How Different Cultures Ring in the New Year

As we prepare to ring in 2008, many of us are getting ready to celebrate New Year's Day by following various New Year's traditions. Besides the American tradition of parades and bowl games, New Year's Day is celebrated by a diversity of traditions in different part of our country, as well as worldwide.

Traditional Southern Good Luck Foods on New Year's Day

*Black-eyed Peas--- Where I grew up in Texas New Year's Day just wasn't complete without black-eyed peas. Served with hog jowls or ham, black-eyed peas are pegged with good fortune because the hog and its meat are linked with prosperity. Why black-eyed peas? The tradition traces its roots back to the Civil War when the Yankees were rampaging the Georgia Confederates. When General Sherman's troops were told "to make Georgia howl" by living off the land, they tore down all they needed, wiping out everything else, stealing hogs, cattle, and chickens, as well as digging up vegetable gardens. But, they left the black-eyed peas alone. Because the southerners didn't starve with black-eyed peas, it's been considered to be a special food in the south, brining good luck.

*Hog jowls and ham---Black-eyed peas are usually served with hog jowls and ham as these meats are also linked with prosperity.

* Cabbage and rice----Cabbage and rice are other "good luck" foods. It's believed that eating cabbage on New Year's Day brings good fortune as cabbage leaves are a sign of prosperity because they represent paper currency.

Chinese Dumplings

Chinese people have a tradition of eating a food called "Jiaozi", (similar to a dumpling) at the stroke of midnight, ringing in the New Year. The golden dumpling has its roots in an old fable connected with the hope of finding treasure in heaven.

Southeast Asia---Releasing Birds and Turtles

When you think of New Year's Day in Southeast Asia, your thoughts turn to flying flocks of birds and crawling turtles. Just as southerners and Texans eat black-eyed peas for good luck on New Year's Day, people in Southeast Asia, people release birds and turtles in hopes of finding prosperity in the coming New Year.

Polar Bear Swim in British Columbia

If you think it's too cold to swim on New Year's Day in Canada, your body will shiver just learning how folks in British Columbia celebrate January 1^st. Unbelievably, some daring swimmers in British Columbia, Canada observe New Year's Day with a traditional polar bear swim. Despite below freezing temperatures, these hearty Canadians actually don a swimming suit and jump in the bitter cold waters.

Big Ben andTrafalgar Square in London

In London Big Ben chimes in the New Year as partygoers toast one another. Massive crowds gather at Trafalgar Square in London, the most popular site for celebrating. If you choose to stay home, it's customary for family members to sit around a hearth. At the stroke of midnight, the head of the household goes to the front door and opens it, holding it open until the last stroke of the midnight hour has stopped.

Brazilian Fireworks

In Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, people flock to the beaches for fireworks displays. To bring good luck for the New Year, they wear white clothing. Once a religious party, the New Year's tradition is now more of performance for tourists.

Some Traditions are Universal

Although we may come from different countries and cultures, some traditions are universal, such as the kiss at midnight with the one you love, as you sing, "Auld Lang Syne". Traditions may vary, worldwide, but another tradition is common to us all. We're are hoping for a happy new year.