FReeper Canteen - New Year Traditions - 30 Dec 10

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[AZamericonnie]

New Years Traditions

Some traditions of the season include the making of New Year's resolutions. That tradition dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian's most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.



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

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.

The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.



Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the new year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus.

The use of an image of a baby with a New Years banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought to early America by the Germans. They had used the effigy since the fourteenth century.



FOR LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR

Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.

Traditional New Year foods are also 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.



Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.

[AZamericonnie]

What are your New Year Traditions?

Please share!

[AZamericonnie]

Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen
at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

~Tribute to Our Troops~

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless Our Republic

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation UNDER GOD,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

Prayers going up

[oldteen]

Evenin’ Connie! *hugs*

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Connie!

[AZamericonnie]

Thank you for our pledge dear Hope....hand over heart & prayers up! *hugs*

[HopeandGlory]

A big pot of Black Eyed Peas with Ham, Potatoes, Salad and Home Made Rolls . . . Yummy!!!

[AZamericonnie]

One Glass of Bubbly

[MrEdd]

Happy Wednesday

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Growing up, my family didn’t have any New Year traditions to speak of, but my wife sort of has one. She makes black-eyed peas for dinner on New Year’s Day.

If it’s been a good year, they’ll be made with meat (usually either ham or pork sausage). If not, well, at least we still have something to eat. :)

[MrEdd]

Happy Wednesday

[AZamericonnie]

Good evening Teenie from the cold soggy desert! *hugs*

Two Glasses of Bubbly

[PERKY2004]

hi

[oldteen]

Good evening Hope and thank you for our pledge! *hugs*

Sounds like we've eaten at the same place! :)

[AZamericonnie]

Aloha Bigs, was your Christmas grand? *hugs*

Three Glasses of Bubbly

[writer33]

For the troops to enjoy:

A Declaration Of Conservatism

and:

Conservatism Is Fair, Life Isn't

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

Life Is Like Riding A Bicycle
December 30, 2010

In a letter to his son Eduard, Albert Einstein gave this advice: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” The great physicist’s advice is wise and practical.

This wise counsel can apply to the Christian life. Many believers by faith keep moving ahead through painful and trying circumstances. But when they experience a personal moral failure, they lose their balance and fall. Their regret and feeling of unworthiness of God’s forgiveness may then keep them down and they no longer move ahead in their spiritual life.

The Bible gives us many examples of those who have experienced serious personal failure. Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his wife, Sarah (Gen. 12:11-17). Jacob deceived his father to acquire Esau’s blessing (Gen. 27:18-29). Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it (Num. 20:7-12). Despite their failures, we are told: “all these . . . obtained a good testimony through faith” (Heb. 11:39).

These biblical characters are lifted up as examples because after they fell, they turned back to God and began to follow Him again. Have you lost your spiritual balance through a sinful choice, which is keeping you down? Repent and follow the God of second chances once again.

I’ve strayed, O Lord, and turned aside,
I’ve disobeyed Your voice;
But now contrite of heart I turn
And make Your will my choice. —D. De Haan

Our God is a God of second chances.

Read: Hebrews 11:32-40

All these . . . obtained a good testimony through faith. —Hebrews 11:39

Bible in a year:
Zechariah 13-14; Revelation 21

[oldteen]

Aloha BIG!

Is there a particular tradition on Rainbow Isle?

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

I posted this before I read the whole blurb at the beginning of the post. I guess my wife isn’t that unique after all. :)

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

Hi oldteen! *hugs*

:)