Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4B PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. JANUARY 1.2015
Legal Notices
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Make New Year’s resolutions come true
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STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF PICKENS
NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER
Because of a default in the payment of
the indebtedness secured by a Security
Deed executed by Cathy C. Pharr to
Jasper Banking Company dated April 8,
2010, and recorded in Deed Book 891,
Page 374-378, Pickens County Records
being transferred and assigned by the
FDIC as Receiver of Jasper Banking
Company to Stearns Bank National
Association recorded in Deed Book 994,
Page 844-846, Pickens County Records,
said Security Deed was modified by
Modification of Security Deed dated
March 29, 2013 and recorded in Deed
Book 997, Page 384-386, Pickens County
Records, securing a Note dated April 8,
2010 in the original principal amount of
$7,025.00 as subsequently modified by
the parties, the holder thereof pursuant to
said Deed and Note thereby secured has
declared the entire amount of said indebt
edness due and payable and pursuant to
the power of sale contained in said Deed,
will on the first Tuesday, January 6, 2015,
during the legal hours of sale, before the
Courthouse door in said County, sell at
public outcry to the highest bidder for
cash, the property described in said Deed,
to wit:
All that tract or parcel of land lying and
being in Land Lot 315, of the 5th District,
2nd Section, Pickens County, Georgia,
and being Lot 1490 as per plat of a portion
of Oglethorpe Mountain Section, Bent
Tree, by Southern Engineers &
Surveyors, Inc., dated September 16,
1970, recorded in Plat Book D, Page 233,
Pickens County, Georgia Records, and by
reference thereto, said plat of survey is
incorporated herein and made a part here
of.
The above-described property being
subject to Amended and Restated
Declaration of Covenants for Bent Tree
filed May 20, 1987, and recorded in Deed
Book 127, Page 149FF, Pickens County
Georgia Records; the Amendment to the
Declaration dated October 8, 1989, and
recorded in Deed Book 154, Page 815,
Pickens County Georgia Records; the
Amendment to the Declaration filed April
17, 1996. And recorded in Deed Book
252, Page 268-271, Pickens County,
Georgia Records; and the Amendment to
the Declarations filed October 28, 1997,
and recorded in Deed Book 284, Pages
413-426, Pickens County, Georgia
Records.
Said property will be sold subject to
any outstanding ad valorem taxes (includ
ing taxes which are a lien, whether or not
now due and payable), the right of
redemption of any taxing authority, any
matters which might be disclosed by an
accurate survey and inspection of the
property, any assessments, liens, encum
brances, zoning ordinances, restrictions,
covenants, and matters of record superior
to the Security Deed first set out above.
The sale will be conducted subject (1)
to confirmation that the sale is not prohib
ited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and
(2) to final confirmation and audit of the
status of the loan with the holder of the
security deed.
Notice has been given of intention to
collect attorney's fees in accordance with
the terms of the Note secured by said
Deed.
Said property will be sold as the prop
erty of Cathy C. Pharr, the property, to the
best information, knowledge and belief of
the undersigned, being presently in the
possession of Cathy C. Pharr or a tenant
or tenants, and the proceeds of said sale
will be applied to the payment of said
indebtedness and all expenses of said
sale, including attorney's fees, all as pro
vided in said Deed, and the balance, if
any, will be distributed as provided by law.
Stearns Bank National Association as
assignee from FDIC as Receiver for
Jasper Banking Company as Attorney-in-
Fact for Cathy C. Pharr
MANN WOOLDRIDGE KNEIDEL, P.C.
Attorneys at Law
28 Jackson Street
Newnan, GA 30263
(770) 253-2222
•This law firm is acting as a debt col
lector. Any information obtained will be
used for that purpose.
(33-36)
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NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPLY FOR A
LICENSE TO SELL DISTILLED SPIRITS
POURING
This is to give public notice of the
intent of the undersigned to make applica
tion for North Gate Restaurant Group,
LLC d/b/a Reverend Billy's Barbeque, to
the Commissioner's Office of Pickens
County, for a license to sell distilled spirits
by pouring at the following location: 88
North Gate Station Drive, Marble Hill, GA
30143.
Those people will have ANY financial
interest in said business are: David
Meyer, Brad Geisen, Phillip Hochberg.
This 9th day of December 2014.
