Happy New Year!

In many cultures the heralding of each New Years Eve is not done by yourself. It is a time to come out of your shell and celebrate with other people, friends, and family into the wee hours of the first day of each new year. Attend a New Years Eve Party this year, or host your own!

In one way or another, many believe that what they do within the first few minutes of the New Year will affect how that year will become in their personal lives. I think it's pretty neat to read what others have done in the past, and their traditions for New Years celebrations. Maybe you can incorporate a few of the below suggestions into becoming your family's tradition!

The history of New Years began with the Babylonians (2000 B.C.). The first known Babylonian New Year was at the beginning of Spring. Today's firecrackers, fireworks, party noise makers, and everything else we do to be loud represent the Babylonians belief that if they made loud noises at the beginning of each year, it would keep the evil spirits away from the New Year.

The history of the New Years Resolution is also from the Babylonians. Since it was first celebrated at the beginning of Spring, they resolved to return borrowed farm implements to their owners and start the Spring without owing anyone anything.

Here's some of the more notable traditions of New Years Celebrations:

In Brazil they dress in white for a year of good luck.

In Denmark, people throw old dishes at their friends and families doors. The more broken dishes at a doorway represented the owners amount of popularity.

In Ecuador, people walk around the block with their suitcase if they want to go on the journey of their dreams, and wear yellow underwear for a year of good luck.

In Germany, people tell fortunes of the coming year by reading the shapes of hot lead being dropped into cold water.

In Guatemala, people sweep the dirt out of their homes to signify new beginnings, and set a suitcase outside their door for future trips.

In Mexico, they wear red underwear for finding love, or yellow underwear for prosperity. People sweep the dirt out of their homes to signify new beginnings, and set a suitcase outside their door for future trips. Mexicans also hang wool sheep dolls on doorknobs for prosperity, and fill life sized dolls with firecrackers for noise.

The Philippines people wear polka dotted clothing or other patterns with circles for prosperity. Phillipinos throw coins at the stroke of midnight and walk around their homes shaking coins in a metal container for prosperity. They also jump as high as possible to increase their physical height, and are aware of and practice making lots of noise to keep the evil spirits away.

In The Rural Quebec Area people party with their friends and ice fish.

In Russia, people are silent and making their secret wishes for the year during the first 12 seconds of each New Year as they listen to the Kremlin clock bell ring 12 times. A type of the "First Footing" tradition in Russia is practiced, desiring the first visitor to step over the home's threshold into the home in the New Year to be a male, for the home to experience a good year. They believe they'll have a great year if the first visitor is an unexpected male.

In Serbia, people celebrate similar to the U.S. Christmas Day. Decorating trees that have presents "appear" from Grandpa Frost near midnight to be opened then or when the family wakes up. They celebrate a "Street of Open Heart" festival on the central Svetogorska avenue during New Years Day with open air theaters, food, and drinks. In the evening on January 1st, Serbia people attend the festival again, or celebrate at homes and nightclubs.

Scotland refers to New Years as Hogmanay. The "First Footing" tradition is a national custom that begins right after midnight. They desire the first visitor to step over the home's threshold into the home in the New Year to be a tall dark haired male bearing a symbolic gift of a silver or gold coin for wealth towards the home for the coming year. Many homes will make blond or redhaired men and all women wait to enter the home until that first tall dark haired man enters. The Scottish then celebrate with all their guests.

Different areas of Scotland observe local traditions, such as blessing their homes and livestock by 'Sprinkling Magic Water' from a dead and living ford (a river ford that is crossed by the living and the dead) throughout the household, the barns, and on people in the home. Then they 'Sain the Household and Livestock' by burning Juniper branches for their smoke, sealing the home and barns, and carrying the smoking branches throughout the buildings until they're completely full of smoke. Once everything is full of smoke, the home and barn windows and doors are opened to let in the fresh air of the New Year. The mistress of the home administers 'a restorative' (whisky), and the inhabitants sit down to their Happy New Year breakfast.

Another area of Scotland observes the New Year on January 11th from the Julian calendar by 'Burning the Clavie'. The Clavie are wood casks filled with tar that are lighted and carried throughout the town on the way to the town's alter ruins. On the way to the ruins, the carriers hand smouldering pieces of the wood from the Clavie to onlookers for a year of good luck. At the alter ruins is a bonfire of split tar-filled wood barrels. People desire the lighted pieces to kindle their New Years fires at home, and take pieces of the charcoaled Clavie in their chimneys to ward off evil spirits from their home.

