Editor's Corner

Good morning, and happy holidays!

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, I thought it would be interesting to find out about traditions here in the states and around the world. My mom always cooked black eyed peas on New Years Day. She said it was good luck. I recently found out that it is considered lucky because round food resembles coins and money. Who knew?!

Here in the U.S., we celebrate with a party on New Year’s Eve. We also have a tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. But probably our biggest celebration takes place in Times Square in New York, where a giant ball is dropped at the stroke of midnight. That ball is 12 feet in diameter and weighs nearly 12,000 pounds! The first New Year’s Eve ball drop took place in 1907.

We often exchange kisses when the clock strikes midnight. That tradition, however, started in Germany. Before electricity, Germans celebrated New Year’s Eve with a big bonfire, which is when the kiss originated. When Germans immigrated to the U.S. in the 1800s, they brought the New Year’s kiss with them. Thank you!

In Chili, they go to mass on New Year’s Eve, but not to a church; they go to cemeteries. This tradition includes deceased family members in the New Year’s celebrations.

In Columbia, some folks walk around the block with an empty suitcase in the hopes that the new year will be filled with travel and adventure.

In Denmark, New Year’s Eve is celebrated by throwing old plates and glasses against the doors of their friend’s and family’s homes to banish bad spirits. To bring good luck, they also “leap into January” at midnight by standing on chairs and jumping off of them.

In Estonia, they try to eat seven, nine, or 12 times throughout the day because these numbers are considered lucky. And the more they eat, the more plentiful food will be during the next year.

In Ecuador, people parade around their city with scarecrows that look like politicians and cultural icons.

In Greece, on New Year’s Eve, they hang an onion on their front door. It is a symbol of rebirth in the new year. On New Year’s Day, some parents wake their children by tapping them on the head with the onion.

In Italy it is considered lucky to wear red underwear on 12/31, as red is associated with fertility.

In Japan, Buddhist temple bells are rung 108 times at the stroke of midnight. This tradition is called Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘), and it is believed to dispel each person’s 108 evil desires and cleanse them of their sins in the past year.

In Russia, people write their wishes on a piece of paper, burn the paper with the flame from a candle, and drink the ashes in a glass of champagne.

In Spain, it is customary to eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. Each grape symbolizes one month, and eating the grapes is believed to bring good luck throughout the entire year.

Whatever your tradition, I wish you a happy and healthy new year.

Donna Bradley Burcher |Technical Editor, Advisory | jack henry™

Pronouns she/her/hers

9660 Granite Ridge Drive, San Diego CA 92123

Symitar Documentation Services

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