New Year

As we dip our toes gingerly into the fresh waters of 2010, we have to admit it's a refreshing change. The new year even has a snappy nickname, twenty-ten, that adds to its coolness. All of the bad memories of the dismal clunker that was 2009 have receded, and what we have before us is a big, blue, inviting new expanse of time to play in, float on and swim around. At least, that's how I see it. So I don't think the new year should be welcomed with a lot of strict guidelines or self-imposed regulations about our diets, level of physical activity or commitments to future accomplishments.

So another year is almost over and a new one is about to begin with its still unknown cache of joys, disappointments and victories. If there was some way to control these happenings -- to tip the scales in the balance of only the good -- who wouldn't leap at the chance? In fact, societies have been trying to do just that for centuries. Their technique?Eating beans. (As well as herring, sardines, sauerkraut, pork and other so-called "good luck" foods.)The notion of eating foods to change one's fortune dates to ancient Babylonia and the world's first known recipes, according to Nan Rothschild, professor of anthropology at Barnard College.

New Year's Eve abounds with noisy, jubilant celebrations, including bonfires, firecrackers, singing, dancing, horn-blowing and the tinkling of temple bells. The next day, the activities are more somber - nursing hangovers and composing long lists of New Year's resolutions, which we promise we will keep this time. Who couldn't use a little help in the good-fortune department? Luckily, our ancestors were wise enough to pass along tasty traditions of eating good-luck foods for New Year's, delectable comestibles guaranteed to bring health, happiness and prosperity in the coming year.

This time of year, Lauren Kelly, a 28-year-old English teacher in Notre Dame Prep's middle school, is usually in serious holiday-mode, perhaps planning how to accessorize her New Year's frock, found in Georgetown with her mother.But this year, the Federal Hill resident will be far away from the party circuit, in a place where the millennium is virtually insignificant. Instead of a dress, she'll be in a parka, wool sweater, jeans, boots, trying to take the chill off the lives of mistreated Romanian orphans, as part of the Romanian Challenge Appeal.

The new year is a time for new approaches to old problems, but in today's tough economic environment, many in the non-profit arena feel that taking time to sit back and refresh their perspective is a luxury they cannot afford.For others, periodic goal-setting, analysis of progress toward objectives and setting new priorities are continuing tasks. These people recognize that despite their toll on staff time, these reappraisals ultimately benefit the organization, increasing its competitiveness when it is most needed.

In one sense, yesterday was the most unusual of days. After all, it will be another thousand years before a single day kicks off not only a new year but a new decade, century and millennium. Written on a letter or a check, the date looked as clean as digital code: 01/01/01. Around Maryland, the day was greeted with hope, shrugs and - for a few lucky horses in Laurel - some peppermint candy. Where you are at midnight on New Year's Eve is where you'll be all year long. His family had always lived by that motto.

Hundreds of people from across Baltimore converged on the Convention Center last night to toast the arrival of the New Year with soda before heading to the Inner Harbor for a midnight display of fireworks.The city's Party with a Pop -- an alcohol-free celebration that featured dance music, contemporary jazz, jukebox oldies, comedy and an a cappella quintet -- has become an annual tradition for Dr. Christine and Tom Kallio and their 7-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.The Catonsville family started coming to the Convention Center four years ago and found it more fun than fancy parties or expensive dinners.

The hesitation blues have struck again. You were waiting for a no-show invitation. You overestimated your popularity. You weren't in the mood. There's a babysitter shortage. It's been a bad hair month. Yeah, yeah. CELEBRATIONS From parties and fireworks to hikes and Bach, events to ring in the new year. PG 2D

As holidays go, New Year's Day is a poor stepchild. About all it's good for is nursing a hangover or watching football -- or at least that's how we treat it. Not this year. Let's resolve to make Jan. 1 more than just an addendum to the celebration of the night before. Here are 10 great (or at least fun and useful) things to plan for the day that starts the rest of 2005. 1. Hit the new year running. The Baltimore Road Runners Club is holding its annual five-mile Father Time Frolic at Loch Raven Reservoir on Jan. 1, meeting at the Peerce's Plantation parking lot, 12460 Dulaney Valley Road, at 9 a.m. Runners predict their time before the race, and those who finish closest to their actual time will get a runner's watch.

More than a decade ago, Iranian-Americans celebrating their new year at a Baltimore park attracted curious onlookers -- and several fire trucks.Their 2,000-year-old holiday ritual involves jumping over fire, symbolizing the leaving behind of the sicknesses and the worries of old year and leaping into the health and prosperity of the new. But the local fire-jumping quickly fizzled.Until this year.With fire permits in place, local Iranian-Americans leapt over fires as part of the new year celebrations that started Tuesday, continue today on the actual holiday and first day of spring, and will end April 4."