Oh this is the time of the year that everyone is reflecting on the year that is ending and planning for the new year. Many are hoping, wishing, and praying they receive for better jobs, more money, a better marriage, and even a better circle of friends and influence in the new year. Many base how they reflect on the old and the new on the family traditions and practices they learned from their family and/or culture.
Now for my family, we don’t have many or any traditions that we MUST adhere to. It wasn’t until I was grown that I found out that there were some traditions that people participated in to officially start the new year and to end the previous year.
I polled my social media community to get an idea of what everyone does to close out the year but also start a new year. The responses were amazing and some I hadn’t heard of.
New Year Traditions
Food
There is a tradition that certain food must be eaten on the first day of the new year for luck, money, and prosperity.
Yvonne Ransel said “My southern mother-in-law always served black eyed peas on New Years. No one really likes them so trying a pea/corn/salsa recipe to liven them up.”
Mary Dell Harrington of Grown and Flown said “I cook black eyed peas and a skillet of cornbread for good luck on New Years.”
Debi Aronson Pfitzenmaier said: “We have pizza every year on NYE. It started our first year of marriage when we surprised my mom and she was going out. So we went out and had pizza. Year two, we found ourselves in Chengdu at the only nice hotel ordering pizza. And when we realized it, we started the tradition. Lasted 27 years so far.”
Brooke Brimm of Loves Gumbo said: “Whole greens ( so your money comes in big chunks), black- eyed peas, all laundry cleaned before new year or it had to be set outside.”
New Year Vision board and resolutions
Mandi of Chewsy Lovers said: “New Year’s eve we have a family vision board party, the kids included. We make snacks, get out all of the magazines, markers, crayons whatever we have and everyone makes one. Then we talk about what we are looking forward to as a family in the new year, and how we can better this year than last. We have a big breakfast New Year’s Day.”
Kita Bryant of Kokoa Magazine said: “Yes we do a jar of good things throughout the year and then we open it up on New Years Day and we always cook a new dish along with the opening of the Jar.”
Ligeia Polidora said: “On New Year’s Day, we make collages, using magazines from the previous year to create an idea or dream of the coming year. This year I will be creating collages with my Mom (80), two 13 year old nieces, 12 year old nephew, my newly retired brother and darling husband. I love seeing how different ages dream of the coming year.”
New Year Money
Amiyrah of 4 Hats and Frugal said: “We make sure every person in our family has at least 1 dollar in their pocket. My grandmother used to say that you have to come into the new year with dollar bills in your possession, and you’ll always have money in your pocket for the next year.”
New Year Church Service
Rauney of Happy Hair Journey said: “We ring in the new year in worship at our church. One year, we sang and worshiped and when we looked up it was the new year. Glorious occasion, thanking God to be able to see it, realizing we weren’t guaranteed.”
Leslie Hendricks Young said: “We bring in the new year in church with our family. This year we’re having a musical concert at church that my husband and I are moderating so it should be fun. If you’re in LA looking for a wholesome FREE time, join us. Church of God Pentecostal, 109 W Buckthorn Ave, Inglewood 90301 starts at 9:30!”
Other Traditions
Ana Lydia Ochoa-Monaco of Cabeza de Coco said: “I did this when I had a Spanish roommate/my best Friend: put a gold ring in the champaign glass to bring success in the new year, eat 12 grapes for an awesome 12 months, had a super luxe brunch at the lobster in Santa Monica (because she believed that the you start the year was more important than the way you end it), wear red underwear to bring love, and we deep cleaned our place – nothing from the past was going to make it jngo our future.”
Pia Savage Sara said: “I have had so many New Years traditions over the decades–you can mark my decades through them. I looked up every food for luck and now eat salmon with (of course) spinach, collard greens and black eyed peas on New Years Eve with a small group of new friends. I must watch Ryan Seacrest and Anderson Cooper. I go to the beach and take a long walk on New Years Day.”
Jen Moskal said: “NYE is for playing games together, eating wings, and calling friends who are far away. NYD is for watching the Rose Parade and taking down the Cmas tree.”
As you are reading, there are a varitey of things people do to end a year and to begin a new year. Whatever you decide to do, just do it! There is no right or wrong when it comes to creating traditions for your family.
What traditions does your family observe to bring in the new year?
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