Design Happens

What do you do to bring good luck to you and yours in the new year? In our home it means two things:

Before New Year’s Day: Take down and pack away all Christmas decor. According to my mom, it’s bad luck for the tree to still be up on the first day of the new year. (I think this is motivated by her fear that a dried out tree is a fire hazard, as well as her desire to have the house in order before the holiday break ends.)

Peas for Prosperity

On New Year’s Day: Eat black-eyed peas and collard greens with family, friends and neighbors. (In the South, if you wait too late, the grocery stores will be sold out of this good-luck grub.)

I’ll be cooking up these recipes from Food Network: Southern-Style Collard Greens and Spicy Black-Eyed Peas.

Share with us your January 1 traditions.

And from the Design Happens team at HGTV.com, peace and prosperity in 2011!