APPLICANT: David Meyer
AS AGENT FOR: North Gate Restaurant
Group, LLC. d/b/a Reverend Billy's
Barbeque
(34-37)
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NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPLY FOR A
LICENSE TO SELL BEER AND WINE
BY POURING
This is to give public notice of the
intent of the undersigned to make applica
tion for North Gate Restaurant Group,
LLC d/b/a Ed & Lucy’s Italian Bistro, to the
Commissioner's Office of Pickens County,
for a license to sell beer and wine by pour
ing at the following location: 88 North Gate
Station Drive, Marble Hill, GA 30143.
Those people will have ANY financial
interest in said business are: David
Meyer, Brad Geisen, Phillip Hochberg.
This 9th day of December, 2014.
APPLICANT: David Meyer
AS AGENT FOR: North Gate Restaurant
Group, LLC. d/b/a Ed & Lucy’s Italian
Bistro
(34-37)
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LEGAL NOTICE
Pursuant to OCGA §48-4-46: Take
notice that:
The right to redeem the following
described property, to wit: Original Land
Lot No. 135, in the 12th District and 2nd
Section of Pickens County, Ga., will expire
and be forever foreclosed and barred on
and after the day of February 1,2015. The
tax deed to which this notice relates is
dated the day of December 3, 2013, and is
recorded in the office of the Clerk of the
Superior Court of Pickens County, Ga., in
Deed Book 464 at page 148. The proper
ty may be redeemed at any time before
the day of February 1, 2015, by payment
of the redemption price as fixed and pro
vided by law to the undersigned at the fol
lowing address:
Howard H. Ray
587 Moore St.
Jasper, Ga. 30143
Please be governed accordingly.
(34-37p)
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Pursuant to the Georgia Self-Storage
Facility Act, Georgia Code Sections 10-4-
210 to 10-4-215, South Pickens Storage
located at 1370 Canton Rd., Jasper, Ga.
30143, will hold a public sale on Friday,
Jan. 16, 2015, at 4 p.m. Units to be auc
tioned can be viewed the day of auction
from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Call (770)735-
1620 with any questions.
The following unit containing house
hold merchandise will be auctioned by
sealed bid: Unit D-19 - Cookie Hooks.
(36-37)
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NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND CREDI
TORS
STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF PICKENS
In re: Estate of Kenneth W. Page, Sr.
All creditors of the estate of Kenneth
W. Page, Sr., deceased, late of Pickens
County, Ga., are hereby notified to render
their demands to the undersigned accord
ing to law and all persons indebted to said
estate are required to make immediate
payment to the undersigned.
This the 10th day of December 2014.
Kennon L. Mashburn, Executor of the
Estate of Kenneth W. Page, Sr., deceased
556 Pacer Court #9220
Ellijay, Ga. 30540
(34-37)
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NOTICE TO BAR RIGHT OF REDEMP
TION
To: Rachel S. Tilson, Junior Tilson,
Lola Mae Tilson and any and all occu
pants of the property described herein.
TAKE NOTICE THAT:
The right to redeem the following
described property, to-wit:
All that tract or parcel of land lying and
being in Original Land Lot No. 102 in the
12th District and 2nd Section of Pickens
County, Ga., more fully described as fol
lows:
Beginning at the intersection of the
Cams Mill Road and Whitestone Road;
thence a Southeasterly direction along
said Cams Mill Road to the old Langly
property; thence along the said Langly
property a Westerly direction to the said
Whitestone Road; thence a Northerly
direction along said Whitestone Road to
point of beginning, and containing six (6)
acres, more or less. The above described
property being in a triangular form. LESS
AND EXCEPT all that tract and parcel of
land lying and being in Original Land Lot
No. 102 in the 12th District and 2nd
Section of Pickens County, Ga., more fully
described as follows:
Beginning at an iron pin at the
Southeast right-of-way of the Whitestone
Road at a point where pulpwood company
land joins property of grantor herein;
thence in a Southeasterly direction a dis
tance of 200 feet along the lands of said
pulpwood company to an iron pin; thence
in a Northeasterly direction a distance of
200 feet to an iron pin; thence in a
Northwesterly direction a distance of 200
feet to an iron pin at the right-of-way of
Whitestone Road; thence in a
Southwesterly direction a distance of 200
feet along said Whitestone Road to the
point of beginning.
