Good morning, neighbor!
Here we are less than three days away from the new year, and after the year we’ve had, I’m hoping it will only get better, especially with the promise of a COVID-19 vaccine for everyone on the horizon. It may take several months before it gets to all of us — and then each of us will have to make up our own minds about it — but maybe by this time next year, we will be back to “normal,” celebrating the holidays with friends and family members.
I was reading about some of the New Year’s good luck traditions and found quite a few I’d never heard of before. We can probably all agree that a little luck might be just what we need moving forward. I learned that in some countries what you’re wearing at the stroke of midnight will affect your luck, wealth, health and love life for the 12 months of that year, while in other countries it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, but what you’re doing.
Food traditions are always a big part of the celebration. Beans, fish and grapes are some pretty important foods for some cultures. Some of my best memories from childhood are of my parents’ annual New Year’s Day party and the food they served. It started around noon and, if I remember correctly, ended at 8 or 9 p.m.
My parents never went out on New Year’s Eve — at least I don’t remember them doing so. Instead, they spent the evening getting ready for the following day’s huge celebration at the apartment I grew up in on Second Street in Turners Falls.
We’d have finger rolls filled with egg, ham and tuna salad. My mom made the absolute best potato salad. To this day, as close as my sister Dorothy and I have come, we’ve never quite gotten it to taste exactly the way she did. We had meat and cheese platters, hot dishes and much more. Then, of course, there was dessert, whether it was cake or pies or cookies. We grazed all day.
Though the food was something I waited for all throughout the holiday season, the part I enjoyed the most was the people. My grandparents, aunt and uncle and cousins would come every year, and so would my extended family — the Fritzes and Brunelles — and our friends. It was always such a joyous time. Everyone was happy, laughing, hugging and kissing “hello” and “good-bye.” For some, it was the only time each year that we got to see each other.
It went on for many years, but once my grandmother, who we called Bonnie, died in 1970, so too did the parties. Many of my older relatives, including my mom and dad, are gone and unfortunately we never continued the yearly celebration.
In some cultures, it is said that anyone who makes a dish of black-eyed peas, pork and rice on Jan. 1 will experience luck and peace for that entire year, and maybe even prosperity. Fish is also a dish some cultures make on New Year’s Day. I didn’t realize the reason is because fish only swim forward, representing the movement of time.
No looking back. Only forward. Especially this year.
In Brazil, everyone wears white on New Year’s Eve. It brings luck and peace to those who do. Also, those in Brazil who go to the beach on New Year’s can increase their luck. Jump over seven waves and you get one wish for each. It doesn’t say whether they come true, though.
In Denmark, broken dishes are a good thing. People break dishes on the doorsteps of their friends and family — the more shards there are in front of a home the next day, the luckier and more well-liked that person is. In Spain, people eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight for good luck.
In Colombia, people carry empty suitcases and run around the block as fast as they can with them. It “guarantees” a year filled with travel. Wouldn’t we all love to be able to do a little of that next year?
A common superstition that I have heard of but have never tried is to open all windows and doors to let the old year out and the new one in. Maybe that’s one we should all try this year. I’m more than ready to escort the old one out, and I can’t wait to see what the new one brings.
Finally, the one we are all probably most familiar with is the tradition of kissing someone when the clock strikes 12. From what I read in The Washington Post, the tradition is borrowed from English and German folklore, which states the first person with whom a person comes in contact dictates the year’s destiny. That could be a good or bad thing, I suppose.
There are many more, but I think you get the idea. Maybe you can start some of your own traditions this year. Maybe you have already done so. If you have, please write to me and let me know what they are, because I’d love to share them with our neighbors.
And let’s not forget about resolutions. I haven’t decided what mine will be this year — there are just too many to choose from and I need to whittle it down to something manageable. Otherwise, I’ll drive myself crazy trying to meet my own expectations. I don’t want to set myself up for failure.
Of course, there’s always the losing weight or quitting a vice, but I’ve known some people in the past who have gotten really creative with theirs. As with the traditions, also let me know if you have any creative or unique resolution(s) this year. I’d love to hear from as many of you as possible.
Until then, take care, stay safe and have a wonderful, happy and healthy New Year. Let’s turn this around and make 2021 the best yet.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.