New Year: Welcome 2021!

As we ring in 2021 (and bid “good riddance” to 2020), let’s take a look at some little-known facts associated with our celebration of the New Year:

More vehicles are stolen on New Year’s Day than on any other holiday throughout the year.
There have been only two years since 1907 when the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball was not dropped: in 1942 and 1943 (due to wartime restrictions). Instead, a moment of silence was observed.
According to Southern tradition, eating black-eyed peas, ham or cabbage on New Year’s Day will bring prosperity. But you’ll want to avoid lobster or chicken, as these are believed to cause a reversal of fortune.
On the other hand, every self-respecting Italian knows that good luck only comes from wearing red underwear on the first day of the New Year.

74% of American adults intend to make New Year’s resolutions in 2021. That’s more than a 15% increase over last year.
As always, top resolutions include weight loss, exercise, quitting smoking and better money management.

Alas, 25% of us will have abandoned those resolutions by the second week of January, according to statistics.