2008 NEW YEAR'S EVE for 2009 Ridiculously Good Happiness and Success

The whole conversation had started in my mind a couple days ago and culminated in a frank chat with my roomie the other night. Y'see, this is the thing- I've been thinking that I'm here at this place in life and since this is where I am, I want to make sure it's not a lame place to be. Being lame just would be plain lame.

The choice then to not make the mistake of having a lame jane (not that I feel any form of prejudice to any Jane's out there) New Year's Eve seemed like an obvious thing not to do. Actually, my thought was to do the thing on New Year's which would put me on the best path to ridiculously good happiness and success in 2009. Having experienced years past of great "typical" New Year's celebrations, we figured we should try for something atypical, and thus the research began. Turns out, there are many cultural traditions in the world that when done, all point to a year of prosperity and joy. And since I didn't know which one exactly would be "just the thing" tradition to make 2009 not lame, preparations were made for all of the top traditions to be fulfilled. And my New Year yesterday into this morning became a

2009 New Year's Eve Traditions Bonanza!


Let me outline what occurred:

Our only rule comes from the Vietnamese tradition of "Tet" requiring everyone to remain happy during the New Years Celebration to ward off bad luck in the upcoming year.

• In Mexico, women wear red underwear if they wish to marry in the New Year, and pink is worn by pregnant women to bring luck to the baby. I don't have a lot of color options in my underwear choices, so red ribbons tied on my bra seemed like the obvious choice. Kinda fun to secretly wear red ribbons all day on your bra. Note: I do however have a pink bra, but I didn't want to confuse fate and end up with a baby before I got me a man. (A red bra will be purchased in 2009 for just in case moments just like this)



• Also, traditionally in Latin America, those hoping to travel, carry an empty suitcase around the block. As the clock struck 12, we merrily marched down the neighborhood block ringing bells, shouting "Happy New Year", and carrying my empty carry-on and empty garment bag. (I'm so excited to see where my travels will take me!)




• Many people in Spain and Latin countries eat 12 grapes at midnight, as a bell is rung 12 times. Each grape represents a month of the year. By eating them at midnight one hopes to have happiness and luck for the next 12 months. Down the hatch went the grapes!










• Mini chocolate donuts were munched on because in many cultures they believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle". The Dutch thus eat donuts believing it will bring good fortune.



• Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. They too graced our holiday dinner table.





• Everyone knows chinese food is a staple of typical New Year's food choices. We dined locally. Although the usually good choice of a restaurant was overwhelmed by the volume of customers and the food wasn't the best, the time out was enjoyed and two important New Year's traditions were fulfilled. There was cabbage in the entree and of course rice. Cabbage leaves are considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency and rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.

*My fortune read, "A romantic mystery will soon add fortune to your life."*


• I placed a flower in my car on New Years Day because in the Hindu religious celebration of Diwali cars are decorated with flowers and palm leaves to bless the vehicles to run well in the new year.


• Scully lit a candle and let it burn through the evening. Vietnamese people light candles to honor their deceased relatives whom they believe return during Tet. (Vietnamese term used for New Year's celebration).
  
• People in Japan really know how to ring in the New Year! (They might just be my favorite.) They hold forgetting-year parties to say goodbye to the old year. They also forgive friends and family for any misunderstandings and disagreements they may have had that year so they can make a clean start of the new year. ***ABSOLUTELY this was my favorite part of the celebration*** Each of us spent almost an hour doing a free writing therapeutic exercise (yes, I'm a therapist and proud of it) expressing hurt, resentments, anger, fear, forgiveness, wishes, goals, hopes, and desires. Then as part of our midnight celebrations, we took them out in the backyard and lit them on fire symbolizing letting go of the bad and welcoming in a fresh new start. The ashes were then returned to Mother Earth as fertilizer.




• Japanese also ring a bell 108 times to chase away 108 troubles. They people all laugh after the gongs because laughter will drive away the bad spirits. With all the bad spirits gone and troubles and enemies forgiven, they enjoy a day of celebration. During our empty luggage parade down the street, we rang the bells 108 times chasing it all away, and trust me, we LAUGHED!


• I hid money gifts inside our Vienna rolls following the Armenian women tradition of kneading bread and pressing in wishes for good luck and prosperity. Greeks also press small trinkets in their bread symbolizing good luck and wishes for the lucky guy who found it.


• Notice the beautiful dolls we made. In Bolivia families make beautiful little wood or straw dolls to hang outside their homes to bring good luck. Our proud creations are still hung outside welcoming in the new year.




• This morning, actually around eleven, for New Year's breakfast, I served myself up a pile of pancakes, just as the French do on New Year's and settled in to watch the rest of the Rose Bowl Parade, just as us Americans do.


• We did watch the ball drop in New York on Dick Clark's Rocking New Year's Eve show. And I'll admit, Dick is a legend, it's his holiday, but I'm always sooo much more taken by Anderson Cooper's dimples! Ode to my secret crush on Anderson...




• Romanians had a tradition of listening to hear if the farm animals talked on New Years Day. If the animals talked it was considered bad luck so they are relived when they do not hear any talking animals. I'm happy to report that once the bells started ringing at midnight, we didn't see or hear Lilly the Kitty for the remainder of the celebration.



• And finally, raise your glass (mug this year) of Martinelli's Sparkling Cider to a New Year's toast for "ONE FINE OH NINE!"

Welcome to my 2009.