A brand New year for everyone!

AS THEY say different folks, different strokes. Here are some ways the New Year is celebrated:

The Scottish follow the custom of “first footing” where the first visitor will determine the luck of the household for the whole year. Visits are made shortly after midnight with guests bringing gifts of coal or shortbread. A house is considered especially lucky if the first visitor is a tall dark and handsome man. (sounds good to me!).

North of the pole, Alaskans feast on black eyed peas, hog and cabbage for luck. They also believe that what they do or eat on the first day will reflect on the rest of the year so they it with family and friends.

A popular tradition among Russian girls is to have their fortunes told on New Year’s Eve.

In Japan, Buddhist temples strike their gongs 108 times at midnight to expel 108 types of human weakness. Children receive gifts of money. And as a sign of Japanese efficiency and attention to detail, all New Year’s cards arrive on January 1.

The French, of course celebrate it gloriously with food! Intimate dinners or fancy balls serve foie gras and champagne. And instead of kissing under the mistletoe during Christmas, they kiss it off during New Year’s Eve.

In Bosnia & Croatia, they eat “Sarma,” beef wrapped tightly in cabbage to bring luck, health and wealth for the New Year.

Italians in the south like to throw their old things out the window so watch out for falling objects around midnight!

In Spain, revelers eat twelve grapes at midnight to ensure that they have twelve happy months to look forward to in the New Year.

In the Netherlands, bonfires made of Christmas trees are burned on the streets as a symbol of purging the old. Fireworks are sent off to welcome the New.

The Greeks call it the “Festival of St. Basil”, one of the founders of the Greek Orthodox Church. They serve Vassilopitta, or St Basil’s cake. A silver or gold coin is baked inside the cake and whoever finds the coin in their piece of cake will expect luck on the coming year.

In Denmark, they throw dishes on your friend’s doors. Old dishes are saved all year for throwing. How to tell if you are popular? Just check your doorstep on January 1! They also serve Marzipan ring cake and await the Queen’s New Year’s speech on television. In Copenhagen City Hall, fireworks are launched at the stroke of midnight.

In Ecuador, they call this custom Ano Viejo. A dummy is dressed in old newspaper and stuffed with firecrackers. The dummy may symbolize a politician, an event or whatever negative that happened during the year. At midnight, they will light the dummy with fire releasing an explosion of fireworks.

In the United States, Americans party the night away at the Times Square in New York City. At 11:59, a Waterford Crystal ball will start its descent, reaching the bottom at exactly the stroke of midnight.

Egyptians still wait for the appearance of the new crescent moon before the Muhammad Ali mosque officially announces the New Year. After the announcement, the men outside the mosque go back home to their families to eat.

And of course in the Philippines, we have a mix of traditions influenced by the integration of cultures. We feast on lechon, jamon, queso de bola aside from kakanin like bibingka and puto bumbong on media noche. We don new clothes with polka dot designs for wealth. We display circular shape fruits in our homes and (if allowed) light fireworks to dispel the evil spirits. Oh and of course, who has not tried jumping at midnight to grow taller?

A Happy New Year to Everyone!

(E-mail the author at wandergirl28@gmail.com or visit www.theunlonelyplanet.wordpress.com)