By Deby Jo Ferguson
Staff Writer
As the new year is creeping upon us many are planning parties, new year resolutions, waiting patiently as the ball drops in Time Square in New York City or locally in the past I went to the opossum dropping at Clays Corner in Clay County.
I always enjoyed our local event because there was lots of music, friends, a womanless beauty contest and a cleansing of homes in the area. I can remember it being so cold sometimes we all stood shaking in our boots waiting on the lowering of the opossum who was later released. That opossum had a better life in the hands of Clay Logan in my opinion because it ate well and probably ended up as road kill by morning. Not a good year for the opossum.
Traditions come in many forms depending on where you live. In the south most people wouldn’t dream of celebrating a New Year’s day with eating collards, corn bread and black-eyed peas.
The old saying goes black-eyed peas represent round coins, collard greens brings paper money and cornbread brings gold. Asking around most people I know wouldn’t take a chance on messing up any dreams of good fortune for the upcoming year. As far as I’m concerned the cornbread itself is pure gold.
What about the world around us? Here are some shared traditions in the United States and other countries.
In years past history teaches us that the Pennsylvania Dutch ate mainly fresh pork was the New Year’s feast because of the winter butchering of the hog and sauerkraut because winter time was when cabbage was harvested.
The people of Spain usually watch a broadcast from Puerta del Sol in Madrid, gathering around the square’s clock to bring in the New Year. It’s said at the stroke of midnight they eat one grape everytime the clock strikes to bring good luck in the coming year.
In Poland and parts of Scandinavia, herring is considered good luck because of it’s silver color. At the stroke of midnight they eat pickled herring to bring a year of prosperity. It is made by soaking whole salt herrings in water for 24 hours and then layering them in a jar with onions, allspice, sugar and white vinegar.
If you go to the Netherlands you might eat oliebollen,which are “oil balls” on New Year’s Eve as a way to line your stomach with oil as a shield against the historical attack of a mythical evil goddess. They are actually tasty round donuts.
In Mexico ladies will make bunches of little tamales and share with family and friends. On New Year’s day it’s usually served with a type of hominy soup which is also known to be good for hangovers.
I found this about Austria and neighbor Germany. They call New Year’s Eve Sylvesterabend or the eve of Saint Sylvester. They drink a red wine punch with cinnamon and spices and eat suckling pig. They also decorate the table with little pigs made of marzipan, called marzipanschwein.
Italians celebrate New Year’s Eve with La Festa di San Silvestro, sausage and lentil stew that is said to bring good luck. The lentils are for good fortune. The meals usually include fried dough balls rolled in hones and powdered sugar.
If pasta and noodles is your thing you can go to Japan for New Year’s Eve. You would find yourself eating a bowl of toshiboshi soba which is also known as “year-end-noodles” made of buckwheat and symbolizes longevity.
The New Year’s Greek tradition of hanging a bag of onions on your door is to symbolize growth and rebirth. It was the ultimate sign for luck and fertility.
If in Germany you might ring in the New Year with a big soft pretzel for good luck, health and prosperity in the year ahead. According to History.com, children in the 17th century also wore pretzel necklaces on New Year’s.
Some traditions don’t include food but is said to bring good luck in different parts of the world. In Columbia if you have a notion to travel, one would pack a bag and on Dec. 31 take a walk round the block carrying the bag. This is said to reward you with travel experiences the upcoming year.
In Denmark, after holding on to chipped or unwanted glassware on New Year’s Eve they smash them against the front doors of their friends and families house. It’s considered a show of one’s popularity to have a bunch of broken glass on your front porch.
Even with today’s ecomomy this one is considered to bring good fortune. If you live in Chile you put a luca which is a $1,000 peso note into your shoe before it turns midnight brings you fortune in the months to come.
Whether you’re eating, drinking, partying or just setting home watching the ball drop at midnight on TV I hope the upcoming year brings you health, happiness and all your needs are met during 2025.