to the time when the thinnest of crescents first becomes visible. Similarly, we are guessing that 鈥渘ew Moon鈥 in this bit of folklore actually means 鈥渁round the time of the new Moon,鈥 such as a day or two after, when the crescent is just beginning to show.