Ready, Set, Gobble!
Perk Up Your Panties
In many cultures, the colors white, red and yellow have special significance. Brazilians typically wear white clothes to ring in the New Year. If it’s love and romance you’re wishing for, take a tip from Mexican culture and don a pair of red undies. If it’s money you want, then put on yellow underwear.
Gobble Grapes
Revelers in Spain and in many Latin American countries race to eat twelve grapes before the final stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. In Spain, the munching is synchronized with the chimes of the clock tower in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. Set a timer for 36.7 seconds, chew quickly and make sure you’ve got plenty of napkins on hand. For even more good fortune, make one wish for every grape.
Take Your Suitcase for a Midnight Stroll
One more spin around the block and I'm done.
Eat Your Vegetables!
Southerners in the U.S. swear by black eyed peas and collard greens for bringing good luck and money. Can’t stomach collard greens? Then toss some quarters and a head of cabbage into a pot of boiling water and see if that does the trick.
Wishing you a new year full of happiness, health and peace wherever you may be!
Over to You Now:
What special New Year’s traditions do you have? Tell us about them in the comments box.
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A kiss is nice anytime, but especially on New Year’s! Thanks for stopping by, Brandie!
Oh, I like these! Except for the black eyed peas, I’ve never heard of these. We don’t have many New Years traditions, but our family usually spends New Years Eve at home, and we enjoy “party food”…lots of appetizers and snacks. My husband and I always kiss at midnight too.
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) recently posted..My Iced Coffee Gift for a Favorite Food Blogger
I really don’t have any traditions either but the friends where we’ve celebrated usually do. This year it was the hot dogs and sauerkraut (I hate sauerkraut) but that was ok, there was wine and chocolate.. last year it was the pot banging and fireworks, and before that a pot of black eyed peas. I guess our tradition is sharing other people’s New Years Eve Traditions.
Chrissy MO recently posted..Fresh snow in the Colorado Rockies with double digit snowfall January 2012
Oh, yes, the pot banging! I’d forgotten about that one. I think “sharing other people’s traditions” is a great tradition. So, were any of your years luckier than other ones? Maybe you should go with the tradition that brings you the most luck?
Love this list! I am wanting to establish some new traditions w/ my family and some of these just may make it in the running! Any good ones for Easter or Valentine’s Day up your sleeve? St. Patty’s too….
Daria @ Mom in Management recently posted..FREE 24 Hour Fitness Pass (7-day)
Hmmm, Valentine’s Day traditions. Let me see – I’ve got a post in the works about that.
Cute post! I love learning about traditions from around the world. What a great idea for a theme!
so cool! i really don’t have any traditions when it comes to new years, except try not to puke. um, failed that one again this year….oops! Happy New Year!
Jenny – Sugar Loco recently posted..Steamy Nutella Hot Chocolate Recipe
Well, I don’t know about you, Casey, but, in my case, it would take more than yellow skivvies to make me look like a model.
I’ve never owned a pair of yellow underwear, but I’m thinking it’s worth buying some for the new year. Will wearing them at least make me look like a Brazilian model?
Casey@Good. Food. Stories. recently posted..Wrapping Up 2011 with Good. Food. Stories.
Well, the grapes are healthier as long as you don’t choke – which is a distinct possibility when you’re racing against the clock.
My family’s New Year’s traditions? Board games & drinks with the neighbors followed the next day with the traditional New Year’s hangover and removal of the Christmas tree. Eating grapes sounds a bit healthier. Maybe I’ll try that this year?!
We had the same New Year’s food tradition in our house. All these years later I still get the craving for pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes at this time of the year. As for bringing good luck, eating sauerkraut for the New Year’s meal is a cultural tradition in Germany, Eastern European and Slavik countries. Supposedly, the longer the strand of sauerkraut, the more luck (or good health) you’ll have. My dad grew up in Pennsylvania where the tradition was likely brought to the U.S. by German immigrants. Thanks for sharing these lovely holiday memories, Linda. And if anyone is interested in cooking up a batch of pork and sauerkraut, just do a google search for “sauerkraut for good luck”. Here’s one site I found: http://www.goodfoodstories.com/2010/12/13/good-luck-pork-and-sauerkraut/
Justine Ickes recently posted..Want to Get Lucky This New Year’s Eve?
My father’s new year tradition involved making a large pot of sauerkraut with pork and/or hotdogs. The recipe is simple and surprisingly popular! As kids, NY day started out as a “just us” day of eating kraut and watching bowl games. As we matured, our friends began to stop by and soon ping pong tournaments, games of HORSE and lots of love filled the day – always along with kraut! I’m not sure about any luck it was to bring, but these gatherings on NY Day reminded me of the love and good fortune in my everyday life and created many gorgeous memories.
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