FURTHER LESS AND EXCEPT all
that tract or parcel of land lying and being
in Land Lot No. 102 of the 12th District
and 2nd Section of Pickens County, Ga.,
and being more particularly described as
follows:
To find the point of beginning com
mence at the intersection of the
Easternmost right-of-way of Whitestone
Road and the Southernmost right-of-way
of the Carnes Mill Road and thence run
ning in a Northeasterly direction along the
Southernmost right-of-way of said Carnes
Mill Road for a distance of 150 feet, more
or less, to a point located at the intersec
tion of said right-of-way with the centerline
of a hollow, which said point is the point of
beginning; thence running in a Southerly
direction along centerline of the hollow for
a distance of 475 feet, more or less, to a
point on the painted property line of
Georgia Draft Company; thence running a
distance of 425 feet, more or less, to a
point located on the Westernmost right-of-
way of Carnes Mill Road; thence running
in a Northwest direction along the
Westernmost and Southernmost right-of-
way of said Carnes Mill Road to the point
of beginning. Said tract containing 3 acres
more or less.
FURTHER LESS AND EXCEPT all
that tact or parcel of land lying and being
in Land Lot 102 of the 12th District, 2nd
Section of Pickens County, Ga., contain
ing 1.550 acres and being more fully
described on that certain plat of survey by
L. Stewart Solomon, Jr., Georgia RLS No.
1814, entitled “Property Survey of Estelle
Jones and Charles W. Jones,” dated Nov.
7, 1996 and recorded in Plat Book AA,
Page 226, Pickens county Superior Court
Deed Records.
Will expire and be forever foreclosed
and barred on and after the 14th day of
February 2015.
’’This date is 45 days from the date
the notice runs the first time.
The tax deed to which this notice
relates is dated the 6th day of August
2013, and is recorded in the Office of the
Clerk of the Superior Court of Pickens
County, Ga., in Deed Book 1015, Page
887.
This property may be redeemed at
any time before the 14th day of February
2015, by payment of the redemption price
as fixed and provided by law to Eric
Roland and Christina Roland, c/o Andrew
Lowman, Attorney at Law, 12 North Main
St., Jasper, Ga. 30143.
Please be governed accordingly.
This 22nd day of December 2014.
(36-39)
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NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND CREDI
TORS
STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF PICKENS
Re: Estate of Tava Lee Johnson
All creditors of the Estate of Tava Lee
Johnson, Deceased, late of Pickens
County, Georgia, are hereby notified to
render in their demands against said
estate to the undersigned, and all persons
indebted to said estate are required to
make immediate payment to the under
signed.
This the 22nd day of December 2014.
Herbert William Johnson, Executor
Will Hays Pickett, Jr.
Attorney for Estate
84 North Main Street
Jasper, Ga. 30143
(35-38)
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given of a hearing to
be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 17, 2014, at Jasper
City Hall before the Planning Commission
of the City of Jasper, Ga. The purpose of
the hearing is to discuss a request by
Timothy D. Snow to have parcel 053D-
031 of 19.85 acres rezoned in the City of
Jasper from Residential Agriculture to M1
Light Industrial. This parcel is located on
Hwy. 515 South and Cornett Lane South.
The recommendation of the Planning
Commission will be brought before the
City Council at 6 p.m. Jan. 5, 2015.
(31-36)
NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER
GEORGIA, PICKENS COUNTY
By virtue of a Power of Sale contained
in that certain Security Deed from Lydia
White to Branch Banking and Trust
Company, dated January 6, 2006, record
ed February 2, 2006, in Deed Book 692,
Page 600, Pickens County, Georgia
Records, said Security Deed having been
given to secure a Note of even date in the
principal amount of One Hundred Twenty
Thousand Dollars and No Cents
($120,000.00), with interest thereon as
