It’s that time again. This year I’ve got a whole long list of resolutions. That’s right. New years is just two days away. I’ve got my list. Do you have yours? If you are like more than half of all American’s the answer is no.

Only 40-45% of all American’s make New Years Resolutions. I had some success last years so I’m willing to try this year. Besides, with such a long list I’ve got a good shot at keep some of them, right?

So what are my chances? Here are the statistics that I could find on how well people kept their resolutions:
- After the first week: 75%
- After 2 weeks: 71%
- Beyond one month: 64%
- Beyond 6 months: 46%

That’s not bad. But 80% or so say they will fail. We plan to fail. I’m one of them. I have already said it. Perhaps a self fulfilling prophecy? I wonder what the statistics are in relation to the number of resolutions one has. I have twelve. What are my chances of keeping my top four most important to me ones? Or the two I think are the easiest? Perhaps I can keep them all. I didn’t make them over the top impossible. No three hours a day in the gym with the membership I’m about to buy. I KNOW I won’t do that. Simple things that are absolutely doable such as take one walk a week. Simple things that for whatever reason I am not now doing. Read at least one book a month. Why haven’t I done that? I will find the time to do it in the new year. Its not too much.  Sure, not all of them are that easy. Some will take some time to get into the habit of. But really, I haven’t set any mind-boggling-way-out-never-gonna-happen resolutions. So why do I tell myself I won’t keep my resolutions? Maybe that is also part of our new years traditions? 

So maybe it’s time for some new traditions. What about the rest of the world? What do they do?

In the Netherlands they burn they Christmas trees and let off fireworks to drive out the old year and ring in the new. Simple and fun.
At the announcement of the Persian new year, Norouz, which is the exact moment of spring all member of the family kiss each other. A pray for health and happiness may be read. A special meal is prepared.  The main part includes a special rice made with herbs called sabzi polo, special fish and kuku sabzi, a quiche made with herbs.
From day 1 - 12 of the New Year people visit with each other. Usually older relatives first. Children receive Eidi, money, as a New Years gift. On the 13th day everyone goes on a picnic. It is considered unlucky to stay home on the 13th day.

In Switzerland people celebrate Old Sylvester’s Day on the 13th of January according to the Julian calendar. People dress in costumes and hats and walk through the streets representing good and evil spirits. A drop of cream on the floor was said to bring ‘overflowing abundance’ for the year.

In India the New Year is called Diwali. It is a festival of lights. Its celebrated in different ways in different parts of the country. In northern India it is celebrated for three days at the end of October and early November when houses are decorated with small oil lamp on their rooftops, window ledges and pathways. This is thought to replace evil with good.

Diwali marks the end of the year so people try to finish up incomplete work and pay off old debts. They buy new account books and get them blessed. Those who can afford it buy new things for their homes and businesses and new clothes.

In India they also make resolutions. I don’t know what their success rate is.

In Kerala, southern India, mothers put gifts, food and flowers on trays and lead their children, eyes covered, to them, as a surprise.

In Gujarat, lights are the beginning of the New Year.

The Austrian New Years Eve is call Sylvesterbend, the eve of St. Sylvester. A punch of cinnamon, sugar and red wine is served, mortars are fired, midnight mass is attended, trumpets are blown and kisses exchanged. In larger cities there are also fireworks. New Years Eve also begins their carnival season, Fasching, that lasts until lent.

On New Years morning mass is attended. Children sing carols, door to door. Soothsayers read bleigiessen, molten lead poured into buckets of water and formed into shapes, and make predictions based on their shapes.

New Years Day dinner is a big deal. There is a suckling pig, symbolizing good luck. The table is often decorated with mini pigs made of marzipan, maple sugar, fudge, cookie dough or chocolate. Another symbol is the four leaf clover. Sometimes green peppermint ice cream is served in it’s shape.

Pork and carp are considered good luck foods. Good luck symbols, Glucksbringer, chocolate and marzipan shaped like pigs, coins, four leaf clovers and horse shoes, are exchanged.

In Brazil on New Years Eve a local voodoo cult priestess, dressed in blue and white performs a ceremony dedicated to the goddess of water. In Rio De Janeiro a sacrificial boat laden with flowers, candles and jewelry is pushed out to sea.

Because lentils are believe to be a sign of wealth, they are served on New Years day in a soup or with rice

So, don’t set resolutions, or just ready for a change? Plenty of traditions to choose from. Maybe exchange a Glucksbringer(little dots over the u that I can’t make my computer make) or how about making some sabzi polo to celebrate the Persian new year, which will be the 21st of March? Remember to have a picnic thirteen days later. How about some Lentil Soup for breakfast on New Years Day? Whatever you do, don’t burn your Christmas tree in the middle of the street.

Sabzi Polo

Lentil Soup

More traditions can be found here.
Statistics taken from this article.