Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year 2015


I always think of my grandmother on New Year's Day.  She was a very superstitious woman 
even though I now suspect many of her beliefs were made up to keep my brother and me in line.  
But she was clear about New Year's Day:  what you did on this day determined your fate for 
the next year.  Things such as cleaning the house or doing laundry would certainly doom you 
a year filled with endless housework for the next year.  I wish she were still alive today so I 
could get some clarifications on things such as painting window mullions, blogging, cooking, 
or even eating for that matter, because I don't know if these are positive or negative endeavors.

I'm also not sure where she would fall on issue of undecorating the Christmas tree.  It certainly
includes a cleaning component.  But this New Year's Day has become my traditional day to
undecorate and take down the tree.  There's just something about cleaning up, putting away and 
cleaning up that feels to me like a good way to start a new year.  And, even if she would claim it's wrong, I would argue it's a perfect way to spend a few moments thinking of her.

However you spend this first day of the year, I wish you best throughout the new year!

36 comments:

  1. Your grandmother sounds like a neat person. Happy 2015

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  2. It is nice to think of the people that influenced us and are no longer here. I have never heard of this particular New Year's superstition. I have only heard of lucky menu items that vary by region. I will thoughtfully choose my activities for today in case she was right. ;)
    Happy New Year!

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  3. Happy New Year to you as well. We're taking everything down today as well and putting away all the clutter that seems to accumulate between Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year's. Now we'll have to find a way to fill the inevitable winter doldrums that are sure to follow. Maybe alcohol? Or Food? And some visits to local museums that we always seem to by-pass.

    Enjoy your day and all of 2015.

    Larry

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  4. Well I always make and eat black eyed peas on the first day of a new year. What does this sentence me to?

    Your post does convince me to go do a little shopping tho, wanna repeat that hunting, gathering thrill...
    Here's to 2015...blogging definitely acceptable.

    Xo j

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  5. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you Steve! I also am taking down the tree today, as I like to start the new year tidy. Have a great day.

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  6. Ha! Happy new year...to cleaning out and starting fresh!! Merry Merry!!

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  7. Happy New Year! Smiled when I read about your grandmother's superstition - I'm about to get on the treadmill :)

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  8. Your grandmother sounds like she was a hot ticket! I like the way she thinks, so I'm going to take her advice to relax, read & have fun today! Happy New Years!

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  9. i'm one of those 'terrible' silent people who have followed you from the beginning . . .
    and i only want to say . . .
    you are an absolute delight. it is a pure pleasure to come to the urban cottage always.
    i think she would be SO proud of what you've accomplished . . . with exquisite taste and beauty and very hard work. kudos to her beloved grandson. and here's to another grand year!
    ♥ happy new year steve!

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  10. I do believe you are safe with the blogging and taking down the tree...I would be taking my tree down, but one of my sons is coming home next week and I want him to see the tree...next weekend the tree will come down. Happy New Year.

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  11. I was thinking of taking the tree down today but decided not to, usually I try to leave it up until January 6th for epiphany but I doubt I will this year. Traditionally for me January 1st is "the laziest day of the year", I do nothing much so I wonder how your grandmother would have interpreted that! Happy New Year!

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  12. I love a productive New Year's Day. It seems like a good way to start the year. I am about to get on the treadmill but have a splitting headache. I imagine that will be my constant companion again this year, a headache, so can't get too excited. I do plan to lose some weight. And I made a dent in the basement cleaning yesterday so I don't feel too guilty today doing next to nothing. I wish you could come and take my tree down. ;). We will leave it up until the weekend.
    Happy New Year! I hope it's a great year for you.

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  13. I wish for you a fabulous, productive and successful new year, my friend! I can't believe how the time has flown since we've gone off to do something fun. Need to change that! I am so thrilled that 2015 is here and am looking forward to it. I am glad to have 2014 past, and while I never wish for time to fly, it was a year I am okay with letting go of! On to better days ;-)

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  14. Today has been my traditional day to take down the tree, too, but i did it yesterday so that i could attend a memorial service for a cousin - hope that is not how i will spend the year! Normally, I undo the tree while watching the Rose Parade.

    We will be hedging our bets, tho, with black-eyed peas and stewed tomatoes for dinner, as well as spinach - green for money and peas for coins. Don't know what the tomatoes do, but they are part of the southern tradition! Best wishes to you for a good year - have missed your posts recently.

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  15. Your grandmother was very wise, and I'm sure you miss her very much. So nice to think of her on a day like New Year's Day. I've been sick since the beginning of the week, so my day was spent not doing much at all. I wonder what your grandmother would say about that! Happy New Year to you. Looking forward to more posts from your urban cottage this year!
    Claudia

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  16. I always take down the ornaments and clean on New Year's Day. It just seems right. Start the year off with less clutter. Happy New Year to you, will you ever be done with the house?

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  17. interestingly my grandmother claimed the same. thankfully blogging was included on this day, your voice and vision is valued (why so many v's?)
    anyways, wishes for a great 2015 steve.

