Each region of the country seems to have a traditional dish that is served on New Years Day. When I lived 
in the North it was always Pork and Sauerkraut. IF you like sauerkraut (which I do!) the house smelled incredible! Probably not a prime time to be showing your home for days to come! HAHA From what I understand it was Pennsylvania-Dutch. Also, heavy German influence. Anyhow, it HAD to be eaten on New Year's Day to bring luck and good fortune for the New Year.
I remember that we always had mashed potatoes with it, too. I kind of miss that but Jon and Liam can't stand sauerkraut so I usually just grab it at a restaurant when I can.
Here in the South I had to get used to new traditions. The Finley family has Black-Eyed Peas cooked with a ham hock and Collard Greens for New Year's Day. It took a little getting used to for me and I, of course, had to learn how to cook it but, I must say, not too bad! From what I understand the 
collards represent money and the black eyed peas are a symbol of abundance. This is totally a Southern tradition!
I was curious - what are some of the traditions in other parts of the country such as the Mid-West? The North West?
Regardless of your tradition, I wish you peace, love and prosperity in the year to come!
~Ciao
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go to sleep by 10pm have kids wake me up at midnight to say HAPPY NEW year then back to bed by 12:15
richard - that's new years eve but what about new years day?
We have some new friends who moved here from Ohio and they are Hungarian. So last year we wnet back to Saurkraut and pork. How nicd that was. In our family on New Years day it ewas fresh ham with saurkraut. or Roast Beef with all the fixings
charlie - i once had a traditional Czech Christmas Dinner - OMG - outstanding!
Our traditional New Years day lunch or dinner is ham and black eyed peas. If there is a green of any kind it would be spinach. With the wife being from New England it's kinda hard to get her to try anything more exotic than that. tsk-tsk
BTW, how's the hearing? I am sure that you are probably helping Liam with the drum lessons right?
Leesa, Our New Years day is Coffee...cobwebs out, snow shoe for fresh air, something in the crock-pot, to warm us up ,football on TV, and beer if there is any left from the night before.
Here in Mississippi the meal of tradition is black-eyed peas, sauteed cabbage, and corn bread. I'm originally from New Jersey and this took some getting used too! I finally gave in about 15 years ago and learned how to make cornbread.........I don't have to like it.....just make it and eat it!
don - so i guess black eyed peas is pretty popular! I had a problem with collard greens until i found vinegar!
steve - oh yes, i can't forget the beer and football!
linda - mmm, see i love cornbread! Great recipe if you'd like to try it!
Hi Leesa, I don't have any New Year's traditions that I strictly follow. But coming from a very long line of Southerners, black-eyed peas, of course!
Leesa, Yeah Buddy! Ham hocks, Mustard Greens, Black-Eyed Peas and Corn Bread is an old southern tradition in my neck of the woods. Makes my mouth water just thinking of cookin' up a mess...
~~ Happy New Year ~~
Leesa...
I'll take the Christmas ham bone and make black-eyed peas, cornbread and collards! I used to do it because of "when in Rome" but now I do it because it's delicious!
I do the typical southern thing. No big surprise.
I watch the Rose Parade and wish I were in sunny California! Then I cook sauerkraut and pork, and fluffy mashed potatoes for the family, if I can get them to come, because now that they have reached drinking age they are usually hung over!
Happy New Year 2009! May it bring all of us prosperity and fullfillment!
Hey Leesa, while I can appreciate the symbolism of the collard greens, black eyed peas and the ham hock.....I'll eat out instead. But thanks for the invite!!!
See you in 2009!
Leesa - Who doesn't eat black-eyed peas on New Years day? Just kidding...
It was always black-eyed peas and hamhocks when I was a kid. Drove me crazy. Now I love it. You know how much protein is in one serving? Off the hook!
Hey Leesa,
Happy New Year!!! I don't usually have a specific routine, I do try and get in my black-eyed peas, as all good southern wiomen do:).
I must confess..sometimes I find myself a wee bit hungover considering one glass of bubbly and my cheeks are numb
shirley - i am seeing a huge trend with the black-eyed peas! ;)
michael - yes, heading to the store in just a little to be sure I have it all!
richard - i was the same - wasn't too crazy about it at first but now I love it!
melody - nope - not surprised!
caren - i have a few more years to go before drinking age so until then I FORCE them to eat what I make! ;)
For the past seven years I've done home inspections on New Year's Day. When business comes calling, I'm there to help, any day, any week, any month. I can always watch the football game highlights on the nightly news or, if I think it will be a great game or has a team I'm interested in, I'll TiVo it.
Best wishes for health, happiness, peace, and prosperity in 2009.
Hubby's mom used to make black eyed peas on New Years Day. My mom never did anything special that I recall - we may have gone out to eat on New Years.
I'm generally not too fond of sauerkraut unless it's a Reuben sandwich, but I could go for some roast pork right now!
craig - are you scoffing at the good ole southern tradition?? :)
debbie - i am beginning to think it is the universal sign of good luck!
Ha! As I grew older, and maybe a little wiser, I realized the value in that steaming pot of southern goodness.
cherimie - oh, i KNEW you were a black-eyed peas kind of girl!
russell - best wishes to you as well and don't work too hard!
Leesa - Thanks for opening my Midwestern eyes to traditions from the south. Who knew? I'm not really one for traditions, but kind of go by what sounds good at the time - perhaps a crock pot filled with chili or chicken wings. Whatever we eat, it's got to be with a group of friends, followed by more yummy food and great conversation.
karen - there is nothing like GOOD sauerkraut!
lynn - isn't it funny the different regions of the country? Even how we were all raised and what we did? Chili sounds just as good to me - put some black-eyed peas in it and you are covered!