Family New Year Traditions

[Platapus]

I am always interested in learning how other families choose to bring in the new year. Please share those little, and sometimes silly, traditions your family does on New Years Day.

In my family, it is important to eat herring on New Years Day. Pickled herring either in vinegar or sour cream sauce.

It is recommended to do this AFTER exchanging the New Years Day kiss though. :D

[the_tyrant]

Practice piano
study for whatever is coming up (network + this year)

my mom believes that everyday that i don't go to school is a day for more learning

[antikristuseke]

We all go to separate parties usually. New years is a time spent with friends here, not family.

[Gerald]

We all go to separate parties usually. New years is a time spent with friends here, not family. Congratulations to the €, and hope that the economy is good for you with work and all, :up:

[antikristuseke]

Thanks, the € is a bit depressing though, im only going to be making ~300 euro a month instead of 5000 EEK. :88)
That's without overtime, which is a myth.

[Oberon]

I had a lady tell me that the other day, who I sometimes see around town, I don't know exactly where she's from but either her or her parents are from the far east somewhere I'd wager, but she said "Christmas is for family, New Years is for friends." which I'd never heard of before.

Anyway, here's one from the Scottish side of my family:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-Foot

[kiwi_2005]

New Years day is far more important than Christmas day New Years is for adults its a proper celebration of the new year Christmas is made up and is for the children.

Really have no NY traditions apart from getting together and having a good feast/drink - its a time to catch up with scattered family members

[Sailor Steve]

I guess my New Year tradition is to sit in front of my computer and talk to a bunch of other pathetic losers, just like every day.

Just kidding of course. None of the busses are running today or I'd go see a movie. I guess I'll just watch one here.

[ReallyDedPoet]

A get together with friends for a house party. :woot::()1:

In recovery mode today :DL

[Skybird]

We (my family) have none. And my two best freind'S families also do not like it. New Years Eve we do not even meet. Nobody of us is a party animal, the TV program usually is total crap, and we do not like sitting together all night long and spending even more hours just because the time is still not over and midnight still has not come. Usually we (my family) have just spent much time together on the 24th' evening, and again on the 26th, and everything already has been talked over repeatedly - these two dates, and meeting then and spending time together and have a long-lasting raclette, mark our family traditions, but not the 31st, or the 1st. New Year's eve - is just irksome, we all agree. I wouldn't miss anything if it wouldn't be there. At best I have a glass of wine were usually I prefer beer, currently. In the past years I came to spending the evening like any other. Heavy fog last night, so even the firwork was not worth to watch.

[ReFaN]

My father, and mother have been celebrating togheter with 8 others, we are down too 7 now, as one died in cancer.

I was with them when i was a kid, at the first time we got togheter, just kinda stuck with them aswell :P, some people like too make fun of me cause im celebrating togheter with my father and mother, but the gang is really the best, even to they are over 30 up too 40 years above me.

[Sailor Steve]

...some people like too make fun of me cause im celebrating togheter with my father and mother...
Not me. I think it's great.

[Garion]

We light a black candle 15 mins before the bells then as the bells strike 12 we light a white candle from the black using my athame to cut away the old the year. :DL

Cheers

Garion
aka Jevhaddah

[MaddogK]

I am always interested in learning how other families choose to bring in the new year. Please share those little, and sometimes silly, traditions your family does on New Years Day.

In my family, it is important to eat herring on New Years Day. Pickled herring either in vinegar or sour cream sauce.

It is recommended to do this AFTER exchanging the New Years Day kiss though. :D

The same here, but I only eat herring in white wine sauce. My Grandmother claims it was to ensure good luck for the coming year (Danish or Swedish tradition) but I'm the only one left in my family who still honors that tradition. Wife has a single piece to humor me then washes it down with loads of Champaign, I do as well to humor her.

[DarkFish]

hehe we Dutch people eat loads of herring anyways so no reason to do it on new year's eve as well:O:

One Dutch tradition is to eat "Oliebollen" ("Oil Balls"). They're essentially balls of dough fried/boiled in a deep fryer. They often contain raisins, and powder sugar is usually sprinkled on top of them.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mCLiWQSkmjk/StQnGARv_AI/AAAAAAAAAAs/JwTA46kyE3o/s320/691127_oliebollen%5B1%5D.jpg

[ReFaN]

hehe we Dutch people eat loads of herring anyways so no reason to do it on new year's eve as well:O:

One Dutch tradition is to eat "Oliebollen" ("Oil Balls"). They're essentially balls of dough fried/boiled in a deep fryer. They often contain raisins, and powder sugar is usually sprinkled on top of them.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mCLiWQSkmjk/StQnGARv_AI/AAAAAAAAAAs/JwTA46kyE3o/s320/691127_oliebollen%5B1%5D.jpg

Doesent Look that appetizing, but what do i know, perhaps i should try it :p

[DarkFish]

Doesent Look that appetizing, but what do i know, perhaps i should try it :pThey actually taste pretty good:yeah:

Apart from oliebollen, I can't really think of any special Dutch traditions. For the rest it's mostly the usual fireworks and champagne you see in most other countries.

A local tradition from the "Achterhoek" in the Eastern Netherlands is rolling waffles. Unfortunately this tradition has almost died out, and personally I don't expect it to survive the next generation.

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Foto-KPLROJZG.jpg

[Jimbuna]

Christmas is for the children and New Year is for the adults....if I'm not working we usually have friends and family round to ours for a party.

[Dowly]

Usually spent with friends or "younger" relatives (brother & cousin this year). Good time to drink up all that money from Christmas. :O:

[sharkbit]

Usually I work. This is the first year in a while I didn't have to work, since New Years Day fell on a weekend.
This year we hung out, watched Twilight Zone(SyFy Network)/Three Stooges(AMC Network)/football as the mood took us.
I guess the only real tradition for the day is we go over to my mom's for dinner-she makes a great green chili and burrito mix and we play cards with my brother, sister and their kids.

New Years Eve, we have our own little family tradition with just my wife, kids, and myself. We boil some shrimp, have some cheese and crackers, and it is family game night until midnight.
I rarely make 'til midnight though, especially when I work the next day. I did this year though.:woot:

:)