New Year's traditions to ring in 2024: CBS 58 newsroom chimes in

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In celebrating the new year, traditions new and old come into play. To some, it may seem superstitious, but for others, it's a real way to get an extra dose of luck for 2024. We asked our CBS 58 and Telemundo Wisconsin newsroom what traditions they like to partake in every single year. 

While the ball drop in Times Square, New York has become an iconic tradition in America, ringing in the new year might look a little different depending on where you are and the family traditions you grew up with.

"Sometimes we'll go to a movie but a lot of times we're just home watching the ball drop, watching, you know, all the traditions around the world as everybody's hitting midnight," said Jessie Garcia, news director. 

In some cultures, it's typical to start off the year with good luck foods.

"We start by eating 12 grapes within 12 seconds, right before the clock strikes midnight, and each grape you eat represents a month of the year and you get one wish per grape," explained Montse Ricossa, Telemundo Wisconsin anchor. 

"My mom would always make black-eyed peas and cabbage, which was for good luck and prosperity," added Frankie Jupiter, CBS 58 anchor.

In Wisconsin, it's a holiday tradition to chow down a cannibal sandwich.

"I would like to try the raw meat with the onions and the salt and pepper, I think that would be fun," said Alex Corradetti, CBS 58 anchor.

Many celebrate with loved ones, whether that be physically or even virtually.

"My daughter usually texts me right about midnight, otherwise mimosas to cheer," said Margie Bahr, executive assistant.

Bilingual reporter Stephanie Rodriguez said she always waits to hear from her father who lives in Puerto Rico and rings in the new year two hours ahead of Wisconsin time (CT).

"Always kiss on midnight if there's someone to kiss, or kiss my cats, I don't care, I love my cats," Rodriguez said. 

Some wait for the clock to strike midnight to manifest what they want out of the new year.

"We take turns getting our suitcases and running out of the house as far as we can…to symbolize how far you will travel," Ricossa said.

"I once had a Korean landlord and she told me that in, like, Korean culture, they throw a bunch of quarters at the door and so I literally threw like a bunch of quarters around my door and then opened the door at midnight to let out the bad spirits or energy," CBS 58 reporter Amanda Becker said.

Though others don't even wait until midnight to get the party started.

"We do 'Happy Noon Year,' where on the 31st we celebrate when it reaches noon, in the middle of the day, and we have the streamers and the little rattlers you make noise with, we do a big countdown," said Jarek Andrzejewski, CBS 58 producer.

Many families choose to make it a point to set intentions for the upcoming year.

"We would spend New Year's Eve making vision boards and we would plan ahead, we would get our posters and magazines," Tajma Hall CBS 58 anchor and reporter, shared.

"The most traditional thing we would do is go around and say what we're thankful for and what we want to work toward in the new year," added Corradetti.

Whether you believe these traditions will bring luck or just want to add some spice to your holiday, a new tradition may be the perfect way to kick off 2024.