Red Underwear and Southern Greens

Preparing for the new year

I finally found my red underwear. We’re still far from settled in our new home and finding things is a daily challenge. Especially things that aren’t used regularly. Hence the search for red underwear. They’re practical – nothing fancy – but unless you have red pants or are feeling pretty saucy, red undergarments are not typically something you wear every day.

But you do on New Year’s Eve. At least, in Italy. In Spain as well. Red symbolizes love, passion, and positive energy and wearing it as your first layer at the very, very, end of the year is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and success in the coming year. So there you go: a new, fun tradition for you to follow.

Here’s another one: throwing out old stuff. Pots, pans, furniture, clothes, basically anything that is broken, stained, or not working properly – throw it out! Letting go of these things symbolizes letting go of past unhappiness and preparing room for good things to come in the new year. But this is no Marie Kondo decluttering exercise. This is an Italian tradition and in true Italian style, it comes with a passionate twist: throw these things out your window. Any window. Open the window and Throw It Out!

Which is a bit like opening your back door just before midnight to usher out 2023 and then opening your front door when the clock strikes twelve to welcome in 2024. (A reader told me of this ritual, and I think it’s a good one!)

I told Tom I want to celebrate by throwing old things out the window and he is hesitant. If you’ve been reading Finding Home for a while, you know I have thrown out a LOT in the last few years. Which means anything we throw out will be Tom’s. After 29 years living in the same place, there’s quite a bit that is destined for a window toss.

Last year, I shared one of my enduring New Year’s rituals: making a collage. Having moved recently, I don’t have many magazines lying around. But Tom has more than enough in his old house (see paragraph above), so I expect we’ll be doing this on Sunday night.

Did you do a collage this year? If so, was it prophetic? 

One of my favorite traditions, however, is making Southern greens and jambalaya. If you’re Southern, you also need the black-eyed peas. But unless I’m hosting a party (as I did for many years on New Year’s Day), I take a pass on the peas. The greens are meant to symbolize paper money and the peas symbolize coins. (Traditionally, you even cook the peas with a dime in the pot.) Eating these foods at the beginning of the year is supposed to bring you wealth and prosperity. At the very least, especially these days, may you always have enough money to eat well through the year.

homemade jambalaya, southern greens, and cornbread

And the jambalaya, well, that’s the main course and it may just be my tradition. Another symbol of abundance. And spice. Life should always have some spice.

This is my wish for the new year.

Make the most of each day. Be bold. Take risks. Enjoy the little things. Spend time with the people you love. Relax with the same intention as you work. Begin and end each day with gratitude.

When fear threatens to sideline your joy, don’t crouch and tremble. Look it straight in the eye and carry on. Hesitation, doubt, and worries are all fears that keep us from living our best lives. Make 2024 the year you invite fear to sit beside you but you stop giving it the keys to your car.

Rob Brezsny – well, there are so many wonderful things to say about this man. He’s a spiritual scholar and a medium for truth and beauty. He’s also an astrologist who helps conjure positive possibilities through his syndicated column, Free Will Astrology, which can also be found on Substack.  What he has to say for Taurus in 2024 is particularly enticing. (I’m not a Taurus but I know a number of folks who are, Tom included.)

“According to tradition in ancient Israel, a Jubilee year happened every half-century. It was a “trumpet blast of liberty,” in the words of the Old Testament book Leviticus. During this grace period, enslaved people were supposed to be freed. Debts were forgiven, taxes canceled, and prisoners released. People were encouraged to work less and engage in more revelry. I boldly proclaim that 2024 should be a Jubilee for you Bulls. To launch the fun, make a list of the alleviations and emancipations you will claim in the months ahead.”

-       Rob Brezsny (read more for other signs here at the end of his post)

What rituals will you follow for the end of December and beginning of January that have meaning for you and bring you joy?

Coming up in 2024:

More videos of Sicily. Our continued renovation of the old train stop house, as well as how we came to buy that house, and exploring Castelvetranno and surrounding towns.

More videos of Idaho and our continued renovation of our 1970s house.

A return to the Finding Home Podcast. This podcast was streamed in ten countries in 2023 (down from twenty-five countries in 2022) and I ignored it all year. I thought that simply reading my posts wasn’t enough. You’ve said otherwise and encouraged me to start recording again. I will. I’ll figure out the technology - and - I’ll also start including interviews with people about home. Stay tuned!

Thank you again for your support. I truly am grateful that you spend time with me each week. ❤️ Happy New Year!