A friend of mine has a strange New Year tradition. No matter where he is, he goes jogging on 1st morning. It's been the butt of many jokes, but that's his thing. I like cleaning up my cupboard, but that's almost every week, so don't know if it counts as a New Year tradition. I checked up on what people do around the world, and there were pretty funny things around.
Like in Spain, at midnight, Spainards eat 12 grapes, and try and finish the whole bunch by the time the clock stops chiming. In Philippines, they surround themselves with everything round – eat round fruits, wear polka dots – since round reminds them of coins and prosperity. In South America, residents of Sao Paulo and La Paz bring in the New Year wearing brightly coloured underpants – red is for those looking for love, yellow is for those wishing for money and so on. In Belarus, unmarried girls compete at games to determine who's going to get married that year. In USA, it's a tradition to drop a ball, some places a sausage, or a star, or a fish, essentially dropping things to celebrate New Year.
Along with traditions, there are superstitions too. That what they do on New Year's eve is what happens all year through. So many wear new clothes, or the colour red to signify prosperity, babies born on the 1st are considered lucky, crying is considered unlucky, many keep the doors of the house open so that the old year can escape, many kiss at midnight to renew their love, many dance in the open, around a tree to bring prosperity, drain the dregs of their bottle to bring good fortune, some even avoid washing dishes and laundry because they believe it will lead to a death in the family, some don't even wash their hair for that reason. Many stay away from using foul language and behave themselves, many countries don't let anything precious leave the house, not even garbage, to keep luck inside. Many pay all their debts before New Year day, some makes noises to scare off the evil, church bells are rung at midnight for this reason I believe.
Superstitions and traditions there are many, but what seems common is what we all wish for – love and good fortune. No matter who we are, which part of the globe we live in. And why is that so difficult to find or keep I wonder. If market logic were to be applied, if demand is high and supply is low, it becomes rare and the prices rise, and it goes to the one who can make the most effort to get it. Maybe that's why a lot of us keep praying for it. And bet our chances on a lottery. But not everyone wins.
A society that invents superstitions to bring in love and good fortune is probably one that is reeling in the absence of it or is fearful of losing what it has. And that indeed is something to think about. Let's make a resolution, to up the supply this year and spread a lot of love and share our good fortune with those around us. So that next year, even if we wish for diamonds and gadgets and things that we fancy, we won't be wishing for the essential of life - love.
1 comment:
Isn't essential of life very relative?:) To the poor and needy it maybe a square meal, to the chap who lost his leg in amputation because of the it maybe his leg...?
Post a Comment