Are you Looking to Improve Your Odds in the New Year? Wear Yellow, Eat Grapes, and Carry Lentils

I wrote this blog last year but I thought I should share these tips with you so you will be ready too. Who knows, it might works.Several members of my restaurant staff are from Mexico. I learned from them a novel way of celebrating the New Year. As the New Year approached and we were busy preparing for our lunch rush, I noticed my staff exchanging bags and handfuls of lentils. I had to ask what it was all about. I was told that in Mexico a person should wear something yellow which would bring him or her good luck in the New Year. They also recommended that I put lentils in my pocket which would bring in more money in the New Year. Another staff member told me that, because I love to travel, I should pull large suitcase all around my house at midnight.As I was discussing these rituals with the staff, one of my customers, who was listening in, said that if I would eat 12 grapes at midnight while at the same time making a wish for every month in the year, the wishes would come true.My mom would cook something white for the New Year–yogurt sauce–and make us eat it on New Year’s day to ward off sorrow during the coming year.I decided to cover all my bases. I went to a New Year’s party wearing a nice classy black dress a yellow scarf on my head. I had lentils in my purse–not exactly in my closed hand, but hoping it would nevertheless count. When midnight arrived and while everyone at the party was hugging and kissing, I ran outside the house with a suitcase I had retrieved from my car, and ran around the house. The temperature was -15 degrees Fahrenheit, which caused me to run and scream, trying to stay warm. The neighbors must have thought that I was a victim of excessive drinking. But I was merely fulfilling my New Year’s destiny. I came inside the house drank milk and ate grapes. My hosts, who know I do not drink alcohol, must have concluded that the freezing temperature had affected my brain.Happy New Year and Let us pray for peace on earth.