Monday, November 26, 2012

Clean Slate


Come on over!
Last Monday Dotti told you about Fall cleaning. My tradition is about a different kind of cleaning - cosmic cleaning!  Several years ago a friend read about a great New Years tradition. She took care of it for many years, but about 3 or 4 years ago, I took over and began hosting at my house.  It takes place on New Years Eve Day - that's the 31st - the day before the ball drops. (there are always one or two who turn up the following day when I'm soundly sleeping - wrong!)  I set out an informal brunch, complete with mimosas, bloody marys, and basic food. People stop by,open house style, and most contribute some food to the mix. Somewhere along the way, my guests have become all women. It ends up becoming a pretty big feast and a girlfriend gathering.


Pads and pencils are placed all around my house and a fire is burning outside on my porch. At some point during the party each guest picks up a pad and makes a list of all the things they want to be rid of from the past year. These lists are private - no one will see them or discuss them with you - no judgement here! When each person leaves the party, she tosses her list into the fire, burning up all the bad luck and the negativity from the past year. She emerges and walks - cleansed - into the new year.



I always get a kick out of watching each individual handling the task. The first year they say, "Oh I don't have much to write," and they politely sit and jot a quick line or two. By their second or third year attending, they come in the door saying, "Do you have a notebook, because I could fill the whole thing - I've been waiting to get rid of this since June!" Things that you can't get over are gone; negativity is dropped. And history is - well-  history! It will sap no more of your precious energy. My guests  leave with a clean slate, ready for the new year, optimistic and ready for good things to happen!


Out with the old and in with the new!

It's a little hard hosting this party. On the 31st, everyone is busy readying themselves for their New Years Eve parties. There are groceries to buy, nails to have done, houses to clean. And, frankly,everyone (including me) is pretty tired of the seasonal festivities by that point! But those who find the time to stop by, have a wonderful time. It seems to morph into a morning off for all of these busy women who have given their families wonderful holidays through shear hard work; shopping, cleaning and feeding everyone on their list. They kick off their shoes, settle down to some good grub (that they didn't have to cook), and have a few drinks as they review their past year, with all it's successes and troubles. Their work now just about done, they leave with souls cleansed from looking internally, while surrounded by the support of the good friends they love.

I encourage you to give it a try. If you are not up for hosting a party, do a variation with your family. Take out your cosmic  trash!

Forget your troubles - come on - get happy!


Enjoy your season, friends!






This has been such a fun theme. I've made up my mind to pick up on some of the traditions our FOL group has described. Please add to the Flickr mix before the month is out, and share your photos of your family's traditions. 


10 comments:

heyjudephotography said...

Love this party idea Carol! Can I come over? :) It sounds fun, and relaxing, and different than most of the activities associated with the end of the year and the beginning of the new. I agree, I have loved reading about everyone's traditions, and just may tweak some of them and make them my own! Good job Carol!

Dotti said...

Oh, my, Carol! Something tells me y'all are gonna need a big fire this year after your visit from Sandy. It may be "cosmic" but I have a feeling it really helps, thus it keeps growing in importance for those friends who return each year. Like Judy, I may have to invite myself over this year.

Neat post!!

terriporter said...

Booking my flight and I may come a day early just to have time to write everything down! What a wonderful tradition, Carol! I'm sure all of your friends look forward to this all year. Such a great way to get rid of all the baggage from the year and start fresh. I agree that this month of traditions has been so much fun and I am loving the traditions everyone has shared. Wonderful post!

Carol said...

OK - So I've never been enthusiastic about the Newark airport run, but I will be there , ready and waiting to pick you up, Judy, Terri, and Dotti on the 30th!!! There is nothing I would love more! My local photography friends joined me for thew first time last year - so there will be a whole corner contingent with like interests! It is a good time - wish you all were serious! But consider it for yourselves, if nothing else - it really feels like a new start.

Radish said...

Great idea for a party. Thanks for putting this out there. I love the photo of the silver. I love to photo silver myself. Clean or tarnished.

Deanna said...

Oh how fun...what a way to end the year and a great way to start afresh the new. Great, great tradition and only wish I cold be there writing away, getting rid of all that trash. Have fun!!!

Carol said...

I hadn't thought about that Dotti - you're right - I'd better buy books this year for all of us living here.

Linda said...

This is a great tradition, Carol! I would rather do this than go to a New Years Eve party! I'm like you with all these traditions, there's a few I'd like to copy! Yours is one of them!

xo,
Linda

heyjudephotography said...

Don't have to pick me up - I can drive there! :)

Carol said...

OK Judy - you're in! Michele drove in from Staten Island last year!

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