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December 29, 2007 at 2:43 pm #28089PolarBearNPRParticipant
Traditions are things we do because we do them. Consistently. They’re often easier than thinking up new ways to celebrate or commemorate, and they’re comforting in their predictability, though it’s not always easy to figure out why we cling to certain traditions with such tenacity.
Superstitions, too, have a way of hanging on for no good reason, and New Year’s Eve/Day is a great time to indulge in tradition and superstition — just in case. It never hurts to start the new year with personal traditions covered and superstitions heeded, because it’s quite possible that breaking a New Year’s tradition will bring bad luck in the coming 12 months.Here are some New Year’s traditions and superstitions culled from Internet sources that come with varying degrees of solid research, truthfulness and believability. Pick one and make it your own — or don’t: The thing about New Year’s is that it’s new. Start fresh. Start over. Start again. And if it doesn’t work out, start thinking about next year.
Kissing at midnight: Make it count — these midnight New Year’s kisses serve to seal the affection of your nearest and dearest through the coming year. Failing to smooch sets the stage for a year of — well, a year without kisses.
Stock up: The state of your cupboards at the new year will be the state of your cupboards for the whole year, so fill them up. Put food in the pantry and money in the wallet.
Pay it off: Mail the bills out before Jan. 1, because the New Year should not be started in debt.
First footing: This is an old tradition — the first person to enter your home on Jan. 1 will determine the fate of the household for the year. What you’re looking for is a dark-haired, tall, handsome man bearing coal, a coin, some bread or salt. Blonde and red-haired first footers are bad luck, and female first footers are not to be encouraged for a second. Don’t let a woman in the door before a man steps over the threshold, or you’ll be very sorry. First footers (sometimes known as Lucky Birds) should knock and be let in, even if they live there. They should say hello, pass out the gifts, walk through the house and leave by a door other than the one they entered. No one should leave before the first footer arrives.
Not to worry. It’s perfectly acceptable to stage your own first footer arrival, by asking a party guest to step outside at 11:59 p.m., only to knock and be allowed in just after midnight. In fact, if you plan your first footing, you can relax a lot quicker.
Nothing leaves: Don’t let anything leave the house on New Year’s Day. If you’re going to a potluck, put the food in the car the night before. Seriously. Don’t take out the garbage, collect the recyclables or shake out a rug.
Eat your peas: Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day brings good luck and money. It’s worth a try.
Work: Do something worklike on Jan. 1, and do it well, even if you’re not at work. Don’t do a lot, just a little, because hard work on Jan. 1 is unlucky.
No laundry, no dishes: Some believe that washing clothes and dishes will open the gates to allow a family member to be washed away in the coming year. Why take chances?
Cut the tags: Wear something new on New Year’s Day, and it’s likely you’ll get a lot more new clothes.
You break it? You bought bad luck: If you break things on Jan. 1, you’ll be breaking things all year; and if you cry on Jan. 1, that sets a sad tone.
Open the doors: At midnight, open the doors to let the old year escape.
Make some noise: It’s more than a celebration; banging pots and pans or yelling or whatever is a way to scare the evil spirits away (evil spirits hate loud noise — that’s why church bells are so loud when something nice happens).
Watch the weather: Wind from the south means good times ahead; wind from the north means bad weather all year; wind from the east brings calamities and famine; and if the wind comes from the west, there will be plenty of milk and fish but somebody great will die. If there’s no wind at all, a good and prosperous year will be had by everybody.
*from the local paper*
December 29, 2007 at 2:46 pm #165884PolarBearNPRParticipantWhile we Americans seem to equate New Year’s Day with football games and hangover remedies, citizens of the world weave their countries’ traditions and cultures together to create a meaningful and significant holiday.
And, as usual, food plays an integral part. Nearly every country has at least one special food that is consumed on New Year’s that is supposed to bring luck, wealth or success — or preferably, all three — in the coming year.
Here are a few of those New Year’s food traditions, courtesy of Mealtime.org and 123newyear.com:
Denmark: In most Scandinavian countries, the peak of the winter holidays is Christmas, although the New Year is celebrated. Among the traditional Danish dishes served is kale, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, and served in a white sauce.
Greece: The Greeks celebrate the beginning of the New Year by sharing a traditional sweet bread into which a coin has been baked. The bread is sliced at midnight and whoever gets the coin is believed to have good luck for the year.
Ireland: The Celtic New Year was traditionally Nov. 1 — the first day of winter. The wealthiest villager generally slaughtered and roasted a pig (or some animal), inviting all of the villagers to a celebration. Children were also given oranges on New Year’s Day as a special treat.
