As most of you know I celebrated my 31st (golden) birthday yesterday . I was spoiled rotten...which was way more than I could have expected. But as the clock ticked away so did my birthday. Which made me wonder...how do other people around the world celebrate New Years? I decided that I am going to share some of my families traditions that we have each & every year for as long as I can remember.
When I was a child my entire family would gather around the T.V. to watch the big ball drop in New York city with Dick Clark. We would than eat a slice of pickled herring & go to bed. No elaborate decorations...no resolutions....just family, herring, & Dick Clark. Than on New Years Day we would get up early to go to Church.
My husband had the same traditions as I. However it would also include having his grandparents & Aunt & Uncle there. They too had the pickled herring & Dick Clark, but they also had the tradition of shaking their coin purses when the clock struck 12.
When we got married we merged the traditions that we were brought up with & added some of our own as well. This was the first year that our children were truly into what New Years all was & understood that a New Year was beginning. We also shared the night with some friends of ours, who asked why we had the traditions we did & what it meet....So here is what we found as to the true meaning behind our traditions & perhaps my answers will encourage a new tradition for you & your loved ones...
Midnight= Kiss your spouse or loved one (ok I know we all do that)
Shake your coin purse: This is a tradition that my in-laws have, which now my husband & I do with our children. My mother-in-law says that they do this so that their coin purse always stays full.
Eating Pickled Herring: Because of their abundance in Western Europe and their silvery, coin-like coloring, it is a New Years’ Eve tradition to eat pickled herring at the stroke of midnight to ensure a year of bounty and prosperity.
Enjoying a glass of Champagne: This is a tradition that Dan & I brought into the mix. I don't really know the true history of this, but for us its because we like the taste.
So from my family to yours, we would like to wish you a VERY healthy, happy, peaceful Happy New Year! Cheers to 2012!
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