As the year draws to a close, many individuals and families turn to cherished traditions to mark the occasion. Recent personal essays reveal a diverse range of customs, from boisterous celebrations to quiet reflection, offering a glimpse into how people find meaning and connection at year’s end.
Unique Year-End Rituals
For one family in St. Louis, New Year’s Eve involved a noisy parade through the neighborhood, banging pots and pans—a practice rooted in an old Irish custom intended to ward off bad spirits. Meanwhile, a family with Japanese heritage observes a tradition of “quiet reflection,” preparing and sharing gyoza dumplings and toshikoshi soba noodles, symbolizing a bridge between years.
Other traditions highlighted include a personal practice of creating annual video diaries, beginning in 2017, to document life’s milestones and changes, and a preference for quiet evenings at home, ordering Chinese food and watching the countdown. A Cuban tradition involves eating 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month of the coming year, while making a wish with each bite.
These traditions, while varied, share a common thread: a desire to acknowledge the passage of time, reflect on the past, and embrace the possibilities of the future. Some traditions evolved over time, such as a family in New Jersey who stopped peeling grapes for their New Year’s tradition after the passing of the family’s great-grandmother, Tata, who had insisted on it.
The essays demonstrate that New Year’s Eve is not a monolithic celebration, but rather a canvas for individual and familial expression. Whether through boisterous noise, quiet contemplation, or creative documentation, people find unique ways to welcome the new year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the 12 grapes eaten in the Cuban tradition?
According to the source, eating 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month of the coming year, is a Cuban tradition intended to bring good fortune. Each grape is accompanied by a wish.
What is toshikoshi soba and why is it eaten on New Year’s Eve?
Toshikoshi soba is a simple noodle dish prepared in Japan on New Year’s Eve. The noodles symbolize a bridge from the past to the present and into the future, as a new year unfolds.
How did the tradition of banging pots and pans originate?
The tradition of banging pots and pans on New Year’s Eve, as practiced by one family, is claimed to be an old Irish custom brought over by great-grandparents, who believed the noise would chase away bad spirits.
What traditions do you and your family cherish as the year comes to a close?
