Can you believe 2014 is here? It seems like families and
friends were just sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey,
ham, stuffing, sweet potatoes and apple pie are some of the foods Americans
enjoy on Thanksgiving Day. Many of these dishes are repeated on Christmas Eve
and Christmas Day, with foods from other cultures added to the table. My
childhood consisted of an Italian meal on Christmas Day and a German meal on
New Year’s Eve. Some years, I stick to tradition. Other years, I don’t, but as
I sat down to write a New Year’s Day blog, I wondered what other cultural
traditions involve food on this day.
Worldwide, many countries celebrate a belief that a certain
food, or foods, when eaten on New Year’s Day will bring them good luck and
prosperity. Revelers in Spain
eat twelve grapes at midnight, one
grape for each stroke of the clock, with each grape representing the months of
the year. The tradition dates back to 1909 when the Alicante
region had a surplus of grapes. The idea spread to other countries, such as Portugal,
Cuba and Mexico.
Peru also
joined this tradition and has added a thirteenth grape for good measure.
Legumes (lentils, beans and peas) are small and round. When
cooked, they resemble coins and are eaten in the hopes of financial rewards
throughout the years. Italians pair lentils with sausage. Germans partner their
legumes with pork, usually in split-pea soup. In Brazil,
the meal is usually lentil soup or lentils and rice.
Black-eyed peas or cowpeas in a dish called hoppin’ john are
tradition in the southern part of the United
States. The peas are thought to bring good
luck, or so the legend dating back to the Civil War claims. Vicksburg,
Mississippi ran out of food while being
attacked. Residents discovered black-eyed peas and proclaimed the pea to be
lucky.
New York began
a tradition of receiving callers on New Year’s Day. The Dutch held ‘open house’
and served donuts steeped in rum, cookies, and honey cakes. The custom spread
throughout the United States,
with George Washington opening his house the first New Year’s Day after his
inauguration. Some folks advertised their ‘open house’ in the newspapers,
listing the hours they would be home to receive visitors. Eventually, this led
to disaster, as strangers began dropping in for free food and drink. By the end
of the nineteenth century, the practice of advertising ended, but folks still
held ‘open house’ for their friends.
For me, the idea of hosting numerous visitors on New Year’s
Day is overwhelming. The rush of Christmas is behind me, and I prefer a quite
day with the hubby and kiddo. I usually take down the tree, pack away the
decorations and fall onto the couch that night and mindlessly watch television,
regaining my energy to get through the next few days before the kiddo goes back
to celebrate.
However you celebrate the day, may it be a good one, and may
God bless you with health, safety and love throughout 2014.
Julie
