the last day of 2010...
we didn't have any new years eve plans for the evening. my cousin's friend made this INCREDIBLE beef brisket...it turned out to be phenomenal. caitlin enjoyed it too :). i stayed up long enough to see the ball drop, but was in bed shortly there after.
a couple fun facts about new years...
*because most of the world follows the Gregorian calendar, and 1 jan represents the start of the new calendar, is the closest thing to being the world's only truly global public holiday.
*romans dedicated this day to janus, the god of gates, doors, and beginnings. janus had two faces, one looking forward and the other looking backward-this happens to be who the month january is named after.
*the hindu new year falls at the time and date sun enters Aries on the Hindu calendar. (Normally on 14 April or 13 April depending on Leap year). Hindus celebrate the new year by paying respects to their parents and other elders and seek their blessings. They also exchange tokens of good wishes for healthy and prosperous year ahead.
*polar bear plunges are a very common occurrence in the northern hemisphere to celebrate the new year.
*In Greece and Cyprus, families and relatives switch off the lights at midnight, then celebrate by cutting the "vassilopita" (Basil's pie) which usually contains one coin. Whoever gets the coin expects luck for the whole year. After the pie, a traditional game of cards called "triantaena" follows.
*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. 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.
*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.
Happy New Year!:)
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