Nicole’s e-Pistle “Happy New Year”

December 31, 2025

Greetings, Friends, and Happy New Year!

If any of you have figured out how to make time slow down, I would appreciate your help! I cannot believe it is hours away from being 2026! We are still in Florida celebrating Christmas and New Year’s with Family, but I doubt we will stay up long enough to count down to the New Year.

I wonder what your New Year’s traditions are. Do you stay up late and watch the ball drop in Times Square? Do you make a special dinner of ham and black-eyed peas? Will you binge-watch some favorite movies or shows, such as When Harry Met Sally or Happy New Year, Charlie Brown? Do you take up your favorite hobby, believing that whatever you are doing as the New Year’s clock strikes midnight will be something you continue to do all year? Do you make a list of your New Year’s resolutions (a practice that evidently dates back 4,000 years to the Babylonians!)?

Whatever your plans, I found an interesting article by Good Housekeeping that shares some popular traditions from around the world on New Year’s Eve. Here are some of the highlights:

[Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/g25360543/new-year-traditions/ ]

In Spain, people eat one grape at each stroke of midnight.

In Brazil, people who follow the Umbanda religion jump over seven ocean waves, making a wish each time.

In Ireland, single people put mistletoe under their pillows, hoping to dream of the one they will marry.

In Greece, people hang onions over their doors as symbols of fertility and abundance.

In Denmark, people stand on chairs and “leap” into the new year at the stroke of midnight.

In Soviet Russia, Christmas was banned, so New Year’s became the gift-giving occasion.

In the Philippines, people wear polka dots and eat twelve round fruits, one for each month of the year.

In Germany and Austria, people give lucky charms to each other.

In Colombia, people run around the block carrying empty suitcases, ensuring a year of travel ahead.

All superstition aside, I pray for health and peace for all of you in the New Year and beyond. May you each be filled with the love of God and find joy in sharing that love with others! See you soon!

Blessings and peace,