In another area of Scotland, people celebrate by fire twirling, fire spinning, and fire dancing. The fire is made from any flammable material wrapped in a ball shape of chicken wire. As the bells herald in the New Year, the fire balls are lit and twirled around the carriers head as they travel the road by the sea, throwing the spent fire balls into the sea. After the last fire ball is thrown into the sea there's a display of fireworks.

In Singapore, people write their wishes for the coming year on a piece of paper. They are all gathered to be put in lighted 'Wishing Spheres' to float on Marina Bay. To give you an idea of how huge this is, normally there are 20,000 lighted 'Wishing Spheres' floating on the bay.

In Spain, people wear new red underwear for a year of good luck.

In Suriname on the morning of December 31st, people start celebrating with fire crackers that are woven into long 'ribbons', music and dancing into the evening fiestas. The fiesta at the main tourist district in Suriname stop a few hours before midnight for everyone to go home and light their own fire crackers at the stroke of the New Year, and resume back in the district to party until daylight.

In the United States the tradition of 'Opening the House' to family and friends is observed, which started with the 17th Century Dutch immigrants.

In Venezuela, people wear red underwear for finding love, or yellow underwear for a year of good luck. They also walk around the block with their suitcase if they desire to travel, and when toasting the New Year hold a high value piece of money for prosperity in the coming year.

In Wales, people exchange gifts and money.

Celebrations wouldn't be complete without food! It is traditional all around the world to 'Eat For Luck and Prosperity'. The tradition may have been adopted and adapted from the Babylonian Talmud (500 CE) to eat the good luck symbols at the Jewish New Year.

Traditional Pennsylvania 'Dutch' food of Pork, Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes

The most popular traditional main dish is pork, whether in the form of ham, sausage, brats, or roasts. Having food in the pantry for winter was synonymous of being prosperous. Butchering a hog for the New Years table symbolized plumpness, having enough to eat, filling the pantry, and moving forward (since the pig roots in a forward motion with it's snout).

Hoppin' John

It is suggested that Southerners in the United States came upon their tradition of eating Black Eyed Peas from being left with only field peas and field corn to eat by the Union troops, who thought they were unsuitable to eat themselves during the Civil War (1861-1865).....But Black eyed peas were recorded in the Babylonian Talmud (500 CE) as one of the good luck symbols to eat at the Jewish New Year. The first Sephardi Jews still following the custom arrived in the US state of Georgia in the 1730s.

Hoppin' John consists of:
Black Eyed Peas
Pork (Jowls, Bacon, Fatback, Salt Pork, Ham Bones, or Ham)
Greens (Mustard, Turnip, or Collard)
served over Rice
with Corn Bread

Eating the dish is believed to bring prosperity for the coming year. Black Eyed Peas swell and enlarge symbolizing prosperity, and the Greens symbolize paper money. Some also put a small silver coin in the dish before serving; the recipient becoming the ward of Lady Luck and Lady Fortune in the coming year.

In Guatemala grapes are eaten, one at each of the 12 chimes of the New Year while making a wish at each chime.

In Italy pork sausage, stuffed pig's trotters (zampone), ham hocks or pig's knuckles are eaten with lentils and garnished with parsley. The lentils symbolize coins for prosperity, and parsley to keep the evil spirits away.

In Mexico grapes or raisins are eaten, one at each of the 12 chimes of the New Year for good luck in the coming year.

In Peru gold colored food or food with gold colored spices like tumeric or tadillo are eaten for prosperity.

In the Phillipines circular foods are eaten, believing the symbol of the circle will attract prosperity in the coming year.

In Portugal grapes or raisins are eaten, one at each of the 12 chimes of the New Year for good luck in the coming year.

In Spain grapes or raisins are eaten, one at each of the 12 chimes of the New Year for good luck in the coming year.

Going out to the clubs for a New Years Party? Well, you must have a party hat or tiara!

Very High/Tall New Year's Eve Hats

Black New Year's Eve Top Hats

Fiber Optic New Year's Bottle Hat

Stand out from the crowd with this champagne bottle hat! It's got fiber optic strands coming out of the top that light up by activating the included batteries

Multi-Colored New Years Tiarra's

New Years Eve Party Bird Tiara

Mulit Colored Happy New Year Confetti Horns (12)

Black/Silver Happy New Year Confetti Horns (12)

Gold Confetti Horns On Bead Necklace (12)

Silver Confetti Horns On Bead Necklace (12)

1 Gold Confetti Horn On Bead Necklace

1 Silver Confetti Horn On Bead Necklace

The bead necklace is 36", and the horn continues to make noise after the confetti is emptied.

