Be sure to watch Bride Access‘s new episode, Sunday, January 2nd at 9:30am!  Culinary Crafts will be sharing catering tips, so you’ll definitely want to tune in!

Check out more tips on our website, www.culinarycrafts.com

There are all sorts of traditions to bring luck in the New Year, but I’d like to focus primarily on the food traditions today.  In my research on these foods, I’ve found there are some that turn up again and again in many cultures.  I’d like to share a bit of their tradition and history with you!

Grapes

Dating back to 1909, grape growers in Spain started eating 12 grapes at midnight to symbolize each stroke of the clock.  The tradition has spread to many Spanish and Portuguese colonies and is still practiced today!  The goal is to eat all the grapes by the last stroke of midnight and each grape represents a different month.  So, for instance, if your 6th grape is a bit sour, June may be more of a problematic time, but if all your grapes are sweet, the year looks sweet for you too!

Cooked Greens

Cooked greens are consumed in many countries because when the greens are cooked, they resemble folded money and so they are symbolic of prosperity.  The Danish peoples eat greens sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon to sweeten their economic fortunes.  Its also believed that the more greens you can eat on New Year’s Day, the larger your fortune will be in the coming year!

Legumes

Legumes are also symbolic of money because they resemble coins when uncooked and swell when cooked.  So people eat them in hopes that their coin purses will also swell in the New Year!  There is even a legend that in the Civil War, a town in Mississippi ran out of food.  Luckily, however, they  found the legume black-eyed peas and were saved!  Ever since, many people have considered that legume in particular very lucky!

Pork

Pigs symbolize progress to many cultures because they push forward and root themselves to the ground before moving.  Austrians are known to decorate tables with miniature marzipan pigs and countries such as Spain, Hungry, Austria, Italy, and the United States all traditionally consume pork on New Year’s.  It is also though that because of the richness of pork, it signifies wealth and prosperity.

Fish

The same can be said of fish as is said of pigs.  They are always moving forward and, thus, seen as lucky for prosperity.  In Japan, roe is also consumed for fertility, shrimp for a long life and dried sardines  for a good harvest because they were once used to fertilize rice fields.  Many other countries such as Germany, Sweden, Poland, and Denmark eat fish on New Year’s as well.  In Germany, it has even been known to place a few fish scales in their wallets for good luck.

Cakes

In Scotland, there is a tradition called “first footing” in which the first person to enter a home after the New Year determines what kind of year the resident will have.  They often bring symbolic gifts such as baked goods and cakes to make sure the household always has food.  In other countries, such as Mexico or Greece, it is customary to hide special treats in a cake and if you find it, you’ll be lucky in the new year.  Traditionally, the cakes served on New Year’s are round or ring shaped so that it will bring things full circle, thus being good luck or a fresh start.  In Poland, Hungary, Holland, and the Netherlands they eat donuts!  Yum!

What to Avoid

There are also things you shouldn’t eat because they symbolize bad fortune.  Lobsters move backwards and symbolize setbacks.  Chickens scratch backwards and could cause regret or dwelling on the past.  Some other traditions guard against any winged fowl because they could cause good luck to fly away.

I hope you enjoyed learning about these food traditions and they give you some new ideas!  Enjoy and we wish everyone a prosperous New Year!

Check out more inspiration on our website! www.culinarycrafts.com

Photo Credits: Logan Walker, ZumaPhoto and Pepper Nix, Pepper Nix Photography

Today I’d like to share a recipe that would be a perfect meal for a New Year’s dinner or lunch!  Enjoy!

Check out more recipe ideas on our website!  www.culinarycrafts.com

We are so honored to have Utah Bride and Groom posting on the gorgeous Peacock Party we showed you last week.

Check out their blog here!  Thank you so much UB&G!  You are amazing!

