FOR LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR

Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.

Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune.

Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.

AULD LANG SYNE

The song, "Auld Lang Syne," playing in the background, is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days."

New Year's Celebrations
Around the World

Find out how people celebrate in many different countries.

Mochituki: Making Rice Cakes 
Manabu Ozawa from Japan

This is a Japanese tradition that is frequently played for making rice cakes (Mochi) at New Year. Glutinous rice becomes mochi after it is steamed and pounded with a Kine and Usu.

First of all, place steamed rice into a wooden pestle. Next, it is Dad's turn. Dad grabs the Kine which is made of wood and shaped like a big hammer. This is a good opportunity to show off his authority because the Kine is very heavy and smashing rice with it is hard work. Every time Dad smashes rice with the Kine, Son or Mom has to mix and flip rice with their wet hands so the rice does not stick to the Kine.

A good relationship and trust in each other are necessary. Dad may crash Son's or Mom's hand with the Kine. This movement should be rhythmical. Dad hits, son mixes things such as jams, fresh fruits, wine and hot tea.

We pray for the best luck to come to our family. After that, we wish everybody good luck and give lucky money bags, clothes, or anything we know the members of our family like.

In the early morning, we need to visit our grandparents, parents, or siblings if we don't live with them. The next day, we visit our teachers and friends. New Year's Day is an important day in my country. We love that day so much that the members of our family always go back home and are happy together.

Nowadays, people are becoming not to do this custom because of a lack of place to do it and because they are using electronic Mochi-tuki machines. But I believe this custom is a good one to start the New Year working with the family.

Chinese New Year Paper Cuttings
Cheng Jiang-Jiang  from China

If you were in China for New Year's Day, you would see many kinds of paper cuttings on every family's windows. Paper cuttings are one of the most popular folk arts in China. They are properly framed or simply pasted onto the windows.

Traditionally, they were only made of red paper. Most elderly women would make them just with a piece of red paper and a pair of scissors. They made them for their own families for the Chinese New Year. The Chinese believed that these paper cuttings can scare away the evil spirits, so they can't get into your house through the windows. The cuttings also bring you luck for the New Year.

Now the cuttings have changed. They are full of colors. Today they are also made in factories. It is not only a custom to have them in public, but they are also a beautiful form of art representing Chinese culture. Many are still made completely by hand, then hand painted in bright colors.

They are truly a Chinese miracle. Would you like to have one for the New Year? It would bring you good luck for the New Year.