HOW THE WORLD CELEBRATES NEW YEAR’S Traditions Worth Staying Up For Many of us have New Year’s celebrations that look the same every year. Here in the U.S., it’s common to share a toast, watch the ball drop, and maybe step outside to watch fireworks. Travel a bit, though, and you’ll find people celebrating the same moment with very different traditions. In many places, the year begins with food thought to bring good luck. People in Spain and some Latin American countries follow the tradition of eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight, one for each month ahead. Many Italian families eat lentils, which are thought to look like tiny coins and represent prosperity for the year to come. In the Philippines, round fruits fill the table because circles are tied to good fortune. Other countries have their own take on lucky foods. Germans enjoy marzipan pigs, the Dutch eat ring-shaped pastries, and Estonians sit down for several meals in one night because they believe each extra meal adds strength for the new year. Some cultures focus on clearing out the old year before the new one arrives. Scotland’s Hogmanay traditions include a thorough cleaning of the home and a visit from a “first footer,” the first guest of the year who brings good luck to the household. In Cuba, people fill a bucket with water and toss it out the front door to send off the past year’s troubles. Japan observes Joya no Kane. During this New Year’s ceremony, Buddhist temples ring a bell 108 times to clear away human weaknesses and create a fresh start.
Jalapeño Popper Soup
Ingredients • 4 bacon slices, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces • 5–6 large jalapeño peppers, minced with stems and seeds removed • 1/2 small onion, chopped • 4 garlic cloves, minced • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp cumin • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 1 lb gold potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces • 8 oz full-fat cream cheese • 1 cup shredded fresh cheddar cheese • 2 tbsp lemon juice
Does your office turn away calls about “long-term disability insurance” claim denials because you don’t handle administrative appeals or “ERISA litigation” in federal court? We want to hear from you! We happily share fees on referred ERISA long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental death insurance denial cases. Send us an email at BriefRecess@jpricemcnamara.com or call (225) 201-8311 to start the referral process! WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS! Directions 1. Place a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy, then remove to a plate. 2. Add jalapeños and onion to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Add garlic to the pot and sauté for 1 minute. 4. Stir in chicken broth, cumin, salt, and potatoes, and simmer for 20 minutes. 5. Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl and add 1 ladle of hot broth before mixing. 6. Add cream cheese mixture to the pot and stir. 7. Remove from heat and add cheddar cheese and lemon juice, stirring until the cheese melts. 8. Pour into serving bowls, topping with bacon and more shredded cheese. Inspired by TheRecipeCritic.com
Other traditions center on joy and connection. In Brazil, people wear white and run into
the ocean at midnight to jump seven waves for good fortune. In Mexico, some walk the block with an empty suitcase in hopes of a travel-filled year. Denmark celebrates by leaping off a chair at midnight, which is their way of jumping into a new year. These traditions are as different as the countries that celebrate them, but they’re all really about the same thing. People everywhere just want a hopeful beginning and a chance to make the coming year a good one.
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