Midnight Magic

"I’m not superstitious, but I’m a little stitious.” As the New Year approaches, this iconic line from The Office feels more relatable than ever. From gulping grapes in Spain to donning yellow underwear in South America and practicing Scotland’s ancient “first-footing” tradition, people around the world embrace odd—and oddly meaningful—rituals to ensure good luck in the year ahead. Join us as we travel around the Smithsonian to explore how facing the unknown brings us together at New Year’s…in the most unusual ways.

Transcript

Guests:

• Jim Deutsch, senior content coordinator for America at 250 book project with the Smithsonian Institution, formerly a curator at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
• Tey Marianna Nunn, associate director of content and interpretation for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino
• Theo Gonzalves, curator at the National Museum of American History
• Grace Jan, Yao Wenqing Chinese Painting Conservator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art

Smithsonian Links:

• Watch the full Freedom's Eve: Watch Night, Family and Memory food traditions video and read more about The Historical Legacy of Watch Night from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture.
• For more Sidedoor holiday magic, check out A Very Merry Sidedoor and Auld Lang What?. Especially if you want to hear a danceable version of Auld Lang Syne.