Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Â
NEW YEAR TRADITIONS
Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year’s resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian’s most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment. The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. In that year, members of the Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers. It celebrated the ripening of the orange crop in
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
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.” The lyrics are:Â
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. Â Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? And here’s a hand, my trusty friend And gie’s a hand o’ thine
We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne
 I always end up breaking my New Year’s Resolution’s very early in the year. I gave up going on a diet, quitting smoking and resolving to become more organized with the New Year. I am not sure if it is just that in my mind New Year’s Resolutions are meant to be broken or what. I did quit smoking for two years but then started again last Thanksgiving so that will be another springtime thing to quit again. I guess instead of resolutions for me, I would have to set goals for myself and start in April. Does the New Year start everything fresh for you? Is it New beginnings or just a continuation of  the previous year? Do you believe in luck of the New Year and bring it in following some of the traditions above? Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? How long do you stay with them? What kinds of Resolutions will you make this year?  We will pick a winner amongst all the posters and six winners will receive a copy of one of the following: Four copies of Last Call by Laura Pedersen, Ballantine And two copies of Beginner’s Luck by Laura Pendersen, BallantineÂ
I want to wish you all a Happy New Year and send good wishes to all of you 
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