ruh-bek-uh: New Years Eve!!!

So my family has unintentionally started celebrating new years in our own unique way - haha. For a few years, including this year, we have divided up into smaller groups (about 2-3 people per group) the day before or the morning of New Years Eve. Each group selects a country/culture to prepare...and then we celebrate new years in the style of each of those cultures. So....we never check sources on ANY of the information - so realistically if someone from these actual places celebrated with us they might find themselves wondering why they have never celebrated like my family "just knows!" they celebrate haha! It is most hilarious and super random!

These pictures are really out of order, but here is the summary of what we did this year:

Tonga (Stephanie & her friend Allison) - - celebrations included listening to Tongan music on youtube while doing Tongan dances, roasting a pig over the fire (a.k.a. bacon on hangers over our fireplace)

Saudi Arabia (Michelle, Christina & friend Sarah Ward) - - So these two have friends who are actually from Saudi Arabia so they called them and asked what they do on new years. The response "I dunno, we mainly just sit around staring at each other, we don't really do anything". So - ha - our Celebrations for this country included time to sit around and stare at each other. When this time was finished Christina, in a voice sounding like someone closing a talk in Sacrament meeting, quietly says "thank you for celebrating with us". haha! This group also looked up on not so reliable websites other saudi arabian new years traditions. This included throwing money - - which we did, with lots and lots of coins they went around collecting all day. And taking pictures with round fruit - - we chose oranges. haha! Last but not least Michelle and Christina found a youtube belly dancing tutorial - because people belly dance in Saudi Arabia, duh! - which they turned on and had our family try. - - haha! It was hilarious!

Narnia - - (Matt, Bekah, and Sarah) - - Yes, Narnia is a place. The Narnians celebrate new beginnings every new year and remember the new beginning they had when they defeated the white witch. Their celebration includes having an ice-melting contest (everyone get's one piece of ice and using only their elbow down, try to melt it as fast as possible), this reminds them of overcoming the cold that was the white witch. They also remind themselves to always be prepared - like they were prepared to beat the white witch in battle. To celebrate they practice archery and participate in mock-battles (a.k.a. snowball fight outside!). "FOR NARNIA, AND FOR ASLAN!!!!"

Mexico - - Mom & Dad & Elizabeth - - We celebrated with a pinata and by eating some yummy cheese and crackers mixture - - that i'm not exactly sure was mexican food, but rather a sample food my dad really liked at costco that morning. haha.

I also went to Elizabeth Rhondeau's house for a bit after celebrating with my family to see a lot of my friends from high school who were having a party. We burned slips of paper in her fireplace filled with regrets from the coming year, and then filled a jar with hopes, goals, and dreams for the coming year. We also broke open those European cracker things that have jokes and small toys inside. We then brought in the new year with sparklers.

I then returned to my house for some fireworks with my family and neighbors (my dad looooves fireworks! Especially the ones that fly high into the sky and blow up). And hung out around the mobile fire my awesome neighbors the Maxfields had. It was so warm by the fire. Freezing away from it. ha.

All in all. A success.