A couple of days ago I talked about some of the more famous \u201cdrops\u201d that occur on New Year\u2019s Eve. But it occurred to me that I\u2019ve welcomed in the new year in lots of places over the years and a lot of those places have some odd traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here in the U.S. we tend to celebrate with fireworks, parties, festive food and booze and of course a lot of people think its\u2019s necessary to sing Auld Lang Syne<\/em>. But in some parts of the world the new year is celebrated with their own traditions \u2014 many of them handed down for many years, but still practiced. A few of these traditions I\u2019ve witnessed in person and some I\u2019ve heard about from others\u2026. I thought it might be interesting to mention a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I remember in the Philippines they had what I thought was strange tradition \u2014 on New Year\u2019s Eve round was the king. Round fruits were consumed, and clothing with round patterns (circles or polka dots) were worn. The shape was thought to bring good luck. Coins are round, and those represented prosperity. I\u2019ve never witnessed it, but effigies of famous people, newsworthy politicians, and cartoon characters are set on fire on New Year\u2019s Eve in Ecuador. The effigies are usually of a relevant figure representing the year that\u2019s past \u2014 the burning represents cleansing the bad and welcoming in the good. Finland has a really unique New Year\u2019 Eve activity that has a fortune-telling aspect to it\u2026. We were with our friends the Oxforts for number of years on New Year\u2019s Eve and they shared a German tradition \u2014 in Germany (especially southern Germany) everyone ate a Berliner doughnut (Called Krapfen, I think) on New Year\u2019s Eve or New Year\u2019s Day. They are frosted doughnuts that were once reserved as a festive treat \u2014 the Oxforts usually used melty chocolate or vanilla cream. They\u2019re really good with champagne, by the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is an old tradition in Ireland of banging specially-baked Christmas bread against the walls. On New Year\u2019s Eve the bread is thrown against doors and walls in your house. It\u2019s supposed to help bat away lingering bad spirits and make some room for the good ones. Some of our friends from Ireland said it was a very old tradition and not practiced much today \u2014 but it does sound like fun. A tradition\u00a0 in Czechoslovakia involves cutting an apple in half to reveal the future. If there is a star in the core it suggest good fortune. Everyone celebrates and starts the new year a little differently, but every tradition has it\u2019s own charm and significance. I think it\u2019s great that these customs bring people together and symbolize hope, renewal and joy for a fresh start. A couple of days ago I talked about some of the more famous \u201cdrops\u201d that occur on New Year\u2019s Eve. But it occurred to me that I\u2019ve welcomed in the new year in lots of places over the years and … Continue reading
The Greeks have a new year tradition of hanging an onion on their door. It\u2019s said to symbolize rebirth, as the onion peels away to revel many layers. They also have a tradition that parents should gently bop their kids on the head with an onion to wake them up on New Year\u2019s Day.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re in Japan at midnight on December 31, you\u2019ll hear bells ring 108 times. It\u2019s a practice called Joya-no-Kane.<\/em> The bells are rung from Buddhist temples all across the country. The number 108 represents what is known in the faith as the \u201cEarthly temptations.\u201d I haven\u2019t been there in a number of years, but I\u2019d bet that tradition is still followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finns melt a mini tin horseshoe in a pan until it completely melts and turns to liquid. Then they pour the metallic goo into a cold bucket of water, that instantly cools it and it becomes solid again. Whatever shape the melted horseshoe takes is said to represent what\u2019s to come in the new year. I would guess they\u2019d wish for a heart, or four-leaf clover or something like that\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Scotland, they have a tradition known as \u201cfirst-footing.\u201d The first person to cross the threshold of a home after midnight should bring gifts like coal, shortbread, or whisky, symbolizing future prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Russians write their wishes on paper, burn them, and mix the ashes in champagne, symbolizing the infusion of hope and dreams into the New Year celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here\u2019s to the New Year \u2014 my favorite toast goes something like, \u201cMay the tears you cried this year water the soil of next year.\u201d
Happy New Year to all!!
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"