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  18. I usually take our tree down and pack things away a couple days after Christmas, when I begin to feel rested. That varies year to year. I do leave our Nativity out until Epiphany. I love that you think of your grandmother on this day. Sometimes when my sons playfully imitate me, I am surprised at how I appear to them. Perspective is interesting. Anyway, I loved your nature themed tree this year. The acorn garland is beautiful. The very first ornament I purchased for our first tree was a bird on a nest of twigs and pinecones. That was quite a long time ago and it still makes the tree every year. It just seems fitting. Happy New Year!

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  19. I spend New Years Day visiting with friends, and I think that's exactly the sort of tradition that would get your grandmother's approval. Happy New Year, Steve!

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  20. Happy New Year Steve! My tree is still up but it's making me nervous (so dry), so I will probably begin the take-down process tomorrow. I like your Grandmother's superstition - it made me think of how we spent our day today. We ate, we drove through the countryside, and we attended a lovely New Year's Day party in the village. A good day. Best wishes for the New Year! xoCatherine

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  21. I'm surprised I have not heard of this superstition as I'm pretty sure my Mom was the most superstitious person ever.
    I wish I had read this before spending my day cleaning and rearranging furniture.
    I would have spent the day writing and working on some art but no...I cleaned house!

    I love that the first of the year brings you a nice memory of your grandma and I hope she's right and that you blog more often. I miss the beautiful images but mostly I miss your wit and humor.
    Happy 2015!

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  22. I spent the day underrating too so I'm hoping its just a precursor to a more organized year ahead. What a wonderful memory to have of your Grandmother. Wishing you a fantastic 2015 Steve!

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  23. Clearly, the holidays are for sentiments, traditions, and memories of our loved ones no longer here with us but very much a part of our lives. What a delightful way to spend your New Year's Day - you, your grandmother, and the tree.
    Happy New Year
    Linda

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  24. I'm a grandmother and I say..."go for it!" Me, on the other hand...waits until the 12th day - and now I need to "throw some salt over my left shoulder..." Merry New 2015!! franki

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  25. I can see taking down the tree to get a fresh start on the year! I always observe the 12 days of christmas, but truthfully, by that 12th day I'm SO SICK OF IT!

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  26. I, like Stefan wait to put the Christmas decor away, however New years is always a bright and shining day for me no matter the wintry weather outside!

    Thank you for your wonderful posts all year long and All the Best to you in 2015 Steve!
    I have a message for all of my friends at my site and hope you will visit!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena

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  27. Oh dear. I woke up around 7ish (after going to bed at 12:30ish), went back to bed till around 8:45, then watched Rehab Addict most of day, then My 600-lb Life. Oh, I also took an afternoon nap. I do hope the new year bodes more productive for me.

    I think cleaning is a great start, actually. Happy New Year!

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  28. Yikes, spent a good deal of time cleaning on New Year's Day. Wait, perhaps that is not all bad. Maybe my house will be cleaner in 2015? And, although most of the Christmas decorations are packed away, we are still using the Christmas china and my garden obelisk "tree" is still up until Epiphany. Vainly trying to influence all my friends to slow down and enjoy Advent before Christmas, but am pretty much the only holdout. Most friend's trees are up on Thanksgiving weekend and dried out and a fire hazard in our New Mexico climate by the day after Christmas. More stories about your grandmother's superstitions please!

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  29. I always spend New Year's Day cleaning all the post-holiday mess. Now I know my doom! Next year I'll do something more fun. Happy New Year!

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  30. All the very best for 2015, Steve. Now it's Twelfth Night, the traditional date when all decorations need to be taken down unless you want a year of bad luck! So the tree is back in the garden and the decorations packed away in their boxes. How spartan the house looks! I did no cleaning or clearing on New Year's Day, just out with friends sharing a meal so I hope that your granny was right as iit should give me a sociable year ahead!

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  31. happy new year steve!! i heard this very superstition only recently and wonder what the parameters are, as well. i was sick in bed, i sure hope that's not an omen of laze and sickness for the year ahead. many happy wishes for a prosperous new year to you!

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  32. I think your Grandmother had a good idea! We tend to spend NYE playing outside, which we did again this year. I am the type that puts the tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving, then takes it down the day after Christmas. I like to start the new year out fresh, so once the tree is down and the rest of the decorations are packed up and put away the entire house is given a good cleaning. NYE we spend at home by the fire, enjoying sushi with our neighbors (no one has to drive). Now I am planning what plants to put in the garden this year. Your blog is always inspiring. I like that you are taking it slow and doing things thoughtfully. Thank you for sharing your endeavors.

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  33. While I was doing the laundry on New Year's Day, I thought of my friend's mother who would have disapproved of my actions for the same reasons as your grandmother. She had an extra (Greek) superstition to boot - you must wear new clothes on New Year's Day so that you will be wearing new clothes all year :)

    Very best wishes for 2015

    Spud.

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  34. Funny...my grandmother was very superstitious to...maybe it was that era...have a wonderful New Year

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  35. Hi Steve--hope you have a great 2015 in your beautiful house!

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  36. Happy New Year ... my Mother had much the same advice ... but I continue to do laundry on New Years Day because I KNOW for a fact I will be doing laundry all year with 4 kids in the house ... so it just is part of my refreshing need!!!

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