Here it comes, another year...

It's 2011!  When we hit a new year I get Will Smith's song "Will 2K" in my head.  Even though we're far from 1999, it's still a catchy little diddy that I think about when reaching a new year. "And we gonna party like it's 19-- hold up, it is!" Whoo! Ha-Ha! Ha-Ha!  Oh, Will Smith.

Every year our family has the traditional New Years day meal.  We eat black eyed peas (usually in Hoppin' John soup), country ham, and greens.  Black eyed peas are supposed to bring you luck.  Pork and cabbage bring wealth.  You better believe I'm going to eat until I pop because I need all the luck and wealth I can get.

Maybe these are just Southern things, but below are some New Year's Superstitions:

• Don't eat chicken or turkey on the 1st.  You'll be like those animals--scratching in dirt for your food all year.  In other words, you'll bring poverty upon yourself.
• Make sure you have food in your pantry.  (I took care of that when I hit up the grocery last night.)
• Nothing goes out of your house on the first day.  Not even trash. (I'm totally cool with this.)
• Make sure to do something and be successful at something related to your work on the first day of the new year, even if you don't go to your place of employment.  Just do a token amount though.  Engaging in a serious project is unlucky.
• Don't do laundry on the first.  You'll wash your luck away and/or someone out of your life. 
• Wear something new to increase the likelihood of receiving new clothes during the year.
• Don't pay back loans or lend out money on New Year's Day.
• Avoid breaking something.
• Avoid crying on the first day of the year.

In summary, don't over-exert yourself on New Year's.  Stay happy and eat.  Cheers.

What are some New Years superstitions/traditions that your family follow?