I love the last day of the year…
I love the defined “end”… making way for a much defined “New.”
I love traditions and celebrations and symbolic meanings.
Today I’ve baked cakes and cornbread. I hid a coin in the cake for some lucky guest to discover it… a promise of a bountiful year in the tradition of the miracle of St. Basil. The cornbread represents life and renewal and yes, even gold. I even made mini-cornbread muffins for the grandkids to enjoy.
I’ve washed my grapes for the midnight tradition of eating 12 grapes… the round shape is symbolic of a new cycle and the 12 grapes represent each of the next 12 months with all the luck, bounty and prosperity that 2009 has to offer. I also have my 7 round fruits all ready for tomorrow’s meal… to wish good fortune to all who visit.
My pork roast is marinating in olive oil and rosemary. Pork is especially lucky to eat on New Year’s Day. As legend has it, pigs only move forward… as one wishes for a New Year! And rice will be part of my celebration as well. Risotto. And the rice in my stuffed peppers. Rice expands while cooking… symbolizing expanded wealth in the New Year!
And of course all the “greens”… spinach, kale, cabbage.
Blackeye peas. Lentils. Carrots. Abundance, luck, good fortune.
Last, but not least, I have the sugar cookie dough all ready to make our Pink Pig Cookies tomorrow… the kids will love smoothing the pink frosting on their little pigs. Remember… pigs always move forward!
(As an aside, my husband and I are planning a Polar Plunge tomorrow at noon at one of our local beaches. The weather forecast is 20 degrees with a wind chill bringing us to 0. Do you think we’ll do it?)
My wish for all of you is that 2009 is so blessed, so perfect, so lucky, so prosperous… and so very HAPPY!
And by the way… do you have any New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traditions of your own that you’d like to share?!
We usually celebrate the night with friends and the day with family. Nothing as interesting as what you described.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
There were actually some that you listed that I’ve never heard of! We always (ALWAYS!) ate black eyed peas and greens (except in our southern home it was usually collards!) on New Years. I’m going to try to remember some of yours for next year!
Sharon, I hope you have the greatest 2009. You are a woman who inspires others. More times than I can count I will be hanging out with my kids and think of you because you exactly the kind of mom I want to be. I hope 2009 is the year I get to meet you and your sweet girls!
A Polar Plunge? Oy vey, brain freeze! I think you’ll do it!
Oh my! A polar plunge! You HAVE to tell us about that-what a brave one you are!!!
Seriously?! You are going to jump in that freezing water?! I would never, ever do that! You have some very interesting traditions. I’ve never heard of any of those things.
I have invited some friends over to play cards tonight, nothing fancy. Although, since we played cards last night with some other friends (until 2:45am) I’m moving very slowly this morning!
Happy New Year, Sharon!
You are so brave to do a polar bear plunge! My FIL and BIL always do it in Lake Michigan, and I think they’re insane.
Our NYE’s tradition always consists of fondue with my parents. I grew up doing it, and now that we’ve added my husband into the mix, our meal has grown. We used to only fondue beef roast and mushrooms, but last night we did a cheese fondue with grapes, bread, and apples, plus we added cauliflower, shrimp, and other veggies to the oil fondue. It’s so delicious!
Happy New Year (again) to you and Barry!!!
I made a tradition last night, inadvertently, and I plan to keep it: Watch a horror movie that brings me into the new year. I loooove horror movies!
I have not heard of some of your traditions but they are very interesting ones. You are a very busy girl today. My mom made a huge pot of pinto beans with the ham bone left from Christmas. I made corn bread muffins, fried cube steaks and rice pilaf. She usually makes cabbage and black eyed peas but we didn’t do that this year. I took the easy way out and bought cookies from the bakery. Are you really jumping in a frozen water? You are so brave….I really loved reading about your traditions.
Love all your New Years traditions. Recognize some of our own on your list, but hope to adopt some of your others that are new to us. Our boys really latch onto seasonal and holiday food traditions. Truth is, I do to. It’s healthy too. Thanks for Mom Generations and look forward to following you and your daughters in 2009.