1 Happy New Year Bead Necklace

Champagne Bottle & Glasses Necklace

20 Multi-Colored Noise Makers

1- Star Happy New Year Bopper

1- 2012 New Year Bopper

Kiss Me Button

1- 2012 Glitter Foil Glasses

1- 2012 Glittered Plastic Glasses

If you're planning on being a party animal this year, don't 'pay for it' the next day! Any of the top 3 products available for curing hangovers would certainly be on my list for New Years Day!

Undo Your Hangover with Hangunder!

Choose to use Hangunder before going to bed or the next morning, and start to feel better in as little as 5 minutes! Mix this orange flavored hangover cure with a glass of water. There's enough in this package for 6 of your drinking buddies or 6 different party nights.

PreToxx Hangover Help

PreToxx for hangovers is taken before you start partying. Nice big bottle of 30 tablets, enough for everyone at the New Years Eve party? The tablets are time released, and you can consume 2 to 4 (depending on how much you plan to drink!).

Drinkin Mate

Take 1 of these wild berry flavored tablets, mix it in a glass of water, and drink it before passing out for the night! You'll wake the next morning with no hangover! There's 6 packages of 2 tablets each, so you can share it with your friends.

Ahhhh, safe at home enjoying the company of your invited guests; partying, drinking, laughing, eating, telling jokes, and playing games! What fun!! You'll need a few things to jazz up the home and make it party ready, so check out these cool things:

New Years Eve Large Flag

28" X 40" Unique New Years Eve Flag with the wording "O Come All Ye Thirsty". Original artwork with permanent dye on 100% polyester. Weather, mildew, and fade resistant. Machine washable.

Happy New Year Wind Spinner for Indoor or Outdoor

Colorful Happy New Year Door Cover

Funny New Years Bathroom Door Cover

25 Happy New Year Latex Balloons

3ft x 6ft Balloon Bag

Balloon Net for 650 Balloons

Gotta have some tunes don't ya? Wouldn't it be nice to have at least 1 person at your party that knew all the words to Auld Lang Syne? That is possible if you get this CD, lol

The Auld Lang Syne: The Ultimate New Years Eve Celebration CD contains many different types of music to help you and your party guests bring the year 2012 in with style and fun. The CD has the following tracks:

Anthem to the New Year
A Swingin' Country New Year
The Tex-Mex New Year's Polka
Auld Lang Syne (The traditional version)
New Year's Freestyle Disco
New Year's Freestyle Disco (Extended mix)
Funky Disco Countdown/Anthem to the New Year
Party Time Countdown/A Swingin'Country New Year
Party Time Countdown/The Tex-Mex New Year's Polka
Prelude Countdown/Auld Lang Syne (Traditional)
Space Age Countdown/New Year's Freestyle Disco
Funky Disco Countdown
Party Time Countdown
Prelude to the New Year Countdown
Space Age Countdown
New Age Stopwatch (no vocal countdown)
Dramatic Synthesizer (no vocal countdown)

What's everyone going to DO at your party? You surely don't want them to become bored. A couple of these games would liven it up!

Spin the Bottle Adult New Years Eve Game

Saucy Charades New Years Eve Game

Deluxe Dirty Minds New Years Eve Game

The Game of Things New Years Eve Game

Ok, so you're not that great at making a list or remembering everything you need for your party .........well here's some party kits already made up for you containing everything you'll want for your guests to have a blast with at your party!