Italy: Italian customs vary by region, but in certain areas residents eat lentils, often in combination with sausage. Cotechino sausages are a symbol of abundance because they are rich in fat, while lentils symbolize money, being green and coin shaped. In other areas, a sweet bread or cake such as a panetonne or a torciglione is sliced and served to all on hand as a symbol of hope and prosperity.
Japan: The New Year’s celebration begins at sunrise, when the traditional meal of vegetables, seafood and dessert is served in one dish — the different types of food symbolizing prosperity. New Year’s foods that are believed to be particularly auspicious are soba noodles, which should be sucked up and eaten without breaking them to ensure long life.
Mexico: The Christmas celebration of Las Posadas culminates on Jan. 6 in the Fiesta de los Reyes. On that day, the King’s Cake (rosca de reyes) is served. The cake is formed into a ring to symbolize a crown, and a doll is hidden in the dough. The one who finds the doll becomes the king for the day and must select a queen. The “royal” couple then must host a party on Candlemas, which is Feb. 2.
Netherlands: The Dutch eat heavy meats, perhaps turkey or tongue, and many sweet foods. Cookies are invariably included in the menu. The traditional molded Dutch cookies were prepared with special cake boards.
Poland: The Poles celebrate the New Year much as we do in the United States, with much celebration on New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Day festivities might include a hayride into the forest, where a bonfire is set and sausages are served (with a little bit of the hair of the dog).
Spain: The Spanish ring in the New Year by eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight. At each strike of the Plaza del Sol clock (which is broadcast to the entire country much like the United States broadcasts the Times Square clock), another grape is eaten in celebration of lucky years past, and in hope of a lucky year to come.
Wales: For the Welsh, like the Scots, the New Year’s celebration is a much bigger occasion than Christmas, especially as a feast day. The Welsh New Year occurs on Jan. 13 and traditional foods include a roast goose, potato pudding and rice pudding.
December 30, 2007 at 2:29 am #165887PhilipModeratorAnd what do polar bears do? :p
December 30, 2007 at 4:19 am #165883MrOatsMemberVery interesting Heather!
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
December 30, 2007 at 7:21 am #165880AwesomeSauceParticipantOh crap – What happens if I don’t scare away the evil spirits? And I keep the doors closed?
And what if a hot chick is the first one to step through my door on New Years?
Guns. Do I need guns? I need some guns. A lot of guns. Ok. Please excuse me while I go buy some guns.
December 30, 2007 at 1:56 pm #165885PolarBearNPRParticipantPhilip – Polarbears spend their time with friends however they can; usually hanging out in the den. I will be playing Life; eating nachos and cheese and teeny-weenies; watching a movie; and as midnight approaches, will decorate a wish bag, inflate it while whispering wishes for the new year, and at the stroke of midnight pop it. On New Year’s day, we will have the black-eyed peas and will eat them all to ensure good fortune in the new year.
Andrew – thank you, darlin.
Dan – After watching your video, no evil spirits will dare tread in your house, and do you really need to ask about a hot chick stepping through the door? That’s a no brainer 😉 But I don’t think you need the guns, unless they’re super soakers in which case I’ll be there in warmer weather for a show-down.
December 30, 2007 at 3:33 pm #165888PhilipModeratorThat’s a 10-4, Heather. Thanks, and have a Happy New Year.
December 30, 2007 at 9:23 pm #165881AwesomeSauceParticipantPolarBearNPR;225411 wrote:But I don’t think you need the guns, unless they’re super soakers in which case I’ll be there in warmer weather for a show-down.Ah… that brings back memories. Hey, let’s have a water fight.
PolarBearNPR;225411 wrote:Philip – Polarbears spend their time with friends however they can; usually hanging out in the den. I will be playing Life; eating nachos and cheese and teeny-weenies; watching a movie…Dang, that is my favorite kind of life.
December 30, 2007 at 10:49 pm #165886PolarBearNPRParticipantAwesomeSauce;225417 wrote:Ah… that brings back memories. Hey, let’s have a water fight.Ready . . . Aim . . . SPLASH!!!!
Well, maybe when the weather’s warmer. Right now . . . brrrrrr.
January 6, 2008 at 3:45 pm #165882princeGParticipantPolarBearNPR;225395 wrote:Greece: The Greeks celebrate the beginning of the New Year by sharing a traditional sweet bread into which a coin has been baked. The bread is sliced at midnight and whoever gets the coin is believed to have good luck for the year.I didn’t get it this year, snif.
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