provided for therein, there will be sold at
public outcry to the highest bidder for cash
before the courthouse door of Pickens
County, Georgia, within the legal hours of
sale on the first Tuesday in January 2015
by Branch Banking and Trust Company,
as Attorney in Fact for Lydia White, all
property described in said Security Deed
including but not limited to the following
described property:
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF
LAND LYING AND BEING IN LAND LOT
NO. 318 OF THE 12TH DISTRICT AND
2ND SECTION OF PICKENS COUNTY,
GEORGIA AND BEING MORE FULLY
DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: TO FIND
THE POINT OF BEGINNING COM
MENCE AT A ROCK CORNER LOCAT
ED AT THE ORIGINAL SOUTHWEST
CORNER OF SAID LAND LOT NO. 318,
WHICH SAID LAND LOT CORNER IS
TUE COMMON CORNER FOR LAND
LOTS NOS. 318, 295, 296 AND 317,
SAID DISTRICT AND SECTION, AND
RUNNING THENCE NORTH 88
DEGREES 59 MINUTES 46 SECONDS
EAST ALONG THE SOUTHERNMOST
LAND LOT LINE OF SAID LAND LOT
NO. 318 FOR A DISTANCE OF 384.17
FEET TO AN IRON PIN, WHICH SAID
IRON PIN IS THE POINT OF BEGIN
NING FOR THE PROPERTY HEREIN
CONVEYED; THENCE RUNNING
NORTH 17 DEGREES 47 MINUTES 15
SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF
1240.75 FEET TO AN IRON PIN;
THENCE RUNNING NORTH 01
DEGREES 21 MINUTES 44 SECONDS
EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 600.00
FEET TO AN IRON PIN LOCATED ON
THE SOUTHERNMOST RIGHT-OF-WAY
OF THE PUBLIC ROAD; THENCE RUN
NING IN A GENERALLY SOUTHEAST
ERLY DIRECTION WITH THE CURVA
TURE OF SAID ROAD FOR A DIS
TANCE OF 247.12 FEET TO AN IRON
PIN; THENCE CONTINUING WITH SAID
RIGHT-OF-WAY SOUTH 56 DEGREE 57
MINUTES 51 SECONDS EAST FOR A
DISTANCE OF 125.22 FEET TO AN
IRON PIN; THENCE RUNNING NORTH
80 DEGREES 20 MINUTES 50 SEC
ONDS WEST ALONG THE PROPERTY
OF CANNING FOR A DISTANCE OF
161.88 FEET TO AN IRON PIN; THENCE
RUNNING SOUTH 15 DEGREES 52
MINUTES 31 SECONDS WEST ALONG
THE PROPERTY OF CANNING FOR A
DISTANCE OF 316.65 FEET TO AN
IRON PIN LOCATED IN THE CENTER
LINE OF AN OLD ROAD; THENCE RUN
NING IN A GENERALLY EASTERLY
AND SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION
ALONG THE CENTER LINE OF SAID
OLD ROAD, WHICH SAID CENTER LINE
IS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE
PROPERTY HEREIN CONVEYED AND
THE PROPERTY OF CANNING, THE
FOLLOWING COURSES AND DIS
TANCES: NORTH 86 DEGREES 35 MIN
UTES 37 SECONDS EAST FOR A DIS
TANCE OF 116.22 FEET TO A POINT;
SOUTH 75 DEGREES 15 MINUTES 14
SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF
127.87 FEET TO A POINT; SOUTH 46
DEGREES 14 MINUTES 33 SECONDS
EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 104.66
FEET TO A POINT; SOUTH 88
DEGREES 33 MINUTES 20 SECONDS
EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 76.26 FEET
TO A POINT; SOUTH 79 DEGREES 15
MINUTES 00 SECONDS EAST FOR A
DISTANCE OF 100.55 FEET TO A
POINT; SOUTH 67 DEGREES 54 MIN
UTES 16 SECONDS EAST FOR A DIS
TANCE OF 61.34 FEET TO A POINT;
SOUTH 49 DEGREES 52 MINUTES 20
SECONDS EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF
94.49 FEET TO A POINT; SOUTH 21
DEGREES 09 MINUTES 19 SECONDS
EAST FOR A DISTANCE OF 144.61
FEET TO AN IRON PIN FOUND LOCAT
ED AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE
CENTER LINE OF SAID ROAD AND
ANOTHER OLD ROAD; THENCE RUN
NING SOUTH 83 DEGREES 48 MIN
UTES 04 SECONDS WEST FOR A DIS
TANCE OF 134.64 FEET TO AN IRON
PIN; THENCE RUNNING SOUTH 01
DEGREES 18 MINUTES 40 SECONDS
WEST ALONG THE LINE DIVIDING THE
PROPERTY HEREIN CONVEYED FROM
THE PROPERTY OF BILLY E
MASINGILL FOR A DISTANCE OF
981.55 FEET TO AN IRON PIN LOCAT
ED ON THE SOUTHERNMOST LAND
LOT LINE OF SAID LAND LOT NO. 318;
THENCE RUNNING SOUTH 88
DEGREES 59 MINUTES 46 SECONDS
WEST ALONG SAID LAND LOT LINE
FOR A DISTANCE OF 996.27 FEET TO
THE POINT OF BEGINNING. SAID
TRACT CONTAINING 25.79 ACRES.
FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIP
TION OF THE ABOVE DESCRIBED
PROPERTY REFERENCE IS HEREBY
MADE TO A PLAT OF SURVEY. SUB
JECT TO ANY EASEMENTS OR
RESTRICTIONS OF RECORD.
