Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  

NEW YEAR TRADITIONS


Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year’s resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian’s most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.
The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. In that year, members of the Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers. It celebrated the ripening of the orange crop in
California. Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival. The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth. Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the new year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus. The use of an image of a baby with a New Years banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought to early America by the Germans. They had used the effigy since the fourteenth century. FOR LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR
Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year’s Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man. Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune. Many parts of the
U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another “good luck” vegetable that is consumed on New Year’s Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year’s Day. AULD LANG SYNE


The song, “Auld Lang Syne,” playing in the background, is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, it was first published in 1796 after Burns’ death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, “Auld Lang Syne” literally means “old long ago,” or simply, “the good old days.” The lyrics are: 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.   Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? And here’s a hand, my trusty friend And gie’s a hand o’ thine

We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne

 I always end up breaking my New Year’s Resolution’s very early in the year. I gave up going on a diet, quitting smoking and resolving to become more organized with the New Year. I am not sure if it is just that in my mind New Year’s Resolutions are meant to be broken or what. I did quit smoking for two years but then started again last Thanksgiving so that will be another springtime thing to quit again. I guess instead of resolutions for me, I would have to set goals for myself and start in April.  Does the New Year start everything fresh for you? Is it New beginnings or just a continuation of  the previous year? Do you believe in luck of the New Year and bring it in following some of the traditions above? Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? How long do you stay with them? What kinds of Resolutions will you make this year?  We will pick a winner amongst all the posters and six winners will receive a copy of one of the following: Four copies of Last Call by Laura Pedersen, Ballantine And two copies of Beginner’s Luck by Laura Pendersen, Ballantine 

I want to wish you all a Happy New Year and send good wishes to all of you  🙂

31 Responses to Happy New Year!

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  3. Vicki

    I haven’t ever been able to keep a New Year’s resolution, but I read in Positive Thinking magazine that by imagining yourself completing your goal successfully, you will be more likely to reach your goal. So, this year, I’m not writing a list of resolutions. Instead I am making a vision board to help me imagine myself completing some goals I have in mind (just as soon as I can find all the magazine pictures I need to clip and paste!)

  4. Cherie J

    I want to lose weight and work out 2-3 days a week. I actually used to be pretty good about keeping my New Year’s Resolutions for more than half the year but now that I have two kids under the age of 5 it has become very difficult for me.

  5. Pamela S Thibodeaux

    Happy New Year everyone!

    Like many of you, I don’t make resolutions anymore either. Goals (same difference if you ask me LOL!) seem to be a lot easier and nicer. If you think about it Resolution has a negative connotation (means you need to resolve something) but goals…now those are positive…things you CAN attain!

    My goals are to keep moving onward and upward in my writing career.

    Here’s wishing you ALL the bestof God’s BLESSINGS in 2008!
    Pamt

  6. RobynL

    No resolutions here either; I don’t keep them and it bothers me.
    But I have plans such as to be more worry-free and learn to go with the flow.

  7. Stacia Helpman

    I usually don’t make new years resolutions only because I know I have little to no chance of keeping them. However, I have resolved to quit smoking this year. So far, so good. Happy New Years to all!

  8. Karen H in NC

    I don’t really make resolutions because I think it just sets me up for failure. Instead, I just try to improve on, or at least maintain, my usual routine.

  9. Ivka

    Happy New Year!

    I don’t make resolutions, but I do try to stick to my routine, which works for me.

  10. Sherri

    Happy New Year. Hopefully this year will be better than the last few have been. We watch the ball drop on TV to marshall in the New Year and then we go to bed. That’s all we do for celebrating. I don’t make resolutions but I do have a few personal goals I’d like to reach this year. I want to get organized again, get my life back on solid ground, and get my books caught up. My whole life is in a state of chaos and I don’t like it one bit and my goal is to get it back to a semi-happy peaceful place.

  11. Phyllis N. Crabtree

    First, Happy New Year to everyone. May you have good health and happiness in the coming year. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore. Like most of the other posters, they are easily broken and then depressing when they are. I just try to take each day as it comes, enjoy it and be a better person in whatever area I need to work on at the time. I have set a goal to spend more time with my grandchildren. They grow up so fast and time easily slips away. As far as traditions, our family does usually follow the tradition of eating certain things on New Years Day.

  12. Jenyfer Matthews

    I don’t make resolutions. I do set myself goals – but I do that as necessary throughout the year. The new year doesn’t really feel much different to me that the last year – except for putting the holidays behind me. My mental schedule is much more academically oriented – I always feel like I’m starting a “new” year in Sept!!

