By: Rohini Gopal ‘27
On Dec.31,2024 the dazzling silver ball will drop in New York City and the excitement of 2025 will ring! The thrown confetti will blow, and New Years Resolutions will be made! Back home, some people leave their Christmas lights up until January, but many see Jan. 1 as the time to take them down.!
Families sing the fabled, “Auld Lang Syne” which is a Scottish folk song. This song speaks of the necessity to retain old friendships while acknowledging that other parts of the past year may have been erased. New memories will start to happen! The phrase, “auld lang syne” translates to “for old times’ sake,” and it is about savoring those moments of joy.
Another tradition is that people watch fireworks and light sparklers. In ancient times, fire and noise were used to dispel evil spirits and bring luck into your life. Many people go to Party City or Target to buy their sparklers which can cost from $7-80. Different cities and towns have regulatios for sparklers, so you may need to check what those are.
In addition, there are specific foods that people eat during this time of year. Black eyed peas are believed to bring prosperity into the new year. You can even pair them with cornbread. Black eyed peas go back to the Civil War when soldiers ate peas with their meals, so it shows some cultural significance. If you include a bit of greenery in the peas, you will insure your financial success as green stands for money. Cornbread is yellow or gold, so is another reference to wealth and prosperity.
Furthermore, opening the windows is a superstition that dates back to the 1930s. Even though New Year’s is one of the coldest times of the year, it is important to welcome the new year in with fresh energy. Also, it might suit you to usher some of the bad memories of the year out of that same window.
As you await the new year, reminiscence on the past year and all of the fun times you had!
THE BEAR FACTS 