This New Year's Eve is going to be different for many people. The parties, horn blowing, shouting, sparklers, fireworks, and let's not forget the midnight kiss are not on the CDC's list of acceptable activities. I hope that most will forget the party, maybe do a zoom party with friends and family. Go ahead dress up, wear the paper hats, and blow the horns in the comfort of your home. Just think how nice it will be not having all those intoxicated people on the roads. Yet I wonder how important is that kiss, and why do so many people make it the deciding factor of their new year celebration?

My research found the folklore behind the kissing tradition goes as far back as the Ancient Romans. The Festival of Saturnalia was a big party where kissing and debauchery was in full swing, so to speak. Along came the English and Germans that did not partake in such frivolity and was changed to just one person, preferably the first person you meet at the stroke of midnight.

Many Europeans and some places like New Orleans, and other cities steeped in tradition hold a masquerade ball. The masks worn at these parties represent the evil spirits from the old year and the kiss, once the mask is removed is an act of purification. Don't we all wish it was that easy?

Now, most will say they don't believe in a superstitious idea like this but will be the first to find the most important person in their life to plant that hot wet kiss when the clock strikes midnight. Many families come together and parents kiss children, children kiss their siblings, and of course, the parents kiss to bring good luck full circle.

In my thirty-four years of marriage, there are only a few times I didn't kiss my husband or anyone else at the stroke of midnight. The last time I missed his kiss was the New Year's Eve before he passed away. Now I am not going to say that missing that kiss caused him his demise. There are plenty of mitigating circumstances that prevailed his passing. However, this year it will be ten years since I missed that kiss and I have not kissed another person since.

I recently watched "When Harry Met Sally," and there are several New Year's Eve scenes in this movie. Culminating into the history of a relationship that of course has a happy ending. If you are like me, you know that the idea that a man ran through the streets of New York City minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve to tell the woman he loved that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her is absurd and only makes for a good romantic comedy movie.

I don't hold onto traditions as I did in my earlier years. The need to be a part of the grand celebration into the next year is for young adults that have a lot of living to do. I have a lot of fond memories of ringing in the New Year, however, I am happy with a quiet evening, in bed before the festivities even get started. There are many reasons to be grateful for the coming year. We all survived a year that will be in the history books as the hardest in the entire world. My wish to you is to stay safe and have a VERY HEALTHY NEW YEAR!