It's the afternoon of New Year's Eve, and so far all is quiet... After weeks of unpredictable explosions, sometimes starting already in full daylight, NYE does still seem to be the one day in December when most people hold back on their fireworks at least until sunset... *
I went to bed early last evening, had a long night and a lazy morning, and managed to get out for a half hour walk in the old cemetery before lunch. Cold and frosty, but dry ground -and less windy than it was yesterday (when I did get out for a little while as well).
Remember my post from before Christmas, when I found a gnome or elf (or what ever you prefer to call it) sitting on top of a headstone in the cemetery? (If not, you can have a peek here.) Today I happened to walk past a New Year grave decoration (on a different grave) that seemed even more odd to me (as in never having seen anything like it before):
Even more intriguing to me since the person resting here didn't die young, but at the mature age of 94. Under the dates there is a phrase or quote in a foreign language I can't identify. But a scene that might inspire a whole novel... I'm not likely to be the one writing it! - but I couldn't help imagining scenarios like the person being someone's last link to "the old country"... Immigrating perhaps back in the 1960s or so, and missed by children and grandchildren...
Does anyone among my readers know of traditions somewhere to offer food and drink to the dead, at New Year??
* (PS. The sun set at 3:30 pm. The first round of fireworks noise started just as I reached the bottom of this post, around 4:05. It's going to be a long night...)
Glad you had a good night and the weather was good for a walk. It‘s frosty here now but sunny. Yesterday I attended a funeral and dtessed very warmly for it; all was well until we had to stand in line for a while to pay our very last respects at the open grave, with the sun already sinking. I was very cold after the 20 minutes or so out in the cold.
ReplyDeleteI am sure there are various countries with traditions about food and drink for dead friends and relatives. O.k.‘s middle sister died of cancer in her mid-forties. Her friends still gather at her grave every year for her birthday, drinking sparkling wine and toasting her.
You could photograph the words on the tombstone and let google find out what it says, and what the language is.
Thanks Meike. The traditions I've come across in my own life and family only involved flowers and candles. I've seen a change in later years towards people leaving a lot more little ornaments on recent graves in the shape of for example hearts, angels, even photos. But until now, no food...!
DeleteI had to work and then ended up having a quiet night afterwards. Happy new year to you.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I actually managed to fall asleep shortly before midnight - but woke up again ten minutes into 2026...
DeleteAt Yule it's common to provide an offering to your ancestors or land spirits.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of it here, CK. To "land spirits" perhaps, long ago, but not to dead people.
DeleteWow, so interesting. I have never seen anything like it, either. What comes to my mind is a senior who loved to party all his life. But everyone can make up their own story. It would be wonderful if someone wrote a book with a chapter for each person's story about it.
ReplyDeleteGinny, I think it's a woman's grave - but of course she may have liked to party anyway :) ...
Deletethere are cemeteries in Kentucky, USA that are family mausoleums, with a see through door of glass and iron, we used to stand and stare through the door, because inside was decorated for every holiday, as in a tree with lights and there was food for each season. its not a sharp memory, I was 10 to 12 years old MANY MOONS ago.. it is very interesting. our county is under fire ban due to extreme drought and fire danger, I am hoping that will keep the fireworks down, they have announced only the ones by the city on the river are allowed. Fire ban is up until July.. I will let you know. 2 out of 3 nights we heard the pop pop pop but the 3rd night nothing, which was last night. maybe the police came
ReplyDeleteSandra, I've never heard of anything like that here, the mausoleums I mean.
DeleteYes, offerings of food and drink to the dead are part of New Year or ancestral traditions in many cultures, from East Asia to parts of Europe and Latin America, often symbolising remembrance, continuity, and an invitation for the departed to share in the turning of the year
ReplyDeleteThanks Ro, I guess I shall have to look into it... I think the origin in this case most likely Eastern or Southern Europe.
DeleteHere they have a specific Day of the Dead, when it's traditional to take flowers and visit the cemetery where loved one's ashes are interred. I should imagine that as well as being poignant, it's quite a social occasion too.
ReplyDeleteCarol, here that day is All Saints day at the end of October. Flowers and candles, but no food brought to the grave... (not that I've ever seen, anyway!)
DeleteWhat a lucky person to have that kind of ritual for the new year the year after her death. I was able to sleep though the night here...also we have high winds and a fire ban, though one fire was being fought yesterday I think it was contained. I think a new ritual is available for creative people according to their own wishes, as well as some which might be carried forward from ancestors.
ReplyDeleteAt the cemetery - that was an odd sight. Perhaps the deceased's son or daughter left the champagne and the food. It seems like a deeply personal "gift". In a way, more lovely than habitual flowers. Thanks for singing the ABBA hits with such gusto. HAPPY NEW YEAR MONICA!
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