We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them. ~Hillary DePiano
The post from 12-28-23 addressed figuring out what’s important and weeding out the activities that don’t make the cut. This one is similar but deals with things we’ve always done, at least as far as we can remember. Not all of us, of course, but some of us have New Year’s Day traditions and prohibitions that we hang onto. What are they? I’ll start with those I keep.
Gibson-Perry family traditions
Frankly, I don’t know from which side of the family which traditions were handed down. Perhaps both. Based on my memory, either dinner (mid-day meal) or supper (which you might call dinner) included:
- Black-eyed peas, which symbolized coins and hog jowl, fatback or some other pig product — all of which includes fat, which used to be a prized commodity.
- Greens, and we usually had turnip greens. Some traditions dicate that collards are the stereotypical Southern dish. Maybe we couldn’t afford them. Maybe Mother or Daddy didn’t like them. Green is green and symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
- Pork because my readings, and the video below, mention that pigs can’t move backward, only forward. And we are moving into the new year. No choice. Let 2023 go. Embrace 2024. At least for a year.
- Cornbread. Don’t really need a reason for that. I don’t remember too many meals, outside breakfast that we didn’t eat cornbread. So, it’s a gold-ish color. Close enough.
Just before the end of 2023, when I was planning 1-1-24 meals, I began to wonder whether our family observed New Year’s Day the way other families do, so I asked, via a Facebook survey. Since all the questions allowed free-form responses, it’s impossible to do stats, but we still have some ideas. My family is typical in some ways and not in others. More on the latter way down close to the bottom of the post. Here’s what some of y’all said.
Food Traditions
More than anything else, options included greens, black-eyed peas, and pork. So, either the Southern tradition has migrated or it never was just a Southern thing. But some eschew the pork. Some:
- Nibble on leftovers from all the week’s festivities
- Dine out at a local club for dinner with the same two friends every year.
- Serve chili.
- Lobster (for Eve, not the Day).
- And then there was a twist – one family always puts a dime in the bottom of the pea pot while cooking. That’s a new one on me.
Activity Traditions
And then there are activities. Lots of football and old movies, but a bit of variety as well:
- For some empty nesters, it’s a leisurely drop-by kind of day. Yes, with football.
- Another family used to watch the NY ball drop, but for 2024 may have made a switch to a known quantity, such as an old movie to guarantee wholesome entertainment.
- Watching parades
- Hitting the slopes (the snow skiing kind, I think) with the kids before the crowds arrived.
Keep or kick to the curb
- The relaxed vibe after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
- One tradition was to make sure to have money in your pockets when ringing in the New Year to assure prosperity. Not working yet, but they want to keep it. Go figure. 😉
Kick: Only one thing was highlighted, and that was to move midnight to 10:00 p.m. Works for me.
And what would they (you?) like to start?
Relocate midnight to 10 p.m. That’s the time for the “midnight” kiss, the cheers, the toasts, the ball drops. And saying good night. I like it!
Start a better fitness regime! On New Year’s Day? No break. Yikes. Who are you? Likely one of my friends, but no. Just no.
Play puzzles and board games. I’m all for that. Best way to stay away, enjoy your company and make it easier to reach the snacks and a beverage. You’re already at the table.
Travel. Plan a tropical vacation. Go for it. I’ll be looking forward to seeing your photos while you’re gone.
This is so very strange. Not one person mentioned any blackmailing feature of their traditions. My family has at least one it’s serious about. Read on.
A handful of people responded that they didn’t have any traditions of any kind. I was surprised that so many of my friends aren’t saddled–yes, I said it–with does and don’ts for New Year’s Day. Trust me. I’m not complaining about the food. It’s the don’t do it or face consequences that pains me. For example, I can’t do laundry on New Year’s Day or something bad will happen to a family member. WHAT? I think this was an old wives’ tale–or a young wives’ tale–to get a break from doing laundry. And don’t sweep. You’ll be sweeping away your luck for the upcoming year. I had heard that before I read the Cosmopolitan article that mentions it. I could get down with that one.
I’m not a particularly superstitious person, so why do I continue to follow guidelines about food and doing all my laundry–including putting it away– by midnight on New Year’s Eve? I’m not sure, but I suspect it cements a connection to my childhood or my family members. Or it’s just familiar, and that feels as safe and comfortable one of my grandmother’s quilts I’ve been hanging onto for more than fifty years.
I probably have some habits, perhaps involuntarily executed, that have nothing to do with any holiday. Maybe following old paths makes me remember people in a way that feels like a hug.
Maybe you do, too.
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I did not respond because, I generally do not do traditions. The word traditions translates in my mind as being in a rut or doing something someone else thinks you should do…..I have a reputation to protect. Now get this. Having said that, this year……NOT in the past, I felt compelled to put on a pot of black eyed peas with a ham hock, pressure cook collard greens and make a pone of corn bread. Aided and abetted by a roasted pork tenderloin!
Sounds delish! Maybe you’ll do it again next year. 😉
I’m super surprised that no one mentioned cabbage/sauerkraut as a traditional New Year’s Day food. I was raised by my European- Ohio bred family to eat pork and kraut on that day for the promise of wealth during the year. While I don’t mind kraut once a year, a little bit goes a long way and I’d be happy to ditch that tradition in favor of your greens and black eyed peas. 😀
I love sauerkraut but haven’t thought about having it New Year’s. I have, however, had cabbage if I didn’t have anything else green to cook. I don’t see the distinction between one green vegetable and another, as far as luck goes. Or their efficacy for bringing us said luck. Sadly.
The mention of the dime reminded me that one of my sisters-in-law always had corned beef and cabbage on NYD, and she always put a dime in the pot. She came to us by way of New Jersey, no idea what her ethnic heritage was.
I just learned about Irish New Year this past week. I guess a lot of Irish bars in the US ring in the New Year at midnight Irish time, which would be perfect. I might adopt that one.
I don’t believe I’ve even tasted corned beef. Not even a smidgin of experience with that dish. I guess if it was considered a treat and not a frequent menu item, it would do as well as any pork. Who knows? The dime thing – never heard of that before last week at all. Puts a bit of a metallic taste in my mouth, though. Agree on the Irish New Year timing. And it would be fun to be in an Irish bar at the time – likely highly entertaining.