Preparing for New Years

Today’s the last day of 2013. How will you be spending it? Do you make resolutions? Are you signed up for a 5k tomorrow or will you stay up late and wake up when you wake up? Do you have big plans, small plans, or your only plan is to get to bed before 10am?
If you have to get to bed early, just remember that it’s midnight somewhere, so toast your health and happiness in 2014.
If you will be out drinking heavily, please remember to have someone else drive. Many places offer free taxi service. It’s easier to go and get your car the next morning then to wind up in jail.

Trivia Time

• The Time Square New Year’s Eve Ball came about as a result of a ban on fireworks. The first ball, in 1907, was an illuminated 700-pound iron and wood ball adorned with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs. Today, it’s designed by Waterford Crystal, weighs 11,875-pounds, is 12 feet in diameter and is bedazzled with 2,668 Waterford crystals.
• Food plays a big role in New Year’s traditions. Eating black-eyed peas (also called Hoppin’ John), pork and dark greens (mustard, chard, kale) are thought to bring prosperity. However, stay away from bad luck foods like lobsters, because they move backwards, and chicken, because they scratch in reverse.
• In Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico families stuff a life-size male doll called Mr. Old Year with memories of the outgoing year and dress him in old clothes from each family member. At midnight he is set on fire – thus burning away the bad memories of the year.
• In Spain, it is customary to have 12 grapes at hand when the clock strikes 12 at midnight. One grape is eaten on each stroke. If all the grapes are eaten within the period of the strikes, it means good luck in the new year.

We hope you have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve!