The Dutch believe eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good luck. No doubt a fantastic idea on its own, let us not forget the options of cabbage, sauerkraut or, worse yet, black-eyed peas. For a non-food (and less known) tradition, you might want to consider leaving doors open at midnight so the last year can exit without issue. Maybe you'd care to have a midnight yell to scare out the bad and welcome the new? Strangely enough, I've yet to find any New Year's traditions involving facial hair and being one who enjoys traditions not of the norm, I've made the decision to start 2011 off without the scruff.
Over the past few years I've come to find that, although it won't grow on the top of my head, I can grow a very red and very Irish beard. It grows fast and hearty and curls on the edges after a month. In short, when unchecked, it looks like the man on the Brawny paper towel wrapper.
So in early December I had the notion to turn a beard, grown more out of distaste for razors than appearance, into a period appropriate mustache for the yearly
Dickens on the Strand celebration. Bolstered by unseasonably great weather, Dickens was incredible this year and featured a handful of new events for the crowds to enjoy.
It's a surprise to no one that I capitalize on opportunities for costume, and soon a poll was created on our Islander By Choice blog
letting our viewers cast their vote on a favorite style. When the dust settled and the clippers cooled a week later, I was the proud owner of a mustache reminiscent of the 1910's. Albert's Whimsical Whisker Revue was where my new style was debuted, and when all was said and done a 2nd place trophy and invitation to compete in the
2011 Misprint Beard and Moustache Nationals was mine for the taking.
Then came the morning after.
What looked great in a Dickens outfit looked down right wrong in my more modern attire of cargo short and t-shirt. Over the next few weeks I'd experiment with different mustache lengths until only a heavy stubble was left. Then, as New Year approached, it occurred to me that maybe the best way to start this year should be fresh faced and unburdened by those old whiskers. Who wants last year's beard anyway?
Unfortunately, shaving will mean my chances of competing in Nationals is slim, but not to worry,
St. Arnold's Brewery is having a Donegal growing competition for St. Patty's day. The only stipulation? You have to be clean shaven on January 1.
Looks like good fortune is already on my side.
Keeping up with all the great events that Galveston Island has to offer can seem like a daunting task. Thankfully, Galveston Monthly comes around every month to do just that.
