In northern India there is an ancient
custom of burning effigies once a year to wipe away the tragedies and
disappointments of the past year and begun anew.
The Germans shoot fireworks on New Year’s to frighten away any evil spirits in the vicinity.
Spaniards
gather at midnight in the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. As the old clock
strikes midnight, each person eats a grape with each strike, believing
this brings luck for the new year.
Many people in France and
Scandinavia burn yule logs cut from fruit trees to bring a good harvest
in the year to come. All of these customs illustrate the need people
feel for a fresh start in their lives.
In the United States the
unofficial custom (we think) is to sit in front of the TV and watch
football until the pattern comes on and the TV goes off for the night on
some stations, but if you have cable football just goes on and on and
you can find game playing almost any time or place.
If you aren’t
a football fan, you have to find another place in the house where there
is a television to watch without football. Then, too, you can entertain
yourself with the computer, because there is always someone there to
chat with.
Like Thanksgiving, the men (and some women) are gather
around the set and can’t be torn away for the New Year’s dinner. Many
homes have a buffet so all can take the time to pick out what they would
like to eat, but they do it during the commercials. When one game ends
another starts and there is no intermission for going to the table and
sitting for dinner. Mothers and wives have learned a buffet takes care
of everything.
For those of us that aren’t football fanatics, you
can find oodles to take up your time. Maybe you decide to take down the
Christmas tree and decorations. I like to take the basket of Christmas
cards and read them all over again.
During the holiday rush when
the cards start arriving, you glance through the mail and save the
greeting cards, barely acknowledging who they are from. After the
holiday excitement has subsided is a good time to go back and really
read and enjoy your cards and letters. It’s the one time that you hear
from some of your friends and relatives.
Perhaps you are lucky
and are in a family that does traditional things that don’t include
football. Maybe you take in a movie that takes you into the theater. So
many people rent movies now that they don’t see the inside of a theater
that many times anymore. For a family to enjoy a movie in a theater can
be quite expensive. Remember when movies were 10 cents for kids and 50
cents for adults? Then, too, if you received ice skates, skis, or
snowmobile gear, you go off to enjoy the gift. Maybe you might like to
pretend you are in a southern climate or on a cruise ship and go
swimming in an indoor pool. You didn’t need to take that holiday trip
after all.
So, what have you planned Did you
make any New Year’s Resolutions to be kept for the entire year or
perhaps until the end of January? I finally gave up on even trying to
keep any resolutions...I would forget I had them when I broke one,
so...? It’s a waste of time.
Happy New Year, everyone.
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