Januuary 1, 2009
There is an old Sicilian tradition that says good luck will come to those who eat lasagna on New Year's Day!
Laughing at that are you?
Better take heed. The folklore surrounding that custom also says that macaroni or any other noodle consumed on New Year's Day will bring you bad luck.
Incidentally, there are other New Year's Day practices that bear some mention and are just as unique as the "lasagna brings good luck" one.
A quick internet search found these curious yet extraordinary customs practiced by folks around the globe. All are guaranteed to bring good luck and good fortune.
In England, the first guest or visitor of the New Year should be male and should bring gifts. All visitors who arrive too early and empty-handed, and presumably, all females, must wait on the guy bearing gifts before they can enter. That doesn't exactly get a party off to a great start!
In Spain, when the clock strikes midnight, one must eat 12 grapes, one with each toll. Each grape brings good luck for each month of the year ahead. Wow...you would have to eat grapes incredibly fast! Think about it.
Meanwhile, in Peru, those folks are eating grapes, too, on each strike of the clock, precisely at midnight. However, in Peru, one must consume a 13th grape, to seal the deal--now, good luck will assuredly be yours!
In Wales, at the first strike of the clock at midnight on New Year's Eve, one must run to the back door and open and close it. This sends all the bad luck of the current year out the door where it is locked out forever. Then, one must run quickly to the front door in order to open that just as the clock strikes 12. This practice welcomes in the good luck of the New Year.
In the United States, folks traditionally share a kiss that symbolizes purification and welcomes in the good fortune of the New Year.
Consider this. What would it be like if one tried to practice all these customs at once?
The clock is starting to toll midnight. With the first strike, quick eat a grape. Then, run to the back door, open and close it, while eating a grape on each strike of the clock. Run to the front door and let in the new good luck of the New Year, all fresh and clean, but be careful, all-the-while, to not let in a female guest who does not bear gifts. Now, everyone kiss.
Wait, hold the phone.
We forgot about the 13th grape.
This could be a game show.
Lasagna on New Year's Day seems a whole lot easier.
