Looking to the New Year
As long as it isn’t fatal, and it’s supposed to bring good luck for the New Year, The Legal Genealogist is gonna try it.
After a year like this one, even if I hate it, I’ll do it or eat it or wear it.
Anything for luck.
Which of course is going to mean a fairly weird New Year’s Day around these parts.
First, a very weird menu is being planned, to accommodate the family traditions for luck in the New Year.
From my father’s German tradition, the menu has to include pork and sauerkraut. From my mother’s southern tradition, black-eyed peas, corn bread, and greens.
Some of that can be combined in the southern classic Hoppin’ John, but the rest of it… well…
Friends from Spain tell me to add grapes to the menu.
Friends whose roots run deep in the Middle East say to add pomegranate.
Then there will be some fairly weird activities.
Friends from Brazil tell me I need to wear white.
Friends from Denmark tell me I need to smash a plate.
Friends from Colombia tell me to carry an empty suitcase around the block — or at least around the house.
And somebody — a tired housewife I am sure — says it’s good luck not to wash dishes or laundry on New Year’s Day.
Count me in.
On all of ’em.
Whether it’s my family’s tradition or somebody else’s family tradition, it’s worth a try.
I’ll try anything that might make 2021 a better safer healthier year for us all.
What are your family’s traditions for luck for the New Year — and are you adding to them for 2021?
I sure am.
I swear.
Anything for a better 2021.
For us all for the New Year.
For luck.
Cite/link to this post: Judy G. Russell, “For luck,” The Legal Genealogist (https://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog : posted 26 Dec 2020).
My Bavarian family believed that eating herring at midnight on New Year’s eve brought good luck.
I insist on cream cheese and onions for breakfast on New Years Day.
New Years Day growing up, my grandfather always made MonteCristo sandwiches with leftover ham and turkey and Grandma’s homemade egg bread. Mmmmm.
“First footing” (or the “first foot” in the house after midnight on New Years Day) is still common across Scotland. To ensure good luck for the house the first foot should be a dark-haired male, and he should bring with him symbolic pieces of coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and a wee dram of whisky.
I love the idea, but think this would be tough in a pandemic…
In Scotland, first footing. The first person to enter the house in the New Year should be a tall dark-haired man bringing a coin, bread, salt, coal and whisky.
That one might be a bit tough in a pandemic…
Definitely pork and sauerkraut! Eating anything else for New Years Day dinner is not an option!