New Years Eve

Holidays Forum

New Years Eve will be here before we know it. This thread is to talk about traditions, ways to celebrate and ideas for those of us who are out of them.

I was just going to mention that we always eat some herring for good luck as the first food of the New Year and my neighbor's husband ( from Arkansas ) ate black-eyed peas.

For the heck of it, I looked to see if I could find any other food traditions and found this which is interesting.

I don't know if eating ALL of these will improve your luck ... but it will improve your chances for starting the new year with a tummy-ache

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Food Traditions

-Eating noodles at midnight is customary at Buddhist temples in Japan.

-It is a Cuban tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. The 12 grapes signify the last twelve months of the year.

-German folklore says that eating herring at the stroke of midnight will bring luck for the next year.

-Eating pickled herring as the first bite of the New Year brings good luck to those of Polish descent.

-In the southern United States, it is believed eating black eyed peas on New Year's eve will bring luck for the coming year.

-Also from the south comes the custom of eating greens such as cabbage, collard greens, mustard greens, kale or spinach to bring money.

-One more from the Southerners: eating cornbread will bring wealth.

-The Southern custom of eating greens can be found in other cultures as well, although the cabbage can take many forms, such as sauerkraut or even kimchee.

-In the Philippines, it is important to have food on the table at midnight in order to insure an abundance of food in the upcoming year.

-Boiled Cod is a New Year's Eve must in Denmark.

-Olie Bollen a donut-like fritter is popular in Holland for New Year.

-Black-eyed peas, fish, apples, and beets are eaten for luck at the Jewish New Year's celebration (not celebrated on Jan 1).

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New Years Eve... I tend to stay in, because I don't like all the drunks on the roads.

New Years day tradition in my family.... ever since I can remember, we have ALWAYS had to eat 12 black eyed peas on Jan 1st, each year. I don't know who in my family started it... before my grandma. But, it's something that is still going strong. To eat at least 12 black eyed peas, it is supposed to bring you good luck and health each month for the year ahead. I know... it's stupid, but it's tradition! Although, I don't know WHY it couldn't have been 12 spoonfuls of ice cream instead!

I usually go to my sister's for New Year's eve. They have a big house and always host a huge party with friends and neighbors. The men get together and buy fireworks and set them off in the court behind the house. The display is awesome, they spend thousands each year on New Year's and 4th of July demonstrations. We usually do a food theme every year, last year it was sea food with shrimp, smoked salmon dip, garlic and spagetti crabs.
This year we're talking about having a food around the world theme, Italian - raviolis, Japanese - sushi, Chinese - lo mein, Southern American - Jumbalaya, etc..
It's tradition that we all eat too much, drink too much and then play with fireworks. Their homeowner's insurance is paid up and nobody has been injured yet!

I like to stay in on New Year's Eve too, or at least very close to home. This because of all the drunks, as well as unpredictable weather here which makes travel extra hazardous. Drunks driving on ice is NOT a pretty picture.

They say what you are doing at the beginning of the year sets the tone for the rest of it ... so ...

For me it's usually a simple meatless dinner ( family/religious traditon ), listen to some nice music or watch a movie, have something warm/soothing to toast in the New Year with Dick Clark , pet the dog and the S.O. and call family and friends shortly following the stroke of Midnight ... while I'm eating the herring .

Lets see. We usually have either a really good pizza or get chinese food. We later have a snack tray and watch movies that we love. I won't go out because of all the drunks, and I would rather be with my husband and kids anyway.

I have to say... this will be our fifth year together for New Years. We are NEVER up at midnight. One year, I fell asleep about 20 minutes before midnight, and Heidi fell asleep a few minutes before midnight. That's our norm... not seeing the New Year in!! But, we always watch Dick Clarks New Years countdown. I LOVE watching the Ball in NY drop at midnight. That's enough for me.