Happy New Year!!

Greetings everyone!  Happy New Year from Bugzy.  Hope you had a safe New Year's Eve.

I have been reading up today how many different traditions there are for New Year's around the world.  People have all kinds of crazy and sometimes strange things they do to supposedly bring "luck" to the new year.Eating certain types of food is a popular one.  So is engaging in some type of activity that you usually do not do.  Let's list some:

• German tradition has eating sauerkraut and pork brings luck
• In Louisiana some believe black-eyed peas brings good fortune
• In Spain, people try to eat 12 grapes all a the same time at midnight.  
• In the Philippines, people eat fruits or foods that are round.  It is said the round food represents coins and will bring good fortune.
• In some South American countries, like Brazil, what color of underwear you wear at midnight will determine your luck for next year:  white will bring peace, red will bring love, gold means wealth.
• In Columbia, people will carry suitcases around at midnight; it is said that this will bring a new year filled with travel and adventure.
• In Thailand, people smear their faces with gray talc powder and spray each other with water or throw buckets of water on everyone.  (I have also read that it is the middle of summer in Thailand then, so it actually feels really good and is fun.)
• In Ireland, people will throw bread against a wall; it is said to warn away evil spirits that will bring bad luck.  (Does it have to be bread?  I wonder if cupcakes, cookies, buns, or some other baked good will work?)
• In a small village in Peru, people engage in fist fights to settle any differences and start the new year with a clean slate.  No, I'm not making this up.

Mama expressing her displeasure with a right cross

Of course, there are lots of people doing "new year's resolutions".  I think it's great.  If you want to take advantage of the change of date to better yourself, more power to you.

The most popular that I have read about are losing weight, getting in shape, stop smoking, drink less alcohol, eat healthier foods, learn something--like a foreign language, spend less on your credit card, recycle more, travel more.Me, I don't have to work on some of these because I'm already a very handsome young man!   And I don't smoke or drink, so there is two more!!

I am going to try to do one thing more:  I am going to try to write to you all every week.  We'll see how I do.   Wish me luck!

PEACE

LOVE

BOOKS!

Bugzy