Fun New Year's Traditions!

Ever since our friend Yabelin shared with us some of the New Year’s Traditions from Panama, I have been intrigued with fun ways to ring in the New Year! I collected these ideas for our family and thought you might enjoy them and try out a few yourself tonight. Note! I found most of this on the internet so I cannot guarantee their accuracy! If you have more information on these traditions or have some of your own we would love to hear them!

I'm off to try to find some yellow underwear!

New Years Kiss

Kissing at midnight - Kiss a loved one at the stroke of midnight to ensure continued affections throughout the year!

Pots and Pans

Banging pots and pans - The belief was that loud noisemaking as the New Year arrived would scare away evil spirits!

Doors 

Fling open all the doors in your home at midnight to release last year's misfortunes and let good fortune inside for the New Year!

Around the World
Babylonians celebrated the New Year as early as 4,000 BC and a common tradition was to return borrowed farm equipment. (Check your garage everyone!) 

Central and South America

Underwear - Wear red underwear for more love in the New Year, yellow for more money!

Central America and Mexico

Travel - Walk around the block (or outside your home) with a suitcase to bring travel into your New Year!

Philippines

Polka Dots - Wear polka dots and eat round fruit at midnight to ensure a prosperous New Year (the dots signify coins and wealth)!

Spain

Grapes - There are lots of variations on the grape tradition from Spain. What I found was -

1. Wolfing down handfuls of grapes as the clock strikes midnight for a prosperous New Year

2. Eat 12 grapes, one for each chime of midnight, and make a wish with each grape!

3. Eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight which signify the upcoming 12 months. If you get sweet grapes - those months will be sweet, sour grapes... well you can guess the rest!

Greece

Cake - Traditional New Year’s Cake Vassilopita, a sponge cake that has a coin baked in it. My Greek mother-in-law, Carolyne, has passed the torch to our daughter Isabelle this year. Our cakes are cooling right now. On New Years Eve the cake is divided up with one piece per family member. The first piece of the cake goes to God, the second piece to the home and then the rest to each family member, oldest to youngest. The person to get the coin is to have good luck in the coming year!

Ireland

Find a husband - If you are a single woman looking for love, place mistletoe leaves under your pillow to dream of (or catch) your future husband! It can also help you get rid of bad luck! 

Japan

Clean up your act - Thoroughly clean your home, pay all your debts and resolve and forgive all disagreements (not a bad idea!). This frees you up to welcome in the New Year with peace and prosperity!

So, I hope this has given you all some ideas on how to ring in 2012! However you decide to celebrate, be safe and enjoy… here’s to a great year ahead!

Jane

ps. I don't think I have ever used so many exclamation points in any post! Ever!

Cheers!

Throwing a holiday party can be hectic. That's why we've got some simple tips to make your life easier and guests feel right at home! The hints below will help you throw a party that is as unique as you are! So relax, enjoy the season, and Happy holidays from Boatman Geller!

1. Candy Cane Invitation  2. Bright Vine Blue & Gray Invitation  3. Banner Happy Holidays Invitation
4. Beverage Napkin with Icon  5. Dinner Napkin with Icon  6. Guest Towel with Icon  7. Bright Vine Green & Red Placemat  8. Plaid Red Placemat  9. Kate Red & Teal Sticker  10. Festive Floral Sticker
11. Cameron Navy Sticker

There's Still Time to Shine!

Even though the holidays are upon us, there's still time to order holiday photocards and gifts like lucite trays and ice buckets from Boatman Geller! Take a look at the calendar below to get a better idea of our deadlines. You can find a retailer here, and be sure to check with your local or online retailer for their respective production times. Cheers!