What's New Year's without a resolution?

Oh, and a midnight kiss...

Surprisingly only about half (45%) of Americans actually make a New Year's resolution. With only 1% less of Americans (44%) planning on having a kiss at the stroke of midnight. When 1 billion people around the world are tuning in to watch the ball drop in Time Square, you would think that they would have the same ideas on how to celebrate the new year. 

However, of those who do decide to make a New Year's resolution, the most common decisions include:

1. Lose Weight
2. Getting Organized
3. Spend Less, Save More
4. Staying Fit and Healthy
5. Quit Smoking
6. Fall in Love

Unfortunately, many resolutions are not kept for long. Only 1 in 8 people will keep their New Year's resolution for an entire year. 15% of people break their resolutions after one week and by week twenty-six, 54% of people have given up on their resolutions. 

On a more positive note, there are plenty of food and drinks to be had on New Year's Eve. Americans drink 360 million glasses of sparkling wine during the holiday seasons, along with an assortment of foods that symbolize good luck.

Legumes and leafy greens represent money or financial fortune. Pork symbolizes progress or prosperity. Long noodles represent long life and ring-shaped pastries acknowledge that the year has come full circle. But if you plan to have a happy new year, don’t eat lobster or chicken. Because lobsters can move backward and chickens can scratch in reverse, it is thought these foods could bring a reversal of fortune.

New Year's Around the World

New Year's is celebrated during different times around the year. In American we celebrate it at the end of the Gregorian calender, but it can be celebrated in March or February, as is done for the Chinese New Year. Along with different times to celebrate comes different ways to celebrate.

In Italy, red underwear is worn on New Year’s Day in order to bring good luck all year round.

In some South American countries, such as Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico, families stuff a large doll (Mr. Old Year) with memories from the previous year. The doll, who is also adorned in the past year's clothing, is set ablaze at midnight, thus burning away the bad memories.

During the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, apples and honey are traditionally eaten.

In Japan, bells toll 108 times—which represents the number of earthly temptations one must overcome to reach nirvana - before a toast is made to the new year.

Whether you're reminiscing on the past year or anticipating the year to come, we at CoVest wish you good tidings and a joyous new year!

Photo by Flickr User: ChristopherMichel and YangAndYun'sAlbum