to the new year. here's hoping this will be the year when good prevails, all wars end, and all nations get to see eye to eye. i know, ain't happening but that is my wish.
i set up a simple table to welcome the new year. partner teased me tonight asking me where is the fruit bowl. in the past, i'd get crazy buying grapes, oranges, apples and other fruits, filling in a bowl as centerpiece for the table, and smaller bowls in the bedrooms. it's a belief my ancestors got from the Chinese that there should be round things come new year as they signify money and hence wealth. when we first stayed together i hung bunches of grapes on doorways and windows and his mother (god bless her soul) would look at me funny. in the old country we would have to dress up in clothes with polka dot prints, with pockets where we would put all our coins and jiggle them as the old year switches to the new one. my mother would beat up her pots around the house, to drive the old bad spirits away and scare off the new bad ones, and i always got in trouble because i would ask what if the good spirits got scared too? (in later years i had deduced that that was why almost everyone's pots and pans were warped.) the windows needed to be open to let good luck in, and i would ask what if the bad luck also comes in? and we wore special hats and played with horns and noisemakers and sparklers. my father would lit up fire crackers and made fireworks. the same things happened around the neighbourhood, in the village, in the city, in the whole country perhaps. then after ten minutes we sat down and eat because that would mean for the whole year we wouldn't be without food.
but tonight all these are just childhood memories. i have decided i will honour the new year differently. i know we won't have any visitors so i did not have to make anything special, if at all, i would probably make bread pudding, there's a big bag of frozen left over bread i've been saving and partner loves my bread pudding especially when i make the rhum sauce without the rhum but with whisky instead.
so off to bed i go. thank you for your kind visits and comments; know that they are truly appreciated.
Thanks for sharing those great childhood memories that are part of your cultural heritage. Here in Australia we gathered with other families and friends from the district for a pleasant shared meal under the stars. It was beautiful. All being farmers, we were praying for rain to come. Right on midnight as we all cheered and clapped and kissed and hugged each other a tiny mist of rain fell and brightened all our spirits even further. It wasn't much but it filled us with hope.
Happy New Year my friend and peace for 2014. Hoping to see you soon on a new adventure. Planning a meet up in Guelph with @k1w1 this week, it will be nice to see her. Will be thinking of you on our adventure, until we meet again, take care.
That fruit cake looks delicious. May I join you for a slice? Love hearing all about the different traditions that are around the world. Your narrative made me smile, I can just imagine your mum marching around bashing a pan!
You know how to tell a good story! I've enjoyed reading your commentaries and seeing your photos over the past four months. Congrats on completing your second year!
Beautiful Vicki. Love the story of New Years past. What fantastic memories. I so love old traditions :) May 2014 be filled with all the happiness and joy your heart can hold. Happy New Year and I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon. Hugs!
January 1st, 2014
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