Our New Year’s Tradition

“Preserving tradition has become a nice hobby, like stamp collecting.”
~ Mason Cooley

“I had only one superstition. I made sure to touch all the bases when I hit a home run.” ~ Babe Ruth

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Tradition means (according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary):

1. an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)
2. a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
3. the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
4. cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs and institutions, characteristic manner, method, or style

Superstition means (according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary):

1. A belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
2. An irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature or God resulting from superstition
3. A notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary

I won’t belabor the point by including the grammar and pronunciation – because I think you get the point.

Let me explain why we had to revisit 4th grade (and you didn't even have to write the words 5 times each!) J

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In 1986, Lou Holtz had a sign commissioned when he became the head coach after seeing the phrase “Play like a Champion Today” written in a book about Notre Dame football. He had it placed on the route to the field so players could slap it as they passed it. Tradition?

Yet, if a player wears the same socks for every game or gets dressed in a certain routine, we consider that superstition.

So because an iconic coach made the gesture of putting up a sign (that the players slap) or a player chooses to put on one sock, one shoe, one sock, one shoe… aren’t they both tradition superstition?

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Some people are funny about their Christmas tree. Tradition says you can’t put your Christmas tree up until after Thanksgiving and you should never take it down until after New Year’s. Why? Who said? Is that really tradition or superstition?

And who said you can’t wear white after Labor Day or until Easter? Is it really a fashion emergency or is that tradition or superstition?

Some things can be identified as true superstition – like “it’s a full moon” (so the nuts are out) and you should say “break a leg” instead of “good luck” to a performer – because apparently saying “good luck” is actually “bad luck”.

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Nan Guy (my Dad’s mom) was very superstitious about some stuff. Like, she had a rocking chair in her living room that if no one was sitting in it – you couldn’t rock it.  You know, like you’re a kid… laying on the floor and your foot is in on the rung of the rocker and you start to rock it…. Uh-Uh!  Evidently it brings bad luck.

We (my cousins and I) were also taught:

• Friday the thirteenth is an unlucky day

• A rabbit's foot brings good luck

• An apple a day keeps the doctor away

• To find a four-leaf clover is to find good luck

• If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck

• If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck

• To break a mirror will bring you seven years bad luck

• To open an umbrella in the house is to bring bad luck

And one of my favorites:

• If you put your shirt on inside out (or backwards) – it had to stay that way until you changed – because apparently, that was good luck

Nan Guy had a couple other quirky superstitions – and I guess that’s a “gift” I inherited, too because most of those that I listed - I still believe and I’ve actually added a few more to the list.

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There is a New Year’s tradition - New Year’s Eve related - that Aboy and I have observed going back to the mid 90’s. I don’t remember how it came to be but it’s true and I’m not going to tempt fate and try to do something to hurt my chances for a good year.

“How you spend New Year’s is how you will live the entire year”

No biggy, right?  WRONG!

We established this in the mid 90’s because through observation (and reflection) we noticed that if we were together (and happy) for New Year’s, we’d generally have an argument free year.

If we went out, drinking, with friends and family … our year was a “party” – lots of hanging out and drinking and late nights.

And if we were separated (because of work or we just weren’t together) – our year was filled with long hours working or arguments and separation.

So in saying that, I’ve peeled back another layer on that onion.

On New Year’s Eve, my house is immaculate. All the dishes are washed, put away and all the clothes are clean and hung up. All the dusting is done, carpets are cleaned and clutter is confined. Aboy doesn’t drink anymore and even though I do, I may just have a glass of wine or a mixed drink for New Year’s. Most importantly, (even though Aboy gripes about it every year) – we are home, together.

What makes me laugh about our tradition is if we manage to stay up long enough to watch the ball drop, generally for the year, we’re able to stay up past 10pm and still wake up at a working hour (around 6am). If we fall asleep and miss the ball… it will be a year of “in the bed by 9” for us.

So you can see why it’s so important my house is in order! I would lose my mind if I woke up to a cluttered, dirty house for an entire year and because of forces beyond my control – would have no ability to change that outcome until the following year!

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So before I go - because there are carpets to wash and shelves to dust... I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2012!!!

I’ll finish with this Irish Proverb:

“May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.”