Things your Grandma said to do before the New Year

[cm8]

Both my Mother and Grandma used to say that it was very important to have a clean house, laundry, and money in your pocket to bring the New Year in right. We were also told to make sure you make your hoppin john and collards too. Any one else has a NYE tradition that you follow every year

I make sure that all the laundry is cleaned and put away,
cars washed,
money in my pocket(or purse),
all the bills are paid,
tidy up around the house if need be,
Give thanks for this year and the new year that is coming in
Go to church and come home if we don't have breakfast at church


I forgot, play Kenny G while drinking my Sparkling apple cider mixed with a little wine

 

[sjs314]

Our New Years Tradition has always been to have Pork and Sauerkraut on New Years day so we would have a Prosperous New Year.

 

[pandora174]

This is from my grandmother & mom both rest in peace. You had to eat 12 grapes for each month of the year at midnight & throw a bucket of ice water out the door (out with the old / in with the new) I remember as a kid just going along. My 2 older sisters still do this.

Thing is my DH & DS hate grapes unless it's grace juice & I just refuse to throw a bucket of ice cube & water just in case the nieghbors think I'm nuts

 

[meliss8599]

Money in your hand and spend it with family. She believed how you start the new year is how you will spend the rest of it--you want to be prosperous and surrounded by family.

 

[dawson5]

They had a story on NPR the other day about New Year traditions. Pork in some way was featured for NY's because it "never goes backwards (?)." No fowl because it had wings and could "fly away."

I tried to find the link to what I listened to, there were some interesting ones on there.

 

[Hannathy]

Our New Years Tradition has always been to have Pork and Sauerkraut on New Years day so we would have a Prosperous New Year.

Yep this is ours to. Have to have pork!

 

[olwyngdh]

Pork and sauerkraut of course.
Fruit on the table so you will never go hungry.
Hide a dollar under the doormat and have the youngest child in the house go out and get it at midnight to bring youth, health, and prosperity into the house for the coming year.
And we don't do this anymore because, well, times have changed and we don't live out in the country, shoot off the gun at midnight to scare away the bad.

 

[portocall]

We have black eyed peas, mustard greens, cabbage, and pork roast for health and prosperity.

We don't eat chicken or turkey wings on New Years Day to keep the good vibes from flying away.

Growing up I didn't do anything, these are all my husbands traditions that we follow.

 

[TDC Nala]

I just drink.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Pork and sauerkraut obviously and we also must put money (coins) outside every door of the house to bring in money in the new year.

 

[my3sonsagn]

No major housework (sweeping, vacuuming, laundry) on NYD - theory being doing so would cause someone to be washed/swept out of your life during the year.

ALL Christmas decorations have to be put away prior to midnight on NYE or left out for the whole next year.

On NYD you must eat:
pork - pigs can't look behind them, only ahead
greens (esp collards) - for prosperity in the year ahead
black-eyed peas - I've heard two behind this one; one is for luck, the other for coins

Who you're with on NYD is who you'll be with the whole year through.

Seems like I'm missing one, but I can't think of it right now.

 

[Planogirl]

Uh oh. I'd better start cleaning and putting away the rest of the decorations! What is the logic behind putting away the decorations?

 

[kimmar067]

Uh oh. I'd better start cleaning and putting away the rest of the decorations! What is the logic behind putting away the decorations?

...so's ya don't have to do it 'next year'??

 

[kimmar067]

...for the last 4 years, according to 'tradition', we've taken to eating herring at 12 midnite....needless-to-say, our luck has gotten WORSE AND WORSE each subsequent year - so, NO HERRING IN OUR HOUSE TONIGHT!

 

[kimmar067]

On NYD you must eat:
pork - pigs can't look behind them, only ahead....

...will BACON do?

 

[Planogirl]

...so's ya don't have to do it 'next year'??

I don't really want to do it this year either. Besides from what I hear it's already 2011 somewhere.

 

[qtwns]

Uh oh. I'd better start cleaning and putting away the rest of the decorations! What is the logic behind putting away the decorations?

We've always put our decorations away by NYD, too. My mom has always said that it is bad luck to have the same decor up in two consecutive years...I just think it is because my dad got restless and tired of looking at them, and since he had the day off--well, why not!

 

[DebD4T]

WE eat pork at midnight.

We also hang socks out the window filled with coins.

If an unmarried woman washes the face of a clock at midnight, she will get married in the coming year. LOL

 

[cm8]

WE eat pork at midnight.

We also hang socks out the window filled with coins.

If an unmarried woman washes the face of a clock at midnight, she will get married in the coming year. LOL

I have never heard of these, the last one was really funny


I also forgot to mention that we were always told whatever you were doing when the NY came in that is what you were going to be doing the most in the NY. I think my sister brought the NY in sleeping because she's always tired and sleeping

 

[AristocatFan]

Is the chicken thing for New Years Eve or just New Years Day???? Having a houseful of teenagers here tonight so I just ordered a bunch of pizza and wings!