EMBRACING THE REAL

NEW YEAR'S TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Chances are, you're familiar with the most popular New Year's traditions: kissing at midnight, making resolutions, and watching the ball drop in Times Square. New Years is a time for new beginnings, and what better way to start the year off than by learning about some of the different ways that people around the world celebrate this special occasion.

From feasting on lucky foods to participating in wacky customs, there's no shortage of traditions to choose from. So, whether you're looking for some New Years inspiration or just curious to know how others celebrate, read on for a glimpse into how people ring in the new year all across the globe.

But did you know that New Year's is celebrated differently in other countries? In this article, we'll take a look at some of the most interesting New Year's customs from around the world. Chances are, you'll never look at your own celebration in quite the same way again!

So, whether you're looking for some new ideas to add to your own celebration or just curious about how other cultures ring in the new year, read on!

In Scotland, Hogmanay is the name of the New Year's Eve celebration. And there are a few traditions associated with Hogmanay that may seem a bit strange to outsiders. For example, one tradition is called "firstfooting." This involves going to a neighbor's house immediately after midnight and being the first person to cross their threshold in the new year. The purpose of first-footing is to bring good luck to the household for the year ahead. To that end, it's considered good luck if the first-footer is a tall, dark-haired man carrying a lump of coal, a piece of bread, or a bottle of whisky.

One popular Japanese New Year's tradition is called Otoshidama, which translates literally to "money gift." On New Year's Day, children receive small envelopes filled with money from their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The amount of money varies depending on the relationship between the child and giver—but it always comes in odd numbers because even numbers are associated with death ... Yikes!

In Greece, people smash plates on their friend's and neighbor's doors. I think in Greece they just like to break a lot of dishes no matter what time of year. The belief is that the more noise you make, the more luck you'll have in the new year. In Ireland, people believe that if you sit in silence at midnight on New Year's Eve, you'll be able to hear far-off footsteps. These footsteps are thought to belong to either a loved one who has passed away or to future spouse.

In Italy, people give each other gifts of colorful underwear on New Year's Eve. It is said that wearing red underwear will bring good luck with love in the new year, while yellow underwear will bring good luck with money.

In Latvia, girls write their names on pieces of paper and put them under their pillows before they go to sleep on New Year's Eve. It is said that whichever boy's name appears in their dreams will be their future husband.

In Puerto Rico, as in Spain, people eat twelve grapes at midnight—one grape for each month of the upcoming year. It is believed that doing so will ensure a prosperous year ahead. Scene from Barb Briggs' film, Indifference. In England, people believe that whatever you first set your eyes upon in the new year will determine your fate for the entire year to come. As such, many people leave their homes at midnight and run outside to greet the new year with open arms.

Burning Effigies in Ecuador - In Ecuador, people burn effigies (dolls made to look like real people) of politicians and public figures who have displeased them during the past year. The dolls are eventually covered in gasoline and set ablaze in a event that's part street party, part primal scream therapy session!

Gift-Giving Men in Denmark - On New Year's Eve, Danish children wait anxiously by the door for a visit from a jolly man named "Nisse." Nisse leaves small gifts for well-behaved children and potatoes for those who have misbehaved.

Throwing Old Dishware Out the Window in Poland - In Poland, people open their windows and shake out their rugs at midnight on New Year's Eve. Then, they step outside and slam pots and pans together to drive out evil spirits. They also blow horns and whistle to make as much noise as possible!

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Wearing Red Underwear in Chile – MMmm more underwear. It is believed that wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve will bring love and good fortune in the coming year. So if you're single and looking for love, this Chilean custom just might be worth trying! Here’s one of our favorites. Carrying Suitcases Around the Block in Cuba - Cubans believe that by carrying an empty suitcase around their block on New Year's Eve, they will be blessed with many travels in the coming year.

Downing Pints of Guinness in Ireland – Well no surprises here! At midnight on New Year's Eve, Irish pubs all over Ireland serve up extra pint glasses of Guinness beer because it is said that each drop of Guinness brings good luck. Cheers to that!

"La ENTRAÑA" or Eating a Piece of Raw Beef Tenderloin Spain - Spaniards believe that eating a piece of raw beef tenderloin at midnight on New Year's Eve will bring good luck and prosperity throughout the coming year. If you're feeling brave enough to try this custom, be sure to buy your beef from a reputable butcher!

Well, there you have it. A long list of some long held New Years traditions you may want to incorporate as your own in the coming New Year.

So, whether you celebrate New Year's Eve with a bang or a quiet night at home, there's no doubt that this holiday is a special time of year. And while many of our own traditions might seem normal to us, they can seem downright bizarre to people from other cultures.

Keep in mind, no matter where in the world you are or how you choose to celebrate it, New Years is a time for fresh starts and beginning anew. Whether you're looking to try something new this year or simply curious about how others celebrate around the globe, we hope this article has provided you with some interesting insights and ideas into how different cultures ring in the new year.

And no matter how you choose to ring in 2023, we hope you have a happy and safe new year!

Cheers!

