Sneaking it in #2
Some New Years traditions
- Jump 7 Waves. In Brazil, it’s considered good luck to start the new year by jumping over seven waves. You get one wish for each wave, so be ready with your list!
- Polar Bear Plunge. In northern CHILLY states a noon jump into lake or deep river. Just in n out. No theatrics. The tradition was started in Vancouver, Canada in 1920 by a group of swimmers who called themselves the Polar Bear Club. In the U.S., these events are usually held to raise money for charity.
- Traditional good luck food. Varies culture to culture. In US: pork, black eyed peas, cabbage, greens(sounds southern?)
- Mistletoe under pillow. The Irish believe that if you put a sprig of mistletoe, holly, or ivy under your pillow on New Year’s Eve, you’ll dream of your future love.
- Families in Ireland have a New Year’s tradition of banging loaves of Christmas bread against the walls and doors to ward off evil spirits and pave the way for a healthy and prosperous new year
- Colombians, who walk around the block carrying empty suitcases on New Year’s Eve to bring a year filled with travel.
- Hosting a party. New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day
- Fireworks and sparklers
Romanians believe that tossing a coin in the river on New Year’s Eve will provide good luck for the whole year.
- Watch the Times Square Drop
- Kiss your love at midnight
- Play and sing Auld Lang Syne
- Make noise as year changes. Your choice. Noise makers, bang a pan, play loudly fav music etc.
- A toast with your favorite champagne or drink to welcome new year
- Said to be bad luck to eat New Years Day: winged fowl (birds like turkey or chicken), bottom feeders (like shrimp or catfish), or any seafood that swims backward or side to side (like lobster or crab).
- Pioneer woman’s list of good luck foods for New Year’s Day: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/meals-menus/g38331983/new-years-good-luck-foods/
And here’s the meaning of Auld Lang Syne.....
It basically means bury the hatchet, for old times’ sake. Sort out the issues and move on. And we sing it now, thanks to a Canadian!
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/auld-lang-syne-meaning-explained/
Interesting post, Dolly, thanks.
My deceased MIL always spoke of the tradition in Italy that everyone threw out their old pots and pans on NYE and got new ones.
“Polar Bear Plunge.”
That has become a tradition here. They jump in the freezing cold Columbia River to raise money for the Special Olympics. I think raising money for the Special Olympics is GREAT but to jump into the freezing river borders on being nuts. IMO
Banging a loaf of bread against the wall? I don’t think I would want to eat a loaf of bread that is HARD enough to bang on a wall.