The indebtedness secured by said
Security Deed has been and is hereby
declared due because of default under the
terms of said Security Deed and Note,
including but not limited to the nonpay
ment of the indebtedness as and when
due. The indebtedness remaining in
default, this sale will be made for the pur
pose of paying the same, all expenses of
the sale, including attorneys' fees and all
other payments provided for under the
terms of the Security Deed and Note.
Said property will be sold subject to
the following items which may affect the
title to said property: any superior Security
Deeds of record; all zoning ordinances;
matters which would be disclosed by an
accurate survey or by an inspection of the
property; any outstanding taxes, including
but not limited to ad valorem taxes, which
constitute liens upon said property; spe
cial assessments; all outstanding bills for
public utilities which constitute liens upon
said property; all restrictive covenants,
easements, rights-of-way and any other
matters of record superior to said Security
Deed.
To the best of the knowledge and
belief of the undersigned, the party in pos
session of the property is Lydia White or
tenant(s).
The sale will be conducted subject to
(1) confirmation that the sale is not prohib
ited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and
(2) final confirmation and audit of the sta
tus of the loan.
The name of the person or entity who
has the full authority to negotiate, amend,
and modify all terms of the mortgage is:
Branch Banking and Trust Company, 150
Stratford Road, Suite 201, Winston-
Salem, NC 27104 TEL (866) 909-4852.
This law firm is attempting to collect a
debt. Any information obtained will be
used for that purpose.
The Geheren Firm, P.C.
4828 Ashford Dunwoody Road
2nd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30338
TEL (678) 587-9500
(33-36)
New Year’s resolutions pro
vide a perfect opportunity to set
positive goals for the year to
come. Old habits can be hard to
break, which can make it diffi
cult for men and women to stay
committed to their New Year’s
resolutions. But a new year
marks a new chapter, and the
following are some ways you
can ensure this year’s resolu
tions don’t go unresolved.
• Be specific. A resolution
that’s too general may ultimate
ly prove ineffective. For exam
ple, if you resolve to lose weight
this year, you probably hope to
lose a substantial amount of
weight over the next 12 months,
as opposed to just one or two
pounds. If you set specific and
periodic goals, such as lose one
to two pounds by the end of
January, as part of your resolu
tion, then you are building in
some measuring sticks along the
way, and meeting those measur
ing sticks can motivate you to
stay on course and realize your
Every year at the stroke of
midnight on December 31, peo
ple around the world usher in a
new year with fanfare and a host
of unique traditions. From first-
footing to smashing dinner
plates to watching a crystal ball
descend from the sky, tradition
dominates the dawn of a new
year.
Though the new year is now
celebrated in January, this was
not always the case. Prior to 700
B.C., the months of January and
February did not exist, so the
arrival of a new year was cele
brated on March 1 in adherence
to the Roman calendar. Prior to
that, new year celebrations took
place mid-March, right around
the time of the vernal equinox.
Various cultures and peoples
tied the new year to certain sea
sons, celebrating a new year on
the autumnal equinox or the
resolution by year’s end.
• Don’t go overboard. If you
traditionally find resolutions
hard to live up to, then stick to a
single resolution this year. This
allows you to focus your efforts
more effectively and ensures
you won’t be overburdened,
which could negatively impact
your ability to realize your reso
lutions.
• Use technology. Saving
more money is a popular New
Year’s resolution, and now men
and women looking to save
more can employ technology to
help them realize their financial
goals. If your goal for the com
ing year is to save ‘X’ amount of
dollars, sit down and calculate
how much you need to save each
pay period to realize that goal.
You can then have that figure
automatically deposited into an
interest-bearing savings account
each time your paycheck is
deposited into your account.
• Enlist a friend. If your
winter solstice.
The Roman calendar consist
ed of 10 months, the names of
which are still reflected in the
Gregorian calendar that is so
widely used today. For example,
the months of September
through December get their
names from the Latin words for
seven, eight, nine, and ten. On
the Roman calendar, a year
began with March, as this was
seen as a time of rebirth for ani
mals and the environment. The
second king of Rome, Numa
Pontilius, added the months of
January and February, and then
the new year was moved to
January from March. However,
some people still celebrated the
new year on March 1, perhaps
due to the slowness at which
information moved between cul
tures. It wasn’t until the ancient
Roman calendar was eliminated
New Year’s resolution is one
that others can apply to their
own lives, then by all means
enlist a friend. For example,
men and women who want to
find more time to exercise in the
coming year can enlist a friend
or family member to exercise
with them. The buddy system is
a great motivating tool, and
enlisting the help of a friend or
family member provides the
added benefit of seeing that
loved one more often in the year
ahead.
