We were invited to a party with friends on New Year's Eve, but had already decided last year that we wanted to be home to ring in the new year at 10:00 so we could celebrate with New York and do our own special traditions.
The party was great, with good friends, good food, and an air hockey tournament. We came in 2nd. So at about 9:45 we raced home (more like ice skated home in the truck since it was a whopping three degrees outside) and turned on the t.v. to get ready. The girls danced to the music on t.v. and we got out the silly horns. We didn't even bother taking our coats off, but you'll see why in a minute.
We were really shocked when the New Year's Eve specials turned off without showing us the ball that drops. LAME. But we can always rely on the spanish stations to come through for us, so we counted down on Univision. Good thing we like spanish t.v.
1. You have to eat 12 grapes at midnight, 1 representing each month of the year. You are supposed to say the name of the month and eat the grape with each stroke of the clock. If the grape is sweet, that will be a good month for you that year, and if it's sour, well you better beware. We had jumbo grapes and knew the girls couldn't do it, so we made it a family effort with twelve grapes in a bowl to share. (I didn't find out the purpose of this tradition till the next day, so we'll do a little better than this next year.)
4. One of our favorites, the hispanics get a suitcase and run a circle around the outside of the house. This is supposed to bring you good travel throughout the year. Gabriela was most excited about this tradition. Since we can't really make a circle around the house because of the fence, and because of the ice and snow, we thought it best to make a run from the garage door, down the driveway and up through the front door. Once inside they all wanted to do it again. But we whisked them all off to bed instead.
SO THOSE ARE THE GOOD ONES!!!
Now let me tell you what happened on New Year's Day. In the South, and apparently it is only in the South, you have a traditional dinner with blackeyed peas, collards, and cornbread. The peas bring you luck, the collards bring you money, and the cornbread brings you prosperity. Well I never ate the collards growing up. Just can't stomach the boiled leafy vegetables like that. Perhaps that's why I've always been broke. But that being said, I did attempt the black eyed peas, with brocolli casserole (that's still green right?) and pork chops. I didn't realize I was supposed to have cornbread until it was too late. I had prepared the girls for what was to come and why were eating it, but you would have thought I was torturing them when we sat down to eat.
They gagged. They whined. They cried. But, I made them eat it!
I realized watching them, that some traditions are not worth keeping. I felt bad for them. So unless your kids have an adventurous pallete. Don't try this at home. We'll have to figure out something new for next year.
Anyways, Happy New Year to everyone. Hope it's a great one!
1 comment:
That's cool to know the reason for the grape tradition. And I love that you actually sent the kids running outside in the cold. They'll remember that one for sure.
Post a Comment