This New Year's Eve I will be eating black eyed peas while wearing brand new red underwear backwards and waiting for a tall, dark, and handsome man to enter my door carrying coal and whiskey, hoping he won't trip over my set of Tourister luggage on the porch. No, I haven't gotten a hold of a bad batch of egg nog, I will simply be following a few age old traditions.

Celebrating New Year's on January 1st only dates back technically to 1752 when England and its colonies adopted the Gregorian Calendar's definition of the start of the new year (previously it was celebrated in March). Yet rituals which purge the negativity of the past year and invite in prosperity in the coming year originated in ancient societies and have evolved over eons.

Here are a few tips from our global neighbors which you can incorporate into your own New Year's ritual.

Grapes
In many Spanish speaking countries, revelers will put 12 grapes into a glass of wine or champagne to toast at midnight. With each strike of the clock they eat a grape and make a wish on it, working quickly to finish all twelve by the final stroke.

Pretty Panties
Young women in Turkey run into the bathroom just before midnight to put on a brand new pair of red underwear for good luck. Brazilian women believe the color choice of underwear worn on the first day of the year will fulfill different wishes: pink is for love, yellow is for prosperity, and white is for peace and happiness. Some even believe if you wear the underwear backwards you will have happiness all year round. Of course only women in the country which has its own bikini wax named after it would contemplate putting on a thong backwards.

Tall, Dark, and Handsome
In Scotland, a tradition exists called Hogmanay or "First Footing" where the first man who enters your door after midnight on the New Year should be tall, dark, and handsome and bearing gifts. He brings coal or wood to represent warmth, bread to represent healthy food, whiskey for prosperity, and salt as a reminder that the good things in life don't come without some sadness. No one in the house says anything until he puts the coal on the fire, pours the master or mistress of the house a shot of whiskey, and wishes everyone Happy New Year. I love the man who took this upon himself to arrive at his American neighbors unannounced to conduct this ceremony. There were probably a few neighborhood women who thought Santa had finally delivered their wish.

Black Eyed Peas
Many true Southerners keep tradition by serving a meal New Year's Day which consists of cornbread, cabbage, and black eyed peas cooked with a dime in them. This combination is designed to bring in prosperity, the peas representing copper money, the cornbread gold, and the cabbage green money. They will also bring small bags full of beans to friends and neighbors as a symbol of plenty.

"Out with the old. In with the new."
To remove any negative energy of the previous year and bring in positive energy for the next, homeowners in Wales will open and shut the back door at the first toll of midnight to release any negative energy and at the 12th strike open and shut the front door to bring in good luck. An African custom is to throw grains through the front door into the home or in other cultures, money is tossed in. The coins should be left inside the door for 24 hours then given away to charity. Do be careful, however, of the Italians who are said to throw out anything no longer useful from old soap to sofas from windows on New Year's Eve.

Salt Water
In some cultures, including ours, natives indulge in the polar bear plunge (Beach Lane in Wainscott on New Year's Day) where we literally wipe clean the slate for the New Year by submerging in salt water. For those more inclined to warmer waters you can take a bath with sea salt to rid you of any impurities.

Baggage
While it is good to get rid of the baggage of the previous year to feel lighter to pursue new dreams in the next year, the Columbians have taken a new twist on luggage. With a literal intent, if you wish to travel, you are advised to put your luggage outside your front door on New Year's Eve. One woman really wanted to bring the point home so took hers around the block before depositing the suitcases on her front porch.

Ashes to Ashes
Pagan cultures have developed a ritual for the New Year where you write down any limiting beliefs or habits you wish to leave behind then take that piece of paper and burn it (over a sink to be careful) then wash away or bury those ashes. Next light a white candle and meditate on all the positive goals you have for the new year.

Fertility
In Japan they prepare a meal for those wishing to increase their fertility which includes Kazunoko, herring roe, and Ikura, red salmon roe. They also present a crisp dollar bill in a red envelope to children and those who are unmarried for good luck and a bright future. It is advised to dress in new clothes on New Year's Day to signal prosperity but prohibited to use knives or scissors which might cut off the good fortune.

So whatever your vows are in terms of getting rid of the negative and welcoming in the positive for a new year, take the time to stop, meditate, and find meaning in your vision of 2007. Then develop your own ritual to make your dreams come true.

Peace to everyone and a very healthy and happy 2007.