• Don’t let setbacks derail
your resolution. Resolutions
too often fall by the wayside
when men and women experi
ence setbacks directly related to
their resolutions. If you resolved
to save more money but had a
month when that simply was not
possible, don’t allow that to
derail your resolution for the
rest of the year. Setbacks are
nearly inevitable, but they’re
never an excuse to give up on a
resolution.
and a new lunar one implement
ed by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.
that the new year was widely
and consistently observed in
January.
During the Middle Ages, cel
ebrations honoring a new year
were considered pagan and
January 1 was abolished as the
beginning of the year by reli
gious groups. During these
years, dates such as December
25, March 1, March 25, and
Easter were used to mark a new
year throughout Christian
Europe.
January 1 eventually was
restored as the start of the new
year when the Gregorian calen
dar was introduced in the 16th
century. From then on, people
near and far could say goodbye
to another year in December and
welcome the arrival of a new
one come the first of January.
Unique New Year’s traditions
From ringing bells to fistfights
Some people may find it strange to withstand
freezing temperatures and gusty winds for hours
on end just to stand in the center of Times Square
in New York City to catch a glimpse of a bejew-
eled ball drop at the stroke of midnight on New
Year’s Eve. Yet this tradition may seem tame
when compared to other unique rituals that take
place around the world come New Year’s Eve.
North Americans may be singing “Auld Lang
Syne” and toasting to good fortune with a glass of
bubbly, but elsewhere traditions can be somewhat
more eccentric. In some spots of South America,
for example, revelers put on brightly colored
underwear to ring in the New Year. Red under
pants signal a person looking for love, while yel
low means they’re seeking money. The following
are some other unique New Year’s traditions.
• Tossing the dishes: In Denmark, individuals
toss dishes at other people’s front doors. Those
who end up with the greatest number of broken
dishes at their home’s threshold are considered
lucky, as they have an abundance of loyal friends.
• Right foot: Start off the new year on the right
foot by literally stepping forward with your right
foot at exactly 12:00 a.m. in Argentina.
• Burning in effigy: People in Ecuador bum
photographs and paper-filled scarecrows at mid
night. This is to look away from the past and bring
good fortune for the future.
• Good grapes: Spain residents attempt to stuff
12 grapes in their mouths at midnight. If they are
successful, they are expected to achieve good luck
for the next year.
• Dressing in white: Residents of Brazil dress
all in white on New Year’s Eve to ward away bad
spirits. Many also gather at the beach to toss floral
offerings into the water to appease the goddess
Yemaja, in the hopes she will grant them requests
for the upcoming year.
• Good travels: In Columbia, people walk
around their blocks with empty suitcases to
encourage traveling in the new year.
• Ringing bells: Japanese ring all of their bells
108 times in accordance with the Buddhist belief
that this will bring cleanliness. People in Japan
also believe it is good luck to begin the new year
smiling.
• Putting up your dukes: Every year at the end
of December, people in a small Peruvian village
engage in fist fights to settle all of their differ
ences. Afterward, they begin the new year with a
clean slate.
• First foot: Immediately after the clock strikes
12, the people of Scotland start first-footing. This
means being the first person across a friend or
neighbor’s threshold bearing gifts of food,
whiskey and financial prosperity. People in
Greece celebrate in much the same way via the
tradition of Pothariko.
• Molten tin: In Finland, residents find the near
est piece of tin to melt. The molten tin is poured
into a horseshoe-shaped ladle and then dropped
into cold water. The random shapes that form are
interpreted in various ways to indicate what’s to
come in the year ahead.
• Feats of skill: Single women in Belarus spend
New Year’s Eve hoping to increase their odds of
getting married. Ladies compete in games to see
who will be the next to get hitched. These games
may include seeing who will be the first to be
approached by a rooster. The winner is the next
person to become betrothed.
• Appliance toss: In downtown Johannesburg,
South African locals throw old appliances out of
their windows to ring in the new year.
• All things round: Round-shaped foods are
served and consumed in the Philippines. Filipinos
believe round shapes that represent coins symbol
ize prosperity.
From suitcase to fistfights to eating round
fruits, the traditions of welcoming the new year
are varied around the world.
A historical look at New Year’s celebrations