This is a reprise of a New Year’s Day post from FmH one year ago:

New Year’s Day History, Traditions, and Customs. Years ago, the Boston Globe ran a January 1st article compiling folkloric beliefs about what to do, what to eat, etc. on New Year’s Day to bring good fortune for the year to come. I’ve regretted since — I usually think of it around once a year (grin) — not clipping out and saving the article; especially since we’ve had children, I’m interested in enduring traditions that go beyond watching the bowl games and making resolutions. A web search brought me this, less elaborate than what I recall from the Globe but to the same point:

“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.”

The further north one travels in the British Isles, the more the year-end festivities focus on New Year’s. The Scottish observance of Hogmanay has many elements of warming heart and hearth, welcoming strangers and making a good beginning:

“Three cornered biscuits called

hogmanays are eaten. Other special foods are: wine, ginger cordial, cheese, bread, shortbread, oatcake, carol or carl cake, currant loaf, and a pastry called scones.

After sunset people collect juniper and water to purify the home. Divining rituals are done according to the directions of the winds, which are assigned their own colors.

First Footing:The first person who comes to the door on midnight New Year’s Eve should be a dark-haired or dark-complected man with gifts for luck. Seeing a cat,

dog, woman, red-head or beggar is unlucky. The person brings a gift (handsel) of coal or whiskey to ensure prosperity in the New Year. Mummer’s Plays are also

performed. The actors called the White Boys of Yule are all dressed in white, except for one dressed as the devil in black. It is bad luck to engage in marriage

proposals, break glass, spin flax, sweep or carry out rubbish on New Year’s Eve.”