Pouring Lead –<\/strong> Who doesn\u2019t want to know what the next year might bring? In Germany, people melt small pieces of lead in a spoon over a candle, then pour the liquid into cold water. The bizarre shapes from the lead pouring (or Bleigie\u00dfen as it’s known) are supposed to reveal what the year ahead will bring. If the lead forms a ball, luck will roll one\u2019s way, while the shape of a crown means wealth; a cross signifies death and a star will bring happiness.\u00a0 It kind of puts a whole new spin on “get the lead out”.<\/p>\n Scarecrow Burning<\/strong> – In Ecuador, people build scarecrow-like dolls of politicians, pop stars, or other notable figures to set them alight. Burning the a\u00f1o viejo (old year) is meant to destroy all the bad things from the last year and cleanse for the new.\u00a0 You can see the potential here, right?\u00a0 Is it possible to build a scarecrow that exactly replicates Washington DC?<\/p>\n Round Food, Round Clothes, Round Everything<\/strong> – In the Philippines, the start of the new year is all about the money. The locals believe that surrounding themselves with round things (to represent coins) will bring money or fortune. As a result, clothes with polka dots are worn and round food is eaten. I think this one is right in my wheelhouse.\u00a0 After all, cake and cookies are both round.\u00a0 By this measure I should be Bill Gates by now.<\/p>\n Animal Spirits<\/strong> – Rural Romania is steeped in tradition. New Year\u2019s Eve celebrations include mask dances and ceremonies about death and rebirth. Dancers dress up in furs and wooden masks depicting goats, horses, or bears, then dance from house to house to ward off evil spirits. The dance of the bear is the most popular. According to pre-Christian folklore, if a bear enters somebody\u2019s house, it brings prosperity, health, and good fortune.\u00a0 Yeah, tell that to all the people at Tahoe who have “entertained” bears in their house.<\/p>\n Personally, I’ll be sitting in front of a fire eating a great dinner and watching the Utah Utes beat the Texas Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl.\u00a0 It may not be exciting but it beats getting hit on the head with a Barcalounger.<\/p>\n Bob and I would like to wish all of our subscribers and readers a very happy and healthy 2020.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Suzanne Sparrow Watson Well, here we are again, ready to ring out the old and ring in the new.\u00a0 Personally, I’ll be glad to ring out the old since it did such a good job of ringing me out … read more![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/New-Years-Eve-Traditions-Twelve-Grapes-Of-Luck-Spain-975x975-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>The 12 Grapes of Luck<\/strong> – In Spain and some Latin American countries, one New Year\u2019s tradition is to eat 12 grapes, one for each month of the coming year, to secure prosperity. Here\u2019s the challenge: you need to eat one grape with each bell strike at midnight. I think this would be a whole lot easier if we could drink our grapes in a nice Chardonnay.\u00a0 The likelihood of me choking on a grape is quite high with this one.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/New-Years-Eve-Traditions-Throw-Furniture-Out-Naples-975x975-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Tossing Furniture<\/strong> – \u201cOut with the old\u201d is the motto in Naples, where people toss everything from toasters to fridges off their balconies. Getting rid of old possessions symbolizes a fresh start in the new year. To prevent serious injuries, most locals stick to small and soft objects for their throwing tradition, though it\u2019s still a good idea to watch your head should you travel there.\u00a0 Nothing like being hit on the head by a refrigerator to put a cramp in your Italian vacation.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/635555701196163800-The-potato-is-poised-and-ready-to-drop-at-the-Idaho-Potato-Drop-in-Boise-credit-Idaho-Po-224x300.png\")
<\/a>The Potato Drop<\/strong> – With less tradition but more high-tech, the people of downtown Boise will welcome the new year by dropping a giant spud from the sky. More than 40,000 spectators turn up to see the internally lit, 400-pound \u201cGlowTato.\u201d Frankly, my husband and I love Boise and have been visiting there for more than 30 years.\u00a0 Lately it has been overrun by Californians escaping the taxes and high housing prices and it has changed dramatically.\u00a0 I think the Potato Drop is a “jumping the shark” moment for this formerly low-key town.<\/p>\n