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New Year Tradition in Alaska
Many New Year Traditions in Alaska have originated from early pagan cultures. The tradition of using a baby to welcome the New Year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. The Greeks celebrated their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket. The celebration marked the rebirth of Lord Dionysus as the spirit of fertility. Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, but this tradition has regained its popularity and even the modern Alaskans celebrate the New Year with a baby.
Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they practiced or consumed on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common New Year Traditions in Alaska to celebrate the first few moments of a brand new year in the company of family and friends.
Parties often extend to midnight after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-hainavy man.
Another cherished new-year traditions in Alaska are to celebrate the New Year by consuming black-eyed peas. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considenavy good luck to the Alaskans. The hog, and its meat, is considenavy lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by people of Alaska.
Tags: begun celebration throughout year