January 1

Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!

I am kind of sad today. Sad to see this journal go. I have been with you here every day for longer than a month (with my healper Val). I have enjoyed spending time with each and every one of you, reading your comments, and learning from you as I hope you have learned something from me also. I also have met a lot of new folks. What a treasure. I don't want to lose you as friends. Perhaps I should tell you where my other journal is.

You can find me here:
Sometimes I Think

**edit on 10/31/08: My blog address changed on 10/26/2008
Plaese find me at my new blog here: Sometimes I Think

And here is Val's journal:
There is a Season

**edit on 10/31/08: Val's blog address changed on 10/17/08
Please find her at her new blog here: There is a Season

I hope you won't make yourself a stranger. Now let's get on with a little bit about New Year's Day. I hope you are having a good one!

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New Year's Day

The Rose Bowl
Today, following the Rose Parade, the 93rd Rose Bowl Game, will feature an exciting match up between two championship teams, featuring USC and Univ. of Michigan. The Rose Bowl will be broadcast exclusively on ABC and on ESPN radio.

The Tournament of Roses Parade
The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. In that year, membersof the Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers. It celebrated the ripening of the orange crop in California.

The Tournament of Roses
Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.

Official Tournament of Roses Site

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Food traditionally eaten on New Year's Day

Traditional New Year foods are 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.

Here are some foods that people around the world eat on New Year's Day:

~ A German/Pennsylvania Dutch tradition is to eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year's day for good luck. Cabbage is considered a "good luck" food because it represents paper currency!

In the southern United States, it is believed eating black eyed peas on New Year's eve will bring luck for the coming year. The peas are often accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. The hog and it's meat symbolize prosperity.

~ Also from the south comes the custom of eating greens such as cabbage, collard greens, mustard greens, kale or spinach to bring money.

One more from the Southerners: eating cornbread will bring wealth.

~ Eating pickled herring as the first bite of the New Year brings good luck to those of Polish descent.

The Southern custom of eating greens can be found in other cultures as well, although the cabbage can take many forms, such as sauerkraut or even kimchee.

~ German folklore says that eating herring at the stroke of midnight will bring luck for the next year.

It is a Cuban tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. The 12 grapes signify the last twelve months of the year.

~ In the Philippines, it is important to have food on the table at midnight in order to insure an abundance of food in the upcoming year.

Boiled Cod is a New Year's Eve must in Denmark.

~ It is the tradition of Bosnia & Croatia (both of former Yugoslavia) to eat what is called "Sarma" or beef wrapped tightly in cabbage to bring good luck in health and wealth for the upcoming year.

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Gospel reading: Luke 2:16-21

Happy New Year and all my love, Krissy :)