I get excited each December 31st when I turn on the morning news and the anchors are highlighting celebrations from around the globe.  Video clips from Australia and Japan remind me that no matter where you are from fireworks always mean a party is under way!

And while everyone enjoys a good party, New Year’s Eve also offers a fresh start and hope for the New Year.  As a proud Southerner, I never forget to eat my black-eyed peas, collard greens and hog’s jowl for a healthy and rich year-to-come.  This hearty tradition has been passed down from generation to generation in the south, and my grandmother calls each New Year’s Day to make sure I didn’t forget to cook up a mess.  That annual phone call got me thinking about what others might do to ring in the New Year other than popping bottles of bubbly.

I asked around the office and it turns out that everyone has something special (and totally unique) that they do to bring good luck and good fortune on New Year’s Eve.  For instance, Cubans kick-off the New Year by wearing yellow underwear for good luck and eating 12 grapes at the stroke of Midnight making a wish for each one.  However, my favorite Cuban tradition is walking around the block with an empty suitcase to bring more travel to your New Year.   I can only imagine what the streets of Havana must look like….

For Filipinos, it’s tradition for women to wear polka dots on New Year’s Eve to bring good fortune in the next year.  Each household will also make sure to fill a large bowl with 13 different fruits to bring good luck and prosperity.  And hung like mistletoe, a small bunch of grapes is placed above the door in everyone’s house to usher in even more good luck.

 To me, the most interesting thing about each of these traditions  is no matter where the party may take place everyone is hoping for a better new year than the last.  Whether you hope for good luck, good fortune or good health, I hope you get what you wish for in 2010!

Julie