Speaking of holiday traditions: in the U.S. South, we eat blackeyed peas on New Year's day, to ensure good luck all year. They really are good, if you get fresh ones. The canned or dried kind are pretty nasty. We get them fresh at the farmers' market in the summer and freeze them for winter. You'd better believe I'm eating lots of them today. Some people eat them in "Hopping John." It's a dish made of rice, ham, and blackeyed peas, with cajun seasonings. Bumper, you'd like it, I'll bet. I just eat mine alone but well seasoned.

I like that a LOT better than the Mexican and Tex-Mex tradition of eating menudo on New Years Day. It's a very spicy tripe soup; supposed to be a hangover cure. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/sickpuke.gif" width=15 height=15> Muffy probably knows more about it than I do.

My only other tradition is to take down the tree.

I'd love to hear other folks' New Year's traditions.

Don't look at me: I've managed to avoid menudo all but once, and that was back when I was still as much a Mexican kid as an American one. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/sickpuke.gif" width=15 height=15> describes my feelings on the subject exactly. That, fried blood, and Yucatecan beef belly soup are all on my "only if I'll starve to death otherwise" list.
Our household didn't really have any specifically New Year's traditions that I recall, other than the mandatory trip to Mass -- but when you grow up Catholic (and in a Catholic country, on top of it) a trip to Mass for every occasion goes without saying.
The tree never came down until the 7th, though. Not until the 12 days of Christmas were over.
I like this thread. Thanks, Cea. I always like finding out about traditions. Then incorporating the ones I like into my life, naturally. And I do so love black-eyed peas, too. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by muffy on Jan 01, 2002 ---</FONT></center>

My Mother's New Year's tradition, was fresh breakfast eolls, 1st thing in the morning. I remember waking up to that aroma, New Year's day. WE lived in Pasadena, so either breakfast was followed by a brisk walt to the Rose Parade, or, my Dad & I negotiating traffic to get to the Rose Bowl Game

My New Year's Resolution is to not make any resolutions. I always make the same damn ones, and never follow up on any of them. So far I've quit smoking about 7 times, vowed to lose weight 15 times (gained more on all counts), and be nicer to my brother 17 times. None of these things have occurred, and I didnt' even get to get drunk this year to forget how much I hate New Year's Eve to begin with. lol.
So here's to a New Year with no terrorists, no bombings, no blundering into Iraq to settle a score for Daddy Bush, no cashing in on 9-11-01, and no more hating one another over who's God is better. Let's just all be peacable, blundriffic Arlo-lovers, the world over!!!
The world needs to know how great not wanting pickles truly is <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/tiedye.gif" width=17 height=17>

welcome back, Shannon...I missed your Irish fiest....ford made it for a few years
Ford Fiest a...how've you been?
gonna see Sarah Lee, Johnny & arlo, on 30th! that'l be fun

Yes,I agree nit making new years resolutions is the best way for not getting disappointed . But anyway, may this year be better than the last one, may my plans for the future become reality (I'm leaving school this year), may we all stay in ccontact and meet some time somewhere??
and I hope Arlo comes to Europe one day (if I don't come to see him in the US)
May the sixties spirit be preserved in the future (can you say that in English??)

I got the feeling that this year will be special ,don't ask why but I just hope so!!
(Arlo.net 4 ever ) <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

That came out quite well in English fan. I always make New Year's resolutions..and they're the same ones I make all the time anyway. Over and over. Well, man's reach much exceed his grasp and all that, right? Woman's, too.

that's great. Fan! I hope it's a magical year, for you, too

I'm not into resolutions either. The smoking thing wasn't a new years resolution, it was just a health break I happened to start at the end of a month.

I quit going out on new years eve (rookie's night), because I hate the crowds everywhere. Now we just stay at home and play Canasta. Not exciting I know, but it beats dealing with the million extra cops on the street.

Hope everyone's new year is kickass, and filled with Arlo gigs. Get high!

I'll be high in April with my 2 gigs! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Thanks Bump! I missed visting the site, but I was in Florida for a while over my xmas break, and school starts in another week or so (college, we have looong breaks =) Sarah Lee Guthrie is playing very nearby my area, I might mention, knowing what a SLG fan you are! I believe it's in Greenbush, or Albany or someplace this month. So if you're coming to that show, e-mail me, maybe I could see an actual fellow Blunderite in that otherworld...oh yeah, real life!!!

Wow, I discovered two really cool things today. The first is marzipan. I know there's some marzipan addicts here, because I remember much discussion of this stuff back in the old days. I just tasted some today. OH....MY....GOD.... is it yummy.

The second is Joni Mitchell. Ya know, I never gave her much of a chance, because I always prefered much more rockin stuff, and I remember being turned off by her act ages ago. But a friend borrowed my a disc called "The Hissing of Summer Lawns", and it totally blew my mind. I love the jazzy hooks, blissful melodies, and magnificent lyrics. She is a poet if nothing else. Anyone ever heard this album? Anyone else have other Joni favorites?

My god, I'm playing Joni Mitchell cd's-am I getting old? Quick, somebody grab my Rage Against The Machine disc before I mellow!!!!!

lcj, I'm going to have to meditate on the fact that listening to Joni is a sign of age in some circles. <deep sigh> Speaking of circles, it's not a very esoteric choice, but her Circle Game just continues to be one of my favorite songs..more and more as the end of the carousel ride hoves into view.

I'm sorry Pat, I didn't mean to make you feel old. I was speaking from a personal point of view, since I seem much more tolerant to Joni-like music lately. Besides, old liberals never die, they just get sharper!!! Look at Studs Terkel for proof of that!

Joni is wonderful, and such a classic folkie. Still can't get over the fact she and Bobby D. had an affair for so long. Ah, love those diamonds in the rough...or was it the gruff? <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/naughty.gif" width=15 height=15>