Noisemakers and champagne comprise the basics of a New Year’s Eve celebration at my home, along with a moment or two for remembering the past year and its special moments.  But it’s really interesting to see how this same event is celebrated around the world!

I recently wrote about the South’s tradition of serving the dish Hoppin’ John, which includes black-eyed peas to represent coins or wealth and pork for prosperity.  But there are many more fun and interesting traditions from every part of the globe!  Perhaps you already observe one of these “good luck” practices in your home or are looking for some new ways to welcome in the New Year!

• Holland – Doughnuts are the required food to remind us that we have come “full circle!”
• Peru – residents of this country walk around their neighborhood with an empty suitcase to insure travel in the coming year!   This would be a pretty funny sight to see!
• Portugal/Spain - twelve grapes are eaten, one at each strike of the clock at midnight, for a year’s worth of good luck!  Martha Stewart’s clever twist on this tradition is to thread the 12 grapes on a bamboo skewer and serve each in a glass of champagne just before midnight!
• Germany – dessert is a marzipan pig, again a symbol of prosperity!
• Greece – again to dessert, St. Basil’s Cakes, sweet cakes named for a bishop who was known for his generosity, are served.  A coin is baked inside the cake and whoever finds the coin in his slice is said to have good luck in the coming year!
• Norway -  rice pudding with one lucky almond hidden inside is what this country eats for luck!

I hope you enjoyed this trip around the world and that you are inspired to try something new this year!  Imagine a New Year’s Eve party with an international theme incorporating all of the above!  Fun and totally unique!   Cheers to the new year!

You may also enjoy:

• Cook Up Some New Year Luck!
• New Year’s Eve Fun for Kids
  

New Year’s Eve Fun for Kids!

New Year’s Eve evokes thoughts of men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns clinking champagne glasses, while the reality is usually a lot more ordinary! If comfy clothes, kids underfoot and TV coverage of Times Square better describes your evening, here are some fun ideas to make December 31 a terrific family celebration!

Make Party Hats or Crowns

Have the kids create fun party hats or crowns from brightly colored paper decorated with markers, sequins, pom poms and glitter! (Picture from Kaboose)

Make the Hours Until Midnight Fly By

Gather colorful, lunch sized paper bags – one for each hour between the start of your evening celebration and midnight. Draw a clock face on each bag and then mark each clock face with the time that the bag is to be opened. (E.g. 7:00, 8:00 and so on.)

Some Ideas for Filling the Bags:

• a camera for a year end photo shoot
• a small game or puzzle
• a new DVD
• a note that says “It’s Time for Dessert”
• And in the final bag, opened a few minutes early – party crackers and horns!

Make Some Noise

• Bubble Wrap – Roll out some bubble wrap onto a hard surface floor to welcome in the new year! Even better, recycle some of the bubble wrap from holiday packages. Either way, the bigger the bubbles, the louder the pop!
• Confetti Horns – this clever product combines the classic noise maker with a burst of confetti! (Partycheap, Confetti Horns)

Make a Delicious Dessert – Traditional or Fun!

Traditional St. Basil’s Cake

Serving a St. Basil’s Cake is a Greek tradition at New Year’s. The cake is named for a famous bishop and contains a coin that promises to bring the recipient good luck all year! (St. Basil’s Cake Recipe , Southern Food )

Fun Bubbly Jello-Parfaits

Bubbly Jell-o Parfaits look a lot like a grown up flute of champagne, but are really a delicious and kid friendly dessert!

• On the day of the party, prepare bubbly Sparkling White Grape Jell-o according to the package using club soda, seltzer or ginger ale. Tips on the box will ensure great sparkle!
• Pour into tall flutes or parfait glasses and chill.
• Trim the stems of the glasses with metallic, multi-colored star garland. (Family Fun, 2000)

Make a Midnight Toast with Festive Ice Cream Sodas

Chill champagne for your adult guests and concoct some festive ice cream sodas for the children:

• Fill tall, clear glasses with your choice of a chilled, colorful soda like grape, raspberry ginger ale or lime.
• Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, allowing the soda to foam up to the rim. Garnish with bright sprinkles and colorful plastic straws. (Family Fun Magazine)
  

Wishing all of the Busy Bee families the Happiest of New Years! Cheers!

You may also enjoy:

• New Year’s Traditions Around the World
• Cook Up Some New Year Luck
  

Tip of the Week:  Cook up Some New Year Luck!

Hoppin’ John is a traditional Southern dish that dates back to the 1800’s and when served on New Year’s Day is said to bring good luck!  The dish is a combination of black eyed peas, pork and rice, but it is the peas that that are thought to bring good luck due to their resemblance to coins and a promise of wealth!

Even better, since pigs symbolize prosperity, pork is another key ingredient.  There are many different versions of this recipe, but Hallmark Magazine has published their own interpretation that is more like a soup than a stew, perfect for pairing with corn bread! (Recipe for Hoppin’ John)

Consider giving Hoppin’ John a try this New Year’s Day and best wishes to you and your family for good fortune and great happiness in 2010!

Additional Recipes for Hoppin’ John

• from Family Fun Magazine
• from Better Homes and Gardens

You may also enjoy:

• New Year’s Traditions Around the World
• New Year’s Eve Fun for Kids