So, the results are in and most of you are joining me in a resolution to get in shape. Hey, we have trails to hike, kids to chase after and bathing suits to look great in, people! 17% of you also want to improve your financial situations. As someone who writes about being thrifty, I’m all for you meeting that goal.
What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?

I’m going to lose weight or get in shape.83% of all votes
I’m going to improve family relationships.0% of all votes
I’m going to improve my financial situation.17% of all votes
I’m resolving to not make resolutions!0% of all …read more

Today, January 10, is the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar (the one most widely used in western countries), the Islamic calendar is lunar-based and the dates change each year.
Islamic New Year, called al-hijra, is a quietly observed occasion, a time for reflection, for setting goals, and for evaluating one’s life. It is also the beginning of the observance of the anniversary of Mohammad’s move from Mecca to Medina to set up the first Islamic state.
(photo credit: istockphoto)

Some cultures are not content with just a one-day celebration of the new year. Such diverse countries as New Zealand, Solvenia, Ukraine, and Japan all celebrate a second day of New Year.
In Japan, New Year’s lasts for several days into the new year and is marked by sending greeting cards, eating special foods that are prepared in December to avoid cooking over the holiday, and visiting Buddhist shrines and other scenic places to watch the first sunrise of the year.
(photo credit: istockphoto)

Wishing each and every “All Holiday Café” reader a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year…one filled with lots of holiday celebrations.

If you can’t be in New York City for New Year’s Eve (or if you don’t want to stand out in the cold for hours), take a look at last year’s countdown. (One of these years, I’m really going to have to be there for New Year’s.)

Take a minute from getting dolled up to go out tonight to relax and enjoy this puzzle.

Father Time and Baby New Year have come to personify the New Year’s holiday, but where did these two figures come from?
Father Time is usually depicted as a bent-over, elderly man, sometimes carrying an hour glass or a sickle. He is a derivation of the Greek god, Cronus (Kronus), the father of Zeus and the other Olympic gods. This character also makes an appearance in the Roman pagan Saturnalia festival to herald in the New Year. To read more about Father Time, see this interesting article on Mythology.com.
Baby New Year is the symbol of new beginnings and innocence, the …read more

“Auld Lang Syne:” it’s the song everyone in the English-speaking world sings at midnight on New Year’s Eve, but few people know the origins of the song…or even the lyrics. Here’s a few facts (and the lyrics) so that you can be “in the know” this New Year’s.
1. “Auld Lang Syne” was written in the 18th century by the Scots poet, Robert Burns (pictured above). He adapted it from an old Scottish folk song.
2. The phrase, “Auld Lang Syne” roughly translates into “Times Gone By.”
3. “Syne” is pronouced “sign,” like a street sign.
4. It’s a …read more

If you’re like me, you’d prefer to be drinking $50+ Champagne for New Year’s Eve, but your budget just won’t allow it. Don’t fret. There are several ways to make that $15-$20 sparkling wines taste almost as good. (Please note that the least expensive sparkling wines–the under $10 varieties–are generally beyond redemption. Avoid them.)
1. Make Mimosas. The quintessential brunch cocktail also makes a stylish New Year’s Eve cocktails. Just combine about 2/3 of a glass of sparkling wine with 1/3 orange juice. Float a couple of raspberries on top for an extra festive touch.
2. …read more