New Traditions for the New Year

How do you plan to celebrate the new year?  Counting down the days, hours and minutes to the coming year has always been fun and intriguing for me.  Here in the United States in 2012, the focus is on the fiscal cliff, an imaginary visual describing the state of our finances.   According to our government, Americans will not be holding onto the edge of the cliff anymore in 2013, but heading out into the wild blue yonder of the bottomless pit, like Wylie Coyote.  Frankly, self-employed people like me have already gone over that cliff and all I can report is that most of you looking over the edge should simply hope for the best.  There are millions of us out here already, still tumbling aimlessly, so you won’t be alone.

But wait . . . there is hope!  I came across a listing of New Year’s Eve traditions that sound interesting and may provide a different angle on how we are wishing the new year will bring a better life.   Superstition-schmooperstition, so what?   Why not try something different?  First, don’t forget to download your copy of Single 101’s 101 New Year’s Resolutions, available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Single-101-Years-Resolutions-ebook/dp/B006RY6IP4. Let’s take the leap together!

Good luck and best wishes for love, happiness, good health and prosperity in the coming year . . . Celeste

Global Trends and Traditions:

Eat 12 Grapes
In many cultures around the world it is good luck to eat 12 grapes for each time the clock strikes at midnight.

Hallow Out an Egg
Fill hallowed out egg shells with confetti. At the stroke of midnight, gently smash them releasing a shower of confetti.

Toss Coins Into the Air
Tossing coins into the air could be symbolic of throwing caution to the wind to see where your booty lands, but many believe it can inspire good fortune.

Sing!
Whether you consider yourself a vocalist or not, sing loud and clear!

Anoint Your Friends With Water
Water is the symbol of renewal and rebirth, so think of a fun way to sprinkle your guests. It could be pouring a small amount of water from a glass on someone's head or spraying each other with water bottles.

Throw Confetti
Make use of the basket from your paper shredder or rip apart your discarded Christmas wrapping paper, toss and be merry.

Release Your Wishes into the Sky
Write your wishes for the new year on a Chinese lantern and release it into the air at the stroke of midnight.

Chase Your Blues Away
Jot down something you weren't happy about the previous year on a piece of paper, toss it into the fire or tear it up. Maybe if we all wrote down our discontent for our congressional representatives, we could change Washington with the power of pen and fire.

Jump Into the Air
Embrace the new year with energy and joy, just don’t jump farther than you’re afraid to fall. You don’t want to spend the new year in the hospital.

Share a Secret
Whisper a secret or wish that you have to a friend or a total stranger at the stroke of midnight.