Happy Happy New Years Eve =) !
Today I got to thinking I need to go grab my good ole black eyed peas & cabbage for the lucky New Years day meal and then thought to myself, I wonder what other crazy things/ traditions people do around the world.
And before I get into that, you might be wondering how black-eyed peas & cabbage (and sometimes ham too) came about?!?!?
The Black-eyed pea
Well according to Galioano, “The oldest explanation for this tradition I found is on Wikipedia. According to Wikipedia, the tradition dates as far ancient Egypt. During the time of the Pharaohs, it was believed that eating a meager food like black-eyed peas showed humility before the gods, and you would be blessed. According to Wikipedia, the Babylonian Talmud, which dates to 339 CE, instructs the faithful Jews to eat black-eyed peas at Rosh Hashana. The belief was similar: those who ate black-eyes showed their humility and saved themselves from the wrath of God”(n.d., p.1).
The Cabbage:
“Cabbage and collard greens both represent “green” money in New Year’s tradition, but, historically, cabbage was eaten for health benefits. Cabbage was eaten by everyone from Caesar to the Egyptians to aid in digestion and for nutrition, later for the prevention of scurvy. Aristotle, the philosopher, ate cabbage before drinking alcohol to keep the wine “from fuddling his prudent academic head.” I wonder why we don’t eat it on New Year’s Eve? Eating collard greens isn’t too far off from Caesar and Aristotle. The ancient cabbage those guys ate was probably closer to kale than our modern cabbage ” (Galiano, n.d., p.3).
The Ham:
“In the south and other poor areas, pigs were considered symbolic of both health and wealth, because families could eat for the entire winter on the fatty meat one pig produced. Having pork could mean the difference between life and death in a really cold winter.
Pigs have also long symbolized progress. A pig can’t turn his head to look back without turning completely around, so it’s believed that pigs are always looking to the future. They fit in perfectly with other New Year’s” (Galiano, n.d, p2.)
source: Galiano, A. (n.d.). Black-eyed peas for New Years Luck. Retrieved from http://littlerock.about.com/od/festivals/a/Black-Eyed-Peas-For-New-Years-Luck.htm
Other Traditions from Around the Globe
Russia: one tradition involves writing a wish down on a piece of paper, burn it, put the ashes in your champs (champagne glass =) and drink it up RIGHT BEFORE THE NEW YEAR IS RUNG IN for the wish to come true…
Peru: “Peruvian New Year’s traditions are a dime a dozen, with everything from wearing new clothes and lighting candles to writing down wishes, all practiced with the intention of bringing good luck for the upcoming year. One of the most interesting of these is the tradition of foretelling the next year’s fortunes with the use of potatoes. According to the tradition, three potatoes are placed under a chair or sofa– one peeled, one half peeled and one unpeeled. At midnight, one potato is chosen at random, which forecasts the state of next year’s finances, with the peeled potato signifying no money, half-peeled a regular year and unpeeled a great financial bounty in the year ahead”.
Philippines: Some peeps in the phillipines open all the windows and doors in the house on NYE to allow negative vibes to flow out and allow good energy to enter!
Spain: consume 12 GRAPES just before the clock rings midnight and you will have food fortune for the next 12 months!
Puerto Rico: to piece out the evil spirits, some Puerto Ricans throw a cup or bucket of water out the window on New Years to help drive away evil spirits. Or you could also gall backward into a wave as the clock strikes 12 (could be tricky… what if a wave is coming your way right a midnight?!?)
Brazil: Brazilians might be known for ringing in the New Year on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach, but another major component of the celebration in the country is wearing white!. Wearing white is suppose to bring GOOD LUCK! This is often accompanied by a trip to the beach to throw flowers in the sea while making a wish.
Or jump seven waves for good luck (one for each day of the week =)
source: Directly from International Business Times
Australia: walk through the streets banging on pots and pans loudly at midnight
Chile: eat a spoonful of lentils for a year filled with work and money
OR ONE OF MY FAVORITE…. Walk around your block with an empty suitcase for a year full of travel!
El Salvador: crack an egg in a glass at midnight and leave it on the window will overnight. Whatever figure it has made in the morning, that what your fortune will bring next year…
Source: directly from BuzzFeed
And a few Unusual Traditions…
Romania: Romanian farmers believe that the animals gain a power of speech during the New Year ’s Eve and that it’s a bad omen if you figure out their speech, and if not then it’s a good luck. Now that’s quite weird!
Ireland: New Year’s Day, which is known as the Day of the Buttered Bread in Gaelic, is traditionally marked in Ireland by banging loaves of bread . According to old Irish custom, banging bread on the walls, scare away evil spirits
South Africa: Tossing furniture out of windows has become a tradition in the South African city of Johannesburg
Siberia: Now this is totally spine chilling! In Siberia, a hole is cut in a freezing Lake Baikal. Then a person has to dive inside the chilly waters with a tree
North Carolina: The Possum drop is celebrated in North Carolina, where the furry animal is slowly lowered from a height on the audience when the countdown for the New Year begins. The caged possum is then set free (eeek, I am not a fan of the Possum)
Peru: In Peru, villagers stage a fight to bring in the new year. They celebrate by punching their neighbours to settle old disputes.
Edinburgh, Scotland: It’s called Hogamanay celebrations, where the Scottish Vikings parade the streets of Edinburgh with a fiery torch in hand.
Germany: It’s a tradition in Germany to watch an old British comedy sketch called ‘Dinner For One’ every year on the New Year’s Eve. Imagine the same sketch every year!
Thailand: Locals in Thailand bring out their water guns and balloons for a three-day water-fight. The festival is called Songkran and is celebrated in April, which is the New Year in Thailand. Not gonnna lie, been to Thailand and love, even more so now that they have a 3-day saga water fight =)
Argentina: where pink underwear to attract love
Source: Directly from indiatimes
I hope everybody has a safe & HAPPY New Year celebration!!
-K. B.
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