New Years Eve Party Kits For 10 People

Silver Legacy New Years Party Kit for 10

Kit includes 5 Toppers, 5 Tiaras, 5 9" Foil Horns, 5 Deluxe Noisemakers, 5 Leis, and 20 Flame Resistant Serpentine Throws (hand thrown streamers)

The 42nd Street New Years Party Kit for 10
Kit includes 5 Top Hats, 5 Tiaras, 5 Noise Makers

The Midnight New Years Eve Party Kit for 10
Kit includes 5 Party Hats, 5 Tiaras, 10 Horn Noise Makers, and 5 Party Beads

Accessory Party Favors for 10
Includes 10 Party Beads, 10 Horns, and 5 Confetti Bursts

New Years Eve Party Kits For 25 People

2012 Glitter New Years Party Kit for 25
12 Hats, 13 Tiaras, 25 Horns, and 25 2012 Glasses

New Years Eve Party Kits For 50 People

Fire and Ice New Years Party Kit for 50
Includes 25 Fedoras
25 Plumed Tiaras
50 Horns
25 Party Beads





Midnight Glow New Year's Eve Party Kit for 50
224 piece kit Includes:
Party Hats
Tiaras
Noise Makers
Leis



The Gold Legacy New Years Party Kit for 50
Kit includes:
25 Top Hats
25 Tiaras
25 Party Horns
25 Leis
25 Noise Makers
200 Flame Proof Serpentine Throws (hand thrown streamers)

The Miami Nites New Years Eve Party Kit for 50
Kit includes:
12 Top Hats
13 Hi Hats
25 Tiaras
50 Party Horns
200 Flame Proof Serpentine Throws (hand thrown streamers)

The Western Nights New Years Party Kit for 50
Kit includes:
25 Cowboy Hats
25 Tiaras
40 Party Horns
10 Cow Bells
12 Cowboy Party Beads
13 Party Beads

Swingin' Silver New Year's Eve Party for 50
Kit includes:
25 Fedora Hats
25 Tiaras
50 Party Horns
25 Party Beads

The Broadway Swing New Years Party Kit for 50
Kit includes:
25 Fedora Hats
25 Tiaras
25 Party Horns
25 Party Beads

New Years Eve Party Kits For 100 People

Silver Bonanza New Years Eve Party Kit for 100
Includes 1 Bartender Hi-Hat
1 Plumed Waitress Tiara
45 Foil Hats
5 Top Hats
50 Tiaras
20 Noise Makers
36 Party Beads
80 Horns
14 Leis
25 Balloons
100 Flame Resistant Serpentine Throws (hand thrown streamers)
and 1 8.5ft Happy New Year Banner

The Centurion New Years Eve Party Kit for 100
Kit includes:
50 Party Hats
50 Tiaras
60 Party Horns
40 Noise Makers
50 Leis
50 Balloons
400 Flame Proof Serpentine Throws (hand thrown streamers)
1 19"x25" New Years Poster
1 66" New Years Banner

The Golden Bonanza New Years Eve Party Kit for 100
Kit includes:
1 Bartender Hat
1 Waitress Tiara
5 Top Hats
45 Party Hats
50 Tiaras
20 Noise Makers
80 Party Horns
36 Party Beads
14 Leis
25 Balloons
100 Flame Proof Serpentine Throws (hand thrown streamers)
1 102" New Years Banner

Even with small gatherings in your home, a Happy New Year Banner is a must to decorate with!

2012 Glittered Banner

Happy New Year Banner 6" x 60"

12- Happy New Year Prismatic Banners

1- Gold Prismatic New Year Banner

1- Silver Prismatic New Year Banner

1- Multicolored Happy New Year Banner

1- Gold Glittered Happy New Year Banner

1- Silver Glittered Happy New Year Banner

1- Gold & Metallic Fringe Happy New Year Banner

1- Multicolored Metallic New Year Banner

1- Silver & Metallic Fringe Happy New Year Banner

Ooooo the fun stuff to decorate your New Years Eve party! I like messing with crepe paper myself, stringing it up everywhere!

15" Champagne New Years Eve Party Table Centerpieces (pack of 12)

15" Gleam N Burst New Years Eve Party Table Centerpiece (1)

54" x 102" New Years Tablecloth Decoration

Black Flame Resistant Crepe Streamer 85 Feet/Roll (pack of 12)
Black Flame Resistant Crepe Streamer 81 Feet/Roll (pack of 6)

Gold Flame Resistant Crepe Streamer 85 Feet/Roll (pack of 12)
Gold Flame Resistant Crepe Streamer 81 Feet/Roll (pack of 6)

Gray Flame Resistant Crepe Streamer 85 Feet/Roll (pack of 12)

Don't forget to wish all your family and friends with a New Years Greeting. Sending eCards would be a quick and easy way!

Create a Free New Years eCard using your personal photos, videos and music!

. .

New Years eCards
Free Trial!

FREE Trial!
Mobile eCards
For New Years!

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