Amaze and astound your friends...

[janiedriver]

...with your superior knowledge of useless information!

Here are some rather interesting New Year's Eve and New Year's Day factoids from around the world.

The Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. I personally believe that any day that includes donuts is fortunate!

Germans have used the image of a baby to represent the New Year since the 14th century.

In southern India, mothers place food, flowers and small gifts on a special tray. They lead their children, who have their eyes closed, to the tray to see their gifts when they wake up on New Year's morning.

Vietnamese people believe the luck they have in the coming year is determined by the first person who enters their home in the New Year.

Scottish people take this belief one step further by believing it is very good luck if the visitor is a dark-haired man bringing a gift. Yummmmm! This sure sounds like good luck to me!

Japanese people laugh at the moment the New Year begins -- they believe this will bring them good luck in the New Year.

Greek children leave their shoes by the fire on New Year's Day, hoping Saint Basil (who was famous for his kindness) will come fill them with gifts.

In Spain, it is tradition to eat 12 grapes at midnight. Celebrants place a grape in their mouths at each chime of the clock at the midnight hour. (huh?)

What will you be doing New Years Eve?

[janiedriver]

Gross Southern Tradition:

Throughout the South and Caribbean, many folks prepare for the New Year by engaging in a period of intense personal ritual designed to remove lingering negative energy from the previous year and to encourage positive growth in the upcoming year. This is accomplished through a three step process - a thorough cleansing of the physical - the home and the persons in it. A series of drawing baths designed to attract good things for the person. The third step involves traditional New Year's Day food rituals.




Phase One : Uncrossing - Wash away negativity, jinxes, bad luck and past transgressions. On the first day of the ritual, a full cleansing of the home and person is performed This ritual may be performed for one day (on Christmas Day Evening) or for three days (December 28th-30th) prior to New Year's Eve.

Phase Two: Drawing Rituals - Each day the practitioner will dress an offertory candle, take a spiritual bath and burn spiritual incense to draw one quality into the home. Monday : Peace; Tuesday : Protection ; Wednesday : Power; Thursday : Money ; Friday: Love and Romance; Saturday : Purity and Blessings ; Sunday : Success, Luck. These rituals may be perfomed beginning the day after Christmas or New Year's Eve.

Phase Three: New Year's Day Rituals - It is important to start New Year's Day off on the right foot. Two rituals are provided for you to share with your family. The first involves lighting a a dressed color jar candle and throwing grains through the front door - into the home. This is an ancient African custom for prosperity. The second phase is the cooking of traditional black-eyed peas, cornbread and cabbage or greens. The beans are cooked with a silver dime in them to bring luck that draws money. The cornbread draws coins and the cabbage or greens brings paper money for the feasters.
New Year rituals are a lot of work but well worth it! They are tradition because they are renown for making a difference in people's lives.

NEW YEAR'S DAY "BEANS & GREENS" RITUALS - One pound of black eyed peas, special bean seasoning and cornbread mix are included to get the cook started on this famous southern ritual. A silver dime is also included to cook with the greens or cabbage. Recipes for Southern-style black eyed peas, collard greens and smothered cabbage are included in the basket.

[banzibaby]

Well i could go to the local held party in town centre, but weather is bad & U stuck with 100-200 very drunk scots (not advised)

I dont drink much if at all so quiet time with family will do me, but i hope everyone has a very happy & prosperous new year

BaNzI

[roadworker]

Celebrants place a grape in their mouths at each chime of the clock at the midnight hour. (huh?)

What will you be doing New Years Eve?

Trying that with a glass of beer...