Beyond the Ball Drop How Different Cultures Celebrate the New Year
The New Year is a time for celebration, reflection, and new beginnings. While many of us are familiar with the ball drop in Times Square or the clinking of champagne glasses at midnight, exploring how different countries and cultures ring in the New Year is fascinating. Let’s journey outside the United States to discover a few unique New Year’s traditions from around the world. Spain: Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight As the clock strikes midnight in Spain, people eat 12 grapes — one for each clock chime. This tradition brings good luck and prosperity for the coming year. The grapes are usually eaten in public squares and plazas where crowds gather to celebrate. It’s a race against time to eat all 12 grapes before the last chime, as failing can bring in bad luck. Japan: Joya-no-Kane (Bell Ringing) The Japanese celebrate Joya-no-Kane, where temple bells ring 108 times: 107 times on Dec. 31, and then the 108th ring at midnight on the New Year, bridging the old and new year. This practice is rooted in Buddhist beliefs and is thought to cleanse the 108 worldly desires that cause human suffering.
Denmark: Breaking Plates The Danish have a unique way of showing affection to their friends and family. On New Year’s Eve, it’s customary to break plates and dishes against the doors of loved ones. The more broken pieces you find at your doorstep, the more popular and loved you are. Brazil: Offerings to Iemanjá In Brazil, particularly in coastal cities like Rio de Janeiro, people make offerings to Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea, on New Year’s Eve. They gather at the beach dressed in white and send small boats filled with flowers, candles, and gifts into the ocean as offerings. Scotland: First-Footing In Scotland, the first person to enter a home after midnight is called the “first-footer” and will bring good luck for the year. Traditionally, the first- footer should be a tall, dark-haired male who brings gifts like coal, bread, and whisky to symbolize warmth, luck, and good cheer.
Let’s be honest: Cooking every day can be a hassle, especially for busy people or those who simply want to spend time doing something else. That’s where meal prepping can become a valuable tool to save time and money while ensuring you have something healthy to eat.
throw all of your ingredients in at once, then set it and forget it. You can make a lot of food with little effort and divide the leftovers to eat later.
Get creative with catering.
Many restaurants offer a catering menu where you can order large amounts of pre-cooked food. While you have to check prices, some restaurants like Chipotle offer large
Thankfully, you can find many ways to make meal prep fast and easy while keeping things exciting for your taste buds. Let’s look at four ways to level up your meal prep game. Use frozen veggies. Frozen vegetables are a lifesaver for quick and nutritious meal prep. These veggies are usually flash-frozen at peak ripeness, so they retain most of their nutrients. They can be thrown directly into stir-fries, casseroles, or soups without chopping or pre-cooking. This reduces prep and cooking time, making it easier to maintain a healthy diet. Moreover, you can freeze vegetables for up to 8–12 months, so you can always keep a variety on hand whenever you need them.
Dish Out Meal Prep With a Few Easy Tricks
quantities of food at a reasonable cost. Even if it is a little more expensive than the grocery store, saving that extra time might be worth it.
Use condiments to enhance flavor.
Utilizing condiments wisely can elevate your meals from bland to grand without adding much cook time. Make a batch of versatile sauces
or dressings during your meal prep sessions. For example, you can use a good vinaigrette as a salad dressing, a marinade for meat, or a dip for veggies. By premaking these, you can instantly add flavor to your dishes. Premeasure the amounts to accompany each meal for better portion control. This way, you save time
The slow cooker is your friend. The internet has innumerable simple, one-pot recipes you can make in a slow cooker. The best thing about a slow cooker is that you
and watch your calorie intake.
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