Check out our website for even more inspiration!  www.culinarycrafts.com

Since we are leaving one holiday and going into another, I thought it would be fun to focus on New Year’s Eve traditions this week, starting with a craft!  This craft is an easy and fun way to add a personalized detail to your New Year’s Eve party!  Here it is:

Enjoy!  We’ll have more New Year’s ideas tomorrow!

Check out our website for more ideas! www.culinarycrafts.com

Photo Credit: marthastewart.com

We are taking a break for the holiday so we can go spend time with our loved ones and revel in the magic and spirit of Christmas!  Never fear, however, I’ll leave you with some links and inspiration to keep you occupied in the mean time!

Here are some gorgeous calendars to ring in 2011 here, here, and here!

I love a good coffee angel.

Mmm…  Bacon…

I wish I could make stories out of cookies.

How awesome are these New Year’s Eve wine labels?

A beautiful winter wedding shoot…  From grand old Utah!

And finally, some really great printable holiday tags! 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5!

Have a wonderful holiday!  We’ll see you next week!

Remember the Peacock party I posted earlier this week?  I’ll refresh your memory here.  Today I’d like to spotlight the creator of those AMAZING invitations: Ann Elizabeth Custom Invitations.  Ann Elizabeth is a true design maven and makes the most extraordinary invitations for any event, as well as any other paper goods you would like.  And she does holiday cards to boot!  Here are some invitations for events we have personally been involved with.  I think you will agree she is a genius!

How cute is this?!  You can see this event here.  The invitations really set the tone for the party!

Such beautiful design!  Love it!

Check out more stellar vendors on our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo Credits: Top set and bottom set, Logan Walker of ZumaPhoto; middle set Ashlee Raubach of Ashlee Raubach Photography

Today, I have an event that is simply GORGEOUS.  It had a central peacock details that works, not only for this elegant holiday party, but could definitely translate to an awesome palette for a wedding!  It is rich, lush, and sumptuous with the gorgeous crepe fabrics and golds in the plates and drinkware.  Finish that off with beautiful red roses, purple currant berries, tulips, and peacock feathers as the floral arrangement and you are truly going to impress!  Let’s show off some of the pictures!

These invitations are to die for!  Ann Elizabeth is truly a master of design.  I love the art deco detailing!  It really takes it above and beyond the “peacock” theme.  (Stay tuned for a spotlight on Ann Elizabeth later on this week too!)

Rachel always makes sure the final details are taken care of and the event goes off without a hitch.  We love you Rachel!

Aren’t these arrangements amazing?!  Leave it to Orchid Dynasty to create such spectacular pieces!

I love the compliment of the reds and the turquoises on the tables.  Its truly a dynamic and visually arresting color combination.

The food, as always, is simply delectable and beautiful to boot!

The Hope Gallery is definitely a special and breathtaking venue for any event.  Plus, there is never a break in all the beauty around you!  Definitely a place that will keep you guests talking for years to come!

I hope this inspired you to take some risks with your colors.  I think the results could be stellar!

Check out more inspiring event on our website, www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo Credit: Logan Walker, ZumaPhoto

Every year, Utah Bride and Groom puts tremendous effort into crafting their annual magazine, which, if you ask me, is Utah’s premiere wedding resource!  They find and showcase the immense talent here in Utah from the florist to the caterer and everything in between.  Even though the print edition hits the stands January 1st, the team at Utah Bride and Groom were kind enough to post a virtual preview for us to peruse!  Check it out here!

Culinary Crafts was honored to be featured multiple times in this issue (we’re blushing!).  You can check out the Sugar Rush feature on page 70, A Love Story feature on pages 94-97, and The Little Gems feature on pages 122-124.  They are simply gorgeous and thank you to the wonderful team at Utah Bride and Groom!  You are amazing!

Check out more from Culinary Crafts on our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Hi all!  I just wanted to let you know that one of Culinary Crafts’ fabulous winter events was featured on Utah Bride Blog!  Check it out here!

And check out our website for more winter wedding ideas! www.culinarycrafts.com