  13. Theresa N

    I never make New Year Resolutions, I find I have better luck giving up things if I do it in my own time frame.

  14. Ayreann

    I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions because I believe when you make them you are just setting yourself up to fail as statistics show. However, I do believe in setting goals and working towards them throughout the year. I also believe that you should set short-term goals, mid-term goals and long-term goals. Short-term to mid-term goals are usually easy to obtain and long-term goals can be modified if you find that you’ve over-reached yourself. *LOL* Then you can continue to work step-by-step toward that long-term goal just in smaller increments. *Grin* That being said, I just saw my doctor on the 24th of December and I’ve been told I really need to work towards improving my health and dropping a few pounds so I’ll have to start working towards that over the coming year.

  15. Ashley A

    My resolution is to starting loving my body just the way it is! I’m plus-sized, and that is just fine!!

  16. April

    Happy New Years one and all! And I have to say I did a lot of the old traditions listed above for the holiday. As for resolutions, I always make a few and try my best to complete them. Normally I make good on my promises. This year I’m pledging to myself that I will make more of an effort to orginize things and help with shelters around here. That I will excercise more and eat healthier (everyone starts out with this wishful thought I am sure, so here’s hoping we make it happen this year), and last but not least, I plan to be more more involved with family. Lately some of my relatives have held onto grudges and kept themselves apart from my family and I, but this year I’m not letting old grudges stay. In with the new, out with the old. It’s a new year, fresh with no mistakes in it and I plan to try and keep it that way as long as possible. Good luck to all of us in 2008!

  17. Amelia

    I usually don’t make resolutions because I break them. But I do try not to. LOL! But for the new year, here are my resolutions: eat healthier, exercise, read more, keep organized, and sleep earlier (or get at least 7-8 hours of sleep).

    HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

  18. Laura K

    I, for one, can’t wait for the new year! 2007 was lousy on many levels for me- I hope 2008 will be much better. I don’t do new year’s resolutions because I don’t think I’d stick to them. All the best everyone!

  19. Kimmy L

    My new years resolution is for my family to just get along. I miss the way we were all happy.
    I hope you all have a Happy New Years and may it be a good one.

  20. Fedora

    I don’t always do official resolutions–too easy to not achieve them and be disappointed. Some less official goals: like Scarlet, get through more of the TBR! Also, to prioritize so that the things that matter most are what I actually end up spending time on during the day 😉 We’ll see how that goes!

    A wonderful and fulfilling new year to everyone!

  21. Scarlet

    Mine is to knock down my TBR this year. It is shameful how big it has become. I get so busy reviewing that I don’t stop and take the time to read my own books. I really have to read more of my own so I don’t get burned out.

    Scarlet

  22. Carol

    It’s been a long time since I’ve actually made any New Year resolutions!
    I do plan on trying to make a small dent in my TBR pile though! What are the chances of that happening! roflmao

  23. Robin

    My official resolution is toget my bills paid and do it on time speifically my credit cards.

    My toast for the year is to have a better year than the one I am in and to try and ave a better outlook n life.

    Wishing all of you the best

  24. catslady

    I’ve pretty much given up on official resolutions – I never could stay with them lol. I seem to do better if I do it on my own without announcing it to the world. I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year.

  25. Maureen

    Happy New Year to everyone!

    One of my resolutions is to clear some clutter from my house and I figure if I even get one drawer cleared out then I’m sucessful.

  26. Crystal G

    I don’t make New Years resolutions. One goal I would like to accomplish is to get my house organized. Now that the kids are all gone I need to sort and throw out some clutter.

  27. anne

    I have never made New Years resolutions. But I do promise myself that I will continue to maintain good health habits that will lead to a long and productive life. SInce health does seem to be the biggest influence upon our quality of life.

  28. Linda Crooks

    I’ve never really made any serious New Year’s resolutions, but maybe I should start. Maybe I’ll resolve to do Brain Gym more regularly with my son. That’s a win-win resolution for sure. 🙂

    ~Lindy

  29. peggy

    to spend more time on myself and let my family start doing more for them self

  30. tina brunelle

    my resolution is to have more me time and recharge my inner batteries so i can be a better mom lets see how long that lasts lol

  31. Robin Snodgrass

    I don’t normally make New Years resolutions. I know the odds of keeping them are practically nil. I do, however, want to make one this year. I was recently diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. I want to make the resolution to keep it in check with diet and comes to terms with the changes to my life this disease has created. To this end, I will watch my diet and continue to exercise and try to live a healthier life in 2008.

    Best of luck to everyone on their own resolutions! Happy New Year!

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