In Provence, the traditional greeting this time of year is Bon bout d’an, or “have a good end of the year.” It’s the equivalent of saying Happy New Year in English.
Another thing you’ll hear is a new year’s wish in the old Provençal language that goes like this:
Diéu nous fague la gràci de vèire l’an que vèn, e se noun sian pas mai, que noun fugen pas mens.
It translates as, “By the grace of God, in the year to come, if there be not more of us, let there not be fewer of us.”
In other words, if we don’t have any babies born, at least let us not have anyone die!
Wishing you all a very happy new year,
Keith