So remember to live in the present, learn from the past and move towards the future.
To ensure that your year is filled with good luck, follow some of these long-standing traditions from around the world:
• Kissing at midnight
In the United States, kissing your loved ones at midnight ensures those ties will continue throughout the next year.
• First footing
In the United Kingdom, the first person to enter the home after the stroke of midnight will influence the coming year. Known as the first footer, the person should ideally be a tall, dark and handsome male bearing a gift.
Traditional gifts are coal for the fire, a loaf for the table and a drink for the master.
• Red equals luck
For Chinese New Year, all doors are adorned with something red because the color is the symbol of happiness and joy.
• Scatter money
In the Philippines, scattering coins around the house on New Year’s Eve and not spending money on New Year’s Day means you will have money in the coming year.
• Save old dishes
In Denmark, the tradition is to save old dishes and throw them at the thresholds of friends’ houses.
A porch lined with broken bowls and plates denotes a household that will be full of friends and good relationships throughout the year.
Editor’s note: Information for this article was found at www.fathertimes.net and www.infoplease.com.
Don’t try your luck with New Years’ safety
New Year’s Eve is all about having fun and celebrating the coming year. To ensure that your New Year’s celebration is a happy and safe one, follow these tips:
• Be aware
If you’re driving on New Year’s Eve, be aware of your surroundings.
Just because you haven’t had anything to drink, doesn’t mean the driver next to you hasn’t. New Year’s Eve is notorious for alcohol-related car accidents and deaths. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe by being alert behind the wheel.
• Fire safety
If you’re celebrating New Year’s Eve with a bang, be sure to use precautions when using fireworks. Light fireworks in an open area. Have a fire extinguisher nearby in case a firework goes wild and never re-light a firework that doesn’t go off. Fireworks are prohibited on Fort Polk.
If you’re burning candles, remember to put them out before going to bed.
Check smoke alarms and fire extinguishers and make sure they are up to date.
• Driver plan
If you know you’re going to be drinking, designate a driver before heading to a party. If you don’t have a designated driver, make sure to keep the number of a taxi company on hand.
• Buddy system
If you plan to celebrate New Year’s in a crowded area or a larger city, travel in groups or pairs.
The last thing you want to do is get lost in a crowd and have to celebrate New Year’s by yourself.
Good fortune foods for New Year
The New Year is an opportunity to start afresh. Instead of leaving your fortune to fate, why not try to even the odds?
According to New Year’s tradition, if you consume certain foods on New Year’s Eve or day, your year will be full of good fortune. Traditions vary from culture to culture, but there are striking similarities in what's consumed in different pockets of the world. Whether you want a full-blown menu of lucky dishes or just a side dish, remember to apply at least one of these ingredients to guarantee a happy new year, or at the very least, a happy belly.
Editor’s note: Information for this article was found at www.epicurious.com.
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