EMBRACING THE REAL ESTATE JOURNEY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

BY CHRISTINE COWERN

My journey from solo realtor to team leader to coach definitely wasn’t a linear one, but looking back I’m so glad that everything happened the way it did. Because every big move kept me in a space of expansion and growth - two things that I put so much value in.

Back in 2007 when I began my career in real estate, if you’d told me that 5 years later I’d start and grow a real estate team, I may not have believed you. I’d moved back to my home city of Toronto after years of living away - it really felt like I was starting my life over again. So much of what I did in the first few years was hustle - to build my friend group and my client list and start establishing a name for myself in the incredibly competitive market I was working in.

And then I started figuring out what I loved doing and didn’t like doing as much (or wasn’t the best use of my time and skills). And I hired my first admin. As an A-type driver, delegating didn’t come naturally for me but I kept at it, and eventually freed up much more time to focus on what I did best - building relationships and serving clients at a high level.

My business grew from there - next by hiring an agent on my brand new team, then another and another. My team was growing and winning awards (we were consistently in the Top 1-2% for sales volume, something I definitely didn’t take lightly) so I brought on a managing partner to help me run things - which was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

And then something happened in 2019 that was the catalyst to help me re-evaluate where I wanted the next chapter of my life to lead me. My son, who at the time of writing this is 3 years old, was born.

My real estate business was rewarding on many levels but I knew deep down that it was time to challenge myself again, get out of my comfort zone and try something new. I also wanted to stop working the long hours that came with selling - with 12-hour days being the norm. And so I made the very scary decision at the time to stop working with clients in the field and only focus on managing and growing my team.

That one decision freed me up to focus on another budding passion of mine - coaching women in real estate to create high-performing businesses and teams. And so my coaching business was born. Now, I wake up every day so excited to serve women in business while also doing what I love for my team.

Looking back, although my journey wasn’t always an easy one, every new direction built upon the one before it and capitalized on my strengths and my passions. It’s been the most fun, challenging, rewarding ride I’ve ever been on - and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Connect with Christine Website: christinecowerncoaching.com Instagram: instagram.com/realchristinecowern Facebook: fb.com/christinecowernrealestatecoach

DIY GLITTER MASON JAR ARRANGEMENT

BY ELLI JESPERSON

Once Christmas is past, it can be a little hard to decide which decorations should fill the empty spaces. This glittery, DIY winter arrangement is perfect for the new year and will keep things cheery even in the middle of winter. Pull out the glitter, Mason jars and your favourite flowers for this winter arrangement, perfect for ringing in the New Year.

GLITTER MASON JAR INSTRUCTIONS

SUPPLIES • Mason Jar(s) • Metallic Spray Paint (your color of choice) • Mod Podge • Paint Brush • Glitter (your color of choice) • Paper Plate

• First, hold the inside of the mason jar and spray paint the entire outside, then wait for it to dry. • Once the mason jar is dry, brush the bottom quarter to bottom half of the mason jar with mod podge.

Make sure it is somewhat even around all sides. • Next, take the jar of glitter and sprinkle it on the mod podge while it is still wet. • Once the glitter is set and dried on the mod podge, coat the layer of glitter once more with mod podge.

This will ensure that the glitter will stay on the jar.

This will take a while to dry, so be patient! • Finally, use anything you want to fill the mason jars with. Check out the instructions to create a beautiful flower arrangement or centerpiece with these beautiful glitter mason jars!

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ARRANGEMENT INSTRUCTIONS

SUPPLIES • Mason Jar • floral sheers • 2 different kinds of flowers • bundle of greenery

Additional items you may want to add: • Ribbon, twine, or special accents from your own craft closet.

1. GETTING STARTED • Gather all your supplies and add clean water to your mason jar. Fill mason jar about 3/4 full of water. • Remember to add the floral food to your water!

This extends the life of your flowers because it lowers the PH of the water. • Consider the size and shape of your container.

Flowers should be no more than 1 to 1-1/2 times the height of your vase.

2. ADD GREENS • Greens create the shape for your arrangement and will help to hold everything in place. • Use greens to cover the base of the vase and

Keep turning your vase as you add greens, so they radiate outwards. • When arranging stems, play with different heights to create dramatic negative space in your arrangement.

3. ADD FLORALS • Place flowers at varying heights to create interest - placing them all at the same level may cause your arrangement to appear flat. • Insert flowers at a 45-degrees to create a natural look and angle outwards so you can see the blooms. • Use the shape of the flowers and show movement.

It doesn’t have to be symmetrical! • Open space is as much a part of the arrangement as the flowers themselves; overcrowding is chaotic and displeasing to the eye. • Remember to continually turn your vase and look at the arrangement from all sides to make sure it looks balanced from every angle. 4. FINISHING TOUCHES • Use the smaller flowers and leftover greenery to fill in between areas where there aren’t any flowers and to help give the arrangement a finished look. • Watch where your eye stops in the design, shift flowers slightly, raise or lower them to adjust the look. • Be sure to add fresh water to your arrangement every day. Remove any dead or dying flowers to keep your arrangement looking fresh for longer.

Elli Jesperson is an acclaimed florist based out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She has been in the floral industry for over 30 years and owns Small Flower {floral studio}. Get your botanical wreath kit or check out her upcoming floral workshops by visiting smallflower.ca