Before things went absolutely bonkers beneath a cloud of powdered sugar and flour at the bakery right before Christmas, there was a brief lull, during which my coworkers and I talked about our New Year’s Eve traditions — ya know, things our families do to ring in the New Year.
One tradition that seems to be shared by many families is that of cleaning the house to make it spic and span (or as close to it as possible) before January 1.
Now…I used to do this religiously every December 31. I’d get the floors so clean you could eat off them, but I let that one go a few years ago (around the time Connor Claire arrived)… I’m thinking about doing as much as I can today, though. I want to maximize my luck as we start a new decade. (Side note: When you have a small child, you live in a state of high-functioning exhaustion, always.)
Anyway, I’m going to do as much as I can before the new year starts.
One thing I like to do — which I carried over from my parents — happens right at the stroke of midnight, when we jump up and down and shout “Happy New Year!” repeatedly. Then we open the front door to welcome all of the good luck into our house and our lives. And you do this while holding your cat, of course, so she doesn’t escape into the night! 🙂
At my parents’ house, my mom also does these things, which I don’t know if they’re exclusive to her family or if they’re more of a Filipino thing, but she’ll put 13 coins underneath the welcome mat at the front door for good luck.
They’re usually pennies…but I don’t know if they specifically have to be pennies, or if you can mix and match your change, because my mom is a self-proclaimed cheapskate, and she’s not about to be putting silver dollars or quarters under the mat, LOL! So, yeah, she puts 13 pennies under the mat and leaves them there all year long, then replaces them with fresh coins every New Year’s Eve.
And she’ll also hang a bunch of grapes (13 to be exact!) in the middle of the front door jamb, where they’ll hang all year long. Again, she does this for good luck.
My coworker, who’s also Filipino, said that her family, in addition to opening up the front door and doing the thing with the grapes, would bang pots and pans to scare any evil sprits away at midnight. They’d also throw coins up the staircase (not sure why).
Oh, and food! Growing up, my mom would make this savory rice soup called arroz caldo. It wasn’t my favorite thing to eat because my mom always made it extra gingery, and I reeeeally don’t like ginger (I only like it in sweet baked goods), so I’d sit there and suffer through a few bites while everybody else devoured it.
How about you? What are your New Year’s Eve traditions?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Georgia Rose says
December 31st, 2019 at 7:56 amI’m not really a huge fan of NYE but for the past few years my auntie has thrown a bit of a New Years Eve party and I’ve really enjoyed it! That’s where I’m heading to tonight! Wishing you a very happy 2020! x
Georgia Rose | http://www.justgeorgiarose.com
Susan says
December 31st, 2019 at 12:23 pmWhen I was little, I lived in an extremely small town (about 200 people) and one of the families would host all of the local kids at their house for New Year’s Eve. We played pool and ping pong and just generally goofed off until almost midnight, then we would go to one of the churches and ring the bells in the tower exactly at midnight. Each kid got a turn at ringing the bell. They don’t do that anymore, but the same family still hosts children at their house on NYE, and they now bang pots and pans while yelling “Happy New Year” up and down the streets of town. It’s funny as I got to do this when I was a child, then my son was able to do the same a few years ago.
Tatiana says
December 31st, 2019 at 2:57 pmPeople have New Year’s traditions? My family did nothing as a child growing up. Then again my mom was a caterer and usually worked new year’s eve and when I was in high school I worked for her. So many memories of rude, drunk dudes spilling drinks all over me and pretending to help me wipe it up and grabbing me and trying to kiss me. Ugh. No wonder I still hate the day.
Now I make lentil soup on New Year’s day because I heard somewhere that the roundness of the lentils are like coins and is supposed bring you prosperity in the New Year. So far it hasn’t worked. (Not that I’m complaining because I have a roof over my head, a functioning auto, I’m not starving and Dear Husband is the best husband in the whole world and Dear Daughter is pretty awesome, too.)
We usually go out to dinner and then fall asleep between 9 and 10. I usually go for a run or do a workout on the January 1st. I figure if I start the year off exercising it might continue the whole way through.
Karen says
January 1st, 2020 at 11:16 amI love me some lentil soup! I would love a bowl with some crusty homemade bread, yum.
Where did you guys go out to dinner?
