When New Years Customs Conflict

Conflicting new years customs can be jarring. Consider these:

* Some say, it is bad luck to leave the Christmas tree up after the end of December, while others say Christmas lasts until January 6th. What's the rush to end it? Some seem to keep their decorations up year 'round, perhaps to avoid having to put them back up the next year.

* Some say, for good luck, we should eat peas on New Years Day, but they don't specify what kind of peas: English peas, black-eyed peas, purple hull peas, or some other kind that I know nothing about? What if I eat green beans that have pea-like seeds within them? Do I still get good luck?

* Some say we should make 10 new years resolutions each year, while others say they are only asking to be broken. They prefer to promise nothing, at all, or else add something they long for, sorta like adding to a bucket list. It's more fun to add to a bucket list.

* And, then, there are the curmudgeons, who say they don't care what we eat or do for the new year. It's just another day of the year. So sad. Maybe we should invite them over to watch the Rose Bowl Parade. We'll have pizza for lunch!

Be well, be happy, be safe.

May we have peace on earth, each and every day of each and every year.