Happy New Year's Eve

Sarasota's Pineapple Drop

Instead of a ball, the city of Sarasota drops a giant pineapple every New Year's Eve, a tradition that dates back 26 years. The pineapple has 10,000 orange and green lights. A pineapple is a perfect choice here because it is beachy and tropical and also an international symbol of hospitality.

On NewYear's Day, I always have black eyed peas, collard greens, and corn bread to bring luck and fortune in the new year. This is a Southern tradition I love, a tradition dating back over 300 years.

Black eyed peas symbolize coins and wealth. Collard greens represent paper money and financial prosperity. Corn bread signifies gold. 

Black eyed peas have much historical significance - 

Civil War Survival: A common story says Union soldiers left peas behind during raids, deeming them unfit for humans, but they saved starving Southerners, becoming symbols of survival and good fortune.

Emancipation Proclamation: Another theory links the tradition to enslaved people celebrating their freedom on January 1, 1863, the day the Emancipation Proclamation took effect, marking the peas as "freedom food."

West African Roots: The peas themselves were brought by enslaved Africans and were considered good luck charms in West Africa, warding off evil spirits. 

Since New Year's Day does not have a lot of traditions, except for New Year's resolutions, perhaps these are ones you would like to start.