We kept it low key last night. El Hub made homemade gluten-free teriyaki ground beef for us and rice, and then we ended up falling asleep on the couch at 10. Woke up at 11:45 to ring in the new year, then promptly passed out afterwards.
Tatiana says
January 1st, 2020 at 7:01 pmThe soup was good. Didn’t make bread, but I do have levain from both Acme and Manresa bread. Dear Husband loves bread. I swear if I didn’t cook he’d live off of bread, PB, pizza and apples.
Karen says
January 1st, 2020 at 8:17 pmI ate at Manresa once! I remember it being quite fancy and very good.
Do you have a good bread recipe? This one is mine:
https://www.laurainthekitchen.com/recipes/no-knead-rustic-dutch-oven-bread/
Tatiana says
January 1st, 2020 at 10:09 pmLucky you! I’ve never eaten at Manresa. Dear Husband drives to one of their bakeries in Los Altos once a week to get bread.
I haven’t made bread in ages. But I’ll try yours next time I’m in the mood to bake bread.
Karen says
January 2nd, 2020 at 6:38 amI’m not usually into super fancy meals, but a couple of my friends are, so I ended up going just for the heck of it. It was quite a few years ago, so I don’t really remember what I ate, but I do remember enjoying the bread. Carbs 4 life!
This recipe is SO easy and foolproof; the hardest part is waiting for it rise overnight.
Ruchita says
December 31st, 2019 at 2:59 pmThose sound like some fun traditions! I had to laugh at the one about banging pots and pans together. I can totally see the cats getting big eyed and bushy tailed at that one!
I’m planning on having a low key night at home. It’s cold and snowy outside so I just want to stay cozy and warm tonight. Hope you have a wonderful NYE!
Karen says
January 1st, 2020 at 11:13 amWe did, Ruchita! We ended up staying in, which was fine with me (and fine with Rosie). 🙂 What are you up to today? It’s overcast but dry here so we might go for a walk. I have to clean up the Christmas tree too. So low key and mellow!
Ruchita says
January 1st, 2020 at 12:05 pmHappy New Year! I ended up doing some cleaning today. I go back to work tomorrow so I wanted the house to be tidy before getting back to the normal routine. It’s actually quite sunny here today so I might bundle up and take Louis for a walk. Does Rosie show any interest in going outside? Hope you have a relaxing day!
Karen says
January 1st, 2020 at 2:23 pmOooh, Ruchita! Funny you should ask that, because Connor and I were at Petco yesterday buying Rosie some food, and we saw the CUTEST little harness/dress (it had ruffles, a pink bow *and* a rose print). We didn’t buy it because I don’t know yet if Rosie has lived with us long enough to develop her kitty “homing beacon,” but when the weather gets warmer, I’m going to start doing some training. She’s very food motivated, so I hoping we’ll have some success.
How was your walk with Louis?
Ruchita says
January 1st, 2020 at 3:58 pmAww, that harness sounds adorable! I think being food motivated should definitely help with the training. 🙂
And I know what you mean about the homing beacon! I’m glad all the boys are strays because they used to come around regular for food before coming inside. If for some reason they got out, I hope they would remember where they used to come for meals.
You know, Louis was napping so peacefully on the couch I just stayed in and snuggled with him. Our winter has been pretty mild, so I’ll take him out this weekend.
Karen says
January 1st, 2020 at 8:19 pmIt was super cute. I hope that it’s still there when I go back! It was super girly and very much her style.
Super cute that Louis lets your snuggle with him, awww. 🙂
CL says
December 31st, 2019 at 6:54 pmMy parents used to eat black-eyed peas every New Year’s Day. This is a southern tradition they grew up with. It was supposed to bring luck, but judging from experience, I would say that’s a failed superstition.
Karen says
January 1st, 2020 at 11:11 amI lived with some roommates from the south for a bit in the early 2000s, and for New Year’s one of the girls made black-eyed peas with a penny in the pot. Whoever found the penny was supposed to have extra good luck that year! (I never got it.)
Happy New Year, CL!
Anne says
January 2nd, 2020 at 4:57 amWe watch “Dinner for One” (a total German thing) and eat and then go outside to watch the fireworks.
I do clean my home to have a fresh start in the New Year too, but I am pretty sure I did not get that one as a family tradition…
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