New Year "Drop" Traditions

A quick internet search on various New Year garden related traditions can fill a couple of hours any time of the day, especially if someone in your house is sick and taking a nap. Let's just say I'm not the sick one this time. The good news is that he's all better.

So what about these new year garden traditions, or ones that I can stretch to include something gardeners grow or use in the garden? Some are head scratchers until you dig deeper on why and how. 

Spain

Green seedless grapes popped in your mouth on each stroke of midnight on New Year's eve will bring you luck for the coming year. Each grape represents one month. Grocery stores in Spain sell bags of twelve green grapes so you won't have to do any counting or sorting. 

Some areas are banning this tradition because of the choking risks. Uh yeah ... can see that happening.

Why chug twelve grapes quickly, besides the so-called luck factor? One story goes that the practice was to represent resentment by the working class of an imposed tax in 1882 by the local mayor of Madrid. Of all things, the tax was levied on anyone who hosted or participated in a party of the eve of Ephiphany. The grape eaters thought that eating grapes (quickly) mocked the rich folks who liked to enjoy grapes (no doubt, slowly) with their champagne on New Year's Eve. 

Around America

We all know how much the state of Idaho loves growing potatoes. After all they grow 13 billion pounds of potatoes every year. They mostly grow russets and a small percentage of different colored potatoes. 

Because they grow so many, it surely makes sense to mimic the ball drop in Times Square on New Year's Eve. Since 2013 spec"taters" (not my original word, darn), gather near the state capitol in Boise to view a 400-pound huge, sphere-like potato drop from the sky. Over 40,000 folks generally show up to see this giant "GlowTato" welcome the New Year. 

The evening is filled with many activities between the Idaho® Potato Rise and the Idaho® Potato Drop including a pro-wrestling competition for the coveted Potato Belt, the High Pine Whiskey Yell, food drink, fireworks and of course live music. 

Not to be outdone by any shiny ball or potato, other cities around the country improvise with their unique "drop" traditions.

Atlanta drops a giant peach.

Miama drops a 30-foot neon sign of an orange wearing sunglasses. 

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania drops a 400-pound Peep (you know, the highly sugarized candy Easter treat). 

In Lebanon, PA a 12-foot, custom-made 200 pound piece of bologna is dropped. 

As they should, Dillsburg, PA drops Mr. Pickle.

It's a no brainer that in Hershey, PA, they drop a large Hershey's Kiss, this one weighs in at 300 lbs.

For the past twenty years Raleigh, NC has dropped a 12-hundred pound acorn (made of copper and steel).

The folks in Las Cruces, NM drop a 19-foot long, chrome illuminated chili. They vote on whether it should be green or red in color. In '21 it was green. 

So what could Denver drop to celebrate each New Year?  Or your home town!

Happy New Year!