Happy New Year!

One of the (many) things I want to focus on in this coming year is creating meaningful holiday & family traditions for my children. Not only to provide them with warm and fuzzy childhood memories, but also to give them a sense of meaning throughout their lives, for the things that we celebrate, and the reasons why...
Ritual is an important part of creating meaning in life, but ritual without an understanding of the meaning behind it, is just a pointless and superficial performance of some of our most time honored traditions.

When I was a kid, we always had a bonfire, sometimes burning the Christmas Tree, and did fireworks all hours of the night. And on New Years Day, my mom always cooked black eyed peas and cabbage, but I never really knew why.

So, starting with the New Year, I did a little research to see how different cultures and traditions are ringing in the New Year around the world and throughout the ages.

Here are some interesting links, hope you find something fun for your family to celebrate!

A Brief History of the New Year Holiday

New Year Traditions Around the World

Saying "Happy New Year" in other languages

Snopes List of New Years Superstitions

World's Strangest New Years Traditions

The Rose Parade

The Rose Bowl

Lucky Foods for the New Year

The History of "Auld Lang Syne"

"Auld Lang Syne" Lyrics:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne.

CHORUS: For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.

(No wonder people just mutter through until they get to 'auld lang syne')

A couple other small article summaries:
English Zone
Mealtime.Org

And finally, a wikipedia article or two for good measure:
Wikipedia/New Year's Eve
Wikipedia/New Year's Day

Happy New Year Everyone!