Lisa Pawlak
New Year’s Customs Many of us in the U.S. ring in the new year by watching the ball drop in Times Square, kissing loved ones at midnight, and making resolutions (or setting intentions) to improve health and productivity. We also often gather with friends and family for shared food, drink and merriment. If you grew up in the south, a meal including Hoppin’ John (black-eyed peas), collard greens and cornbread is likely on the menu. Some people celebrate New Year’s with traditions from other cultures. My family, for example, eats 12 seeded grapes at midnight. This is supposedly for luck, but mostly we do it to honor my husband’s Panamanian heritage. In Panama, and throughout many Latin American countries, it is also common to burn muñecos (life-size effigies made of straw) to destroy evil spirits and make way for good fortune in the new year. No matter your background, establishing New Year’s traditions within your family is important. Just 28 • SanDiegofamily.com • December 2021
like adults, kids benefit from signaling closure to the previous year and starting out fresh. To help discover new ideas, here are some of the many ways that people celebrate around the globe.
Eat Special Foods
Many choose to welcome in the new year by eating special foods. Along with eating grapes at my house, my family enjoys cheese fondue, something that I grew up with after living in Switzerland as a young child. Another Swiss tradition is to drop a dollop of ice cream on the floor at midnight, intended to invite a year of abundance. In Japan, one food-related custom is to eat toshikoshi (year-end) soba noodles on New Year’s Eve, usually at home with family and friends. On New Year’s Day, a meticulously prepared feast called O-sechi ryori can be served to welcome in good luck, prosperity, and health for the coming year.
In Greece, Vasilopita (a type of cake) is baked with a gold or silver coin inside, then served at midnight. Whoever gets the slice with the coin is slated to have good luck all year long. San Diego mom Vincian Van Moer shares that she grew up eating heartshaped cake on New Year’s Eve in Belgium, followed by cider and galettes (waffle cookies) the next day.
Get Dressed Up
Around the world, people often don their finest outfits to celebrate the new year. According to Encinitas resident Olivier Bourgeot, there’s an expression for this in France, “se mettre sur son 31.” Roughly translated, this means “getting dressed up for New Year’s Eve.” Brazilians, who are known for celebrating New Year’s in massive style, often wear white to designate peace and prosperity. At midnight, people near the beach run into the water (clothes
