New Year's Traditions

In many countries, New Year’s celebrations begin on the evening of December 31—New Year’s Eve—and continue into the early hours of January 1. Revelers often enjoy meals and snacks thought to bestow good luck for the coming year. In Spain and several other Spanish-speaking countries, people bolt down a dozen grapes-symbolizing their hopes for the months ahead-right before midnight. In many parts of the world, traditional New Year’s dishes feature legumes, which are thought to resemble coins and herald future financial success; examples include lentils in Italy and black-eyed peas in the southern United States. Because pigs represent progress and prosperity in some cultures, pork appears on the New Year’s Eve table in Cuba, Austria, Hungary, Portugal and other countries. Ring-shaped cakes and pastries, a sign that the year has come full circle, round out the feast in the Netherlands, Mexico, Greece and elsewhere. In Sweden and Norway, meanwhile, rice pudding with an almond hidden inside is served on New Year’s Eve; it is said that whoever finds the nut can expect 12 months of good fortune.

Other customs that are common worldwide include watching fireworks and singing songs to welcome the New Year, including the ever-popular "Auld Lang Syne" in many English-speaking countries. The practice of making resolutions for the New Year is thought to have first caught on among the ancient Babylonians, who made promises in order to earn the favor of the gods and start the year off on the right foot. (They would reportedly vow to pay off debts and return borrowed farm equipment.)

In the United States, the most iconic New Year’s tradition is the dropping of a giant ball in New York City's Times Square at the stroke of midnight. Millions of people around the world watch the event, which has taken place almost every year since 1907. Over time, the ball itself has ballooned from a 700-pound iron-and-wood orb to a brightly patterned sphere 12 feet in diameter and weighing in at nearly 12,000 pounds. Various towns and cities across America have developed their own versions of the Times Square ritual, organizing public drops of items ranging from pickles (Dillsburg, Pennsylvania) to possums (Tallapoosa, Georgia) at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

 

Mistletoe

I'll never forget my first encounter with mistletoe. One crisp December morning in grade school I distinctly remember walking through a hallway that our teachers had painstakingly decorated for the holidays. There were poinsettias, wreaths and a profusion of color and twinkling lights hugging the corridor. But one thoughtful instructor had collected a plant from a tree in her front lawn and hung it where it would cause us boys a great deal of grief that day.  Hanging mistletoe over the threshold of a doorway is a holiday tradition that has its origins in Europe.

On that cool morning I saw a suspicious looking girl standing in the doorway of Mrs. Saxon's sixth grade math class. She was obviously waiting for something. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with her body language and I tried to shuffle past her without being noticed. That was a big mistake. Once my foot crossed the threshold, her arms shot up and blocked my way. Then she planted a kiss on my right cheek. I was in shock.

 Mistletoe is an ectophyte, meaning it's obligated to grow as a parasite drawing some part of its nutrition from a host organism. You're already familiar with other ectophytes such as ticks and lice and you've probably seen mistletoe growing in trees. The most commonly observed mistletoe species in Texas is the American mistletoe. Every part of this plant is known to be poisonous; therefore it should be kept away from children.

The tacky jelly-like mistletoe seeds are spread by birds that seem to be immune to the toxins. The seeds adhere to bark and sprout a root known as a haustorium. Haustoria penetrate tiny openings and grow in the vascular system of the tree. Although mistletoe leaves have chlorophyll and can manufacture their own food, they need to draw water and minerals from the tree to use as building blocks in their photosynthesis.

This pest is usually more of a nuisance than a serious health risk for trees. However, heavy infestations of mistletoe will kill branches and the loss of several branches can weaken a drought-stressed tree. Mistletoe is one more stressor in the urban decline of West Texas trees. Some long-term control can be achieved by pruning infected branches at least 18 inches below the parasite. Research hasn't yet provided an effective tool for conclusively removing mistletoe. Maintaining healthy trees seems to be the best option.

Holiday Safety Tips for Children

      Trouble-Free Toys

• Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully. If the toy is appropriate for your child, show him how to use it properly.
• Follow recommended age ranges on toy packages. Toys that are too advanced could pose a safety hazard for younger children.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
• Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on un-inflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

Outdoor Play
• Make sure your child’s gloves and shoes stay dry. If either becomes wet, change your child into a dry pair.
• Sledding on or into the roadway should be prohibited. Look for shallow slopes that are free of obstacles, such as trees and fences.
• Most skiing and skating injuries involve twists, sprains and strains. Prevent injuries by providing your child with competent instruction, proper equipment and appropriate supervision. 

 
      Happy Visiting

• Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
• Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.
• Keep a laminated list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222.
• Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child’s stress levels. Trying to stick to your child’s usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress. 

 
       Food Safety

• Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.
• Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child’s exploring hands.
• Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.
• Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it.
• Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separate, and use separate utensils when preparing them.
• Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop.
• Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.

Poinsettia, the Christmas Flower

You know it's the Christmas season when you see poinsettias everywhere.  To many the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is the Christmas flower. More than 70 million poinsettia plants are sold each year, making it the number one plant sold in the USA.

 Native to Mexico the poinsettia is a tropical plant and comes in red, pink, peach, creamy white, yellow, marbled or speckled. The "Winter Rose Series" has blooms with several layers of curly petals (resembling a wild rose) and it is said to be about a large apple size.  The colors are a deep rose, rich crimson, white and marbled with a yellow center.  

   Since poinsettias are tropical plants they require warmth and protection from drafts and heat vents.  They require at least six hours of bright light but not direct sunlight. Poinsettias prefer a moist soil and can dry out quite quickly in a warm house.   Putting the pot in a sink of warm water and then allowing it to drain is the best way to water.  When the plant absorbs the water thru the roots you can easily determine from the top that it has received ample water.  After flowering the plants should be cut back part way and kept dry and in a temperature of 50-55 degrees for several weeks.  When the outside temperatures warm up the plant can be pruned to 6-8 inches of the soil line and started into growth again by watering.  New shoots (4 inches long) can be propagated with 65-70 degrees temperature.  Weekly fertilizing with a diluted fertilizer should be started when the plant is well rooted.

 Poinsettias seem to prefer an average temperature of 60 degrees, resent drafts and are easily damaged by spraying with insecticides.  They need short days and long nights to bloom.  Light at night prevents flowering and the formation of bracts.  Since the flower, with proper care, has been known to hold for many months you might be lucky enough to enjoy your plant for most of the winter.  If you have the smaller Mexican poinsettia that readily reseeds in your yard, you'll have an added bonus for the long, hot summer.