New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are full of traditions for many. The most popular is likely to be resolutions. Everyone is hopeful for a great new year and New Year's resolutions are one of the biggest topics for the New Year. Other traditions include New Year's Eve dinners, parties, eating certain foods for good luck, watching the Times Square Ball drop and toasting with champagne.

Music is also a big tradition and the song Auld Lang Syne brings in the New Year for many people.
Why do we make resolutions?

Traditionally, people start talking about their New Year's resolutions as the new year approaches. More than likely it's a show of confidence that the next year will bring good things and prosperity. It is a time to reflect upon the last year and consider what one has achieved, missed, forgotten to do, and what one thinks one should do in the upcoming year.

What is the most frequently made resolution? There is no "poll" that shows us this, as typically a resolution is very personal. However, many people aspire to lose weight, get in shape, save more money and spend more time with family and friends.

Dinner traditions for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
New Year's Eve is a major social holiday. Many people go out to dinner to celebrate the incoming new year. However, with the economy keeping budgets a lot tighter, a number of people are staying home to enjoy dinner with family and friends.

From a formal standing rib roast and full sit-down dinner to a cocktail party with great appetizers, there are many ways to celebrate New Year's Eve by eating at home. Check out some great New Year's Dinner ideas on www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties.

New Year's Day is a day to enjoy the first full day of the New Year. Many make a special dinner built around good-fortune foods. There are many foods that are supposed to bring luck, like black-eyed peas, collard greens and ham. They are often made into a soup called, "Good Fortune Soup."

New Year's Eve Music
The most popular New Year's Eve song is the traditional Auld Lang Syne. It's commonly played at parties as the clock hits midnight. An old Scottish tune, Auld Lang Syne literally means "old long ago," or more simply put: "the good old days."

The lyrics to Auld Lang Syne are memorable to many:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,For auld lang syne,We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,For auld lang syne!
And there's a hand my trusty fiere,And gie's a hand o thine,And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,For auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear,For auld lang syne,We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,For auld lang syne!

However you celebrate the incoming New Year 2010, make sure you add your own traditions to make it special for your family.