Happy New Year

[J. Beckert]

Excellent job. He's very talented.

[LincolnMan]

Thanks everyone. Nathan's talent is truly amazing. He didN't get it from me. He is almost finish with a second pencil sketch of Lncoln. It will feature just Lincoln's head. I got a sneak peak at it- it's breathtaking. He thinks he may have it finished tonight.

[BettyO]

My word! Bill, he's another Lloyd Ostendorf - beautiful work!

[LincolnMan]

You know Betty- you're right! It is that good!

[L Verge]

I agree! Remind me again how old Nathan is?

[LincolnMan]

Nathan is 26 years old. He was going to finish the next Lincoln drawing tonight but we are having a blizzard in Detroit. Where is he? Earning money plowing snow!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Bill, I wholeheartedly second the others! Will we get the chance to marvel at the new sketch, too?

[RJNorton]

Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful and happy New Year!

[Thomas Kearney]

I second Roger, hope everyone stays up until Midnight!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Happy, prosperous New Year to everyone (mine is already over 2,5 hrs old) - and each day in good health! May all your wishes for 2016 come true!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1r08l_...year_music

[BettyO]

Happy New Year to our Forum Friends....may 2016 be ALL that. 2015 wasn't!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Happy New Year to our Forum Friends....may 2016 be ALL that. 2015 wasn't!

Thanks, Betty - for my part I can say 2015 was a good year, and the level is already high for 2016 to be as good (and the best things will unlikely repeat).

However, I wish everyone today in one year you will say 2016 was a good year.

[LincolnMan]

Happy New year all!

[BettyO]

In the South, it's a tradition to eat "Hoppin' John" (black-eyed peas with tomato, hot peppers, rice and bacon or ham) for good luck.....

Be sure to eat your black-eyed peas and yes, I DO eat them, although those who know me are aware that I'm strictly somewhat carnivorous - not counting sugar, chocolate and breads!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Very interesting, Betty. Are there any other American "good luck" traditions on New Year? Or symbols at all?

Germans traditionally give each other a "Glücksbringer" (a "bringer of luck") on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. The most popular "Glücksbringers" are:

- a "Glücksschwein" ("lucky pig" - and the German phrase "Schwein haben", literally "to have pig", actually means "to be lucky", also you wish "viel Schwein" "much pig" = "good luck")
- four-leaf clover
- toadstools (a fortunate person may be called a "Glückspilz" = a "lucky mushroom")
- a chimney sweep
       
Often you will find combinations, e.g. marzipan piglets munching on a little four-leaf clove with a toadstool attached to it, or chimney sweep figures in little pots of four-leaf clover.

[Less popular for New Year, but in general:
- a horseshoe (must be put up with the opening atop, otherwise the luck will fall out).
- a ladybug]


One popular and traditional fun party game on New Year's Eve is "Bleigießen", Molybdomancy. Everyone melts a bit of lead (yes, it is toxic!) in a spoon over a candleflame and pours it into a bowl of water. Then you try to find out in the included chart what the resulting figure tells about "your" year to come. E.g. the elephant means strength, the golfer success in something, and the dog a new friendship.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molybdomancy
       

I post this because I love to learn about foreign traditions, and maybe some of you do, too. Now - please tell me, are there any "lucky" or other New Year traditions in the US? Thanks - I'd love to know!