Spanish-speaking countries are known for their wide-range of superstitions and deep-rooted traditions. This post about 10 Latino traditions for New Years and New Year’s Eve, proves that this stereotype is not far from reality. Superstitions vary from one country to another, but what remains the same for every country is the fact that all of them have some kind of ritual meant to bring good luck for the New Year.
So, if this year hasn’t treated you as you deserve, you can always try one (or all, it’s up to you!) of these New Year’s traditions and see if they work for you! After all, you have nothing to lose! 😉 Here you have some ideas:
1- Fill your pockets and shoes with money: In some Latin American countries, people believe that filling your pockets and shoes with money will bring economic prosperity. In some others, you should have your refrigerator stocked with food on January 1.
2- Sit on the table: In Venezuela, single women sit on the table with the intent of finding a good boyfriend in the oncoming year.
3- Walk around your block: Not in any way though. In Chile, Dominican Republic and Venezuela –among others-, they fill a suitcase full of clothes and walk around the block to ensure safe travels.
4- Eat 12 grapes: This is probably the most wide-spread New Year’s tradition in Spanish-speaking countries. According to this ritual, original from Spain, you have to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight (one for every month of the year), one grape at each stroke of the clock. In some countries, with each grape consumed you make a wish too. Imagine trying to swallow one grape per second and make a wish at the same time! Lol Right after the clock finishes striking, we make a toast. Most people are still chewing grapes and trying not to choke on them!
[youtube_video clip_id=”tcgldXSuv0I” hd=”true” width=560 height=315]
5- Eat pork in New Year’s Day: In Bolivia, it is very popular to cook pork for New Year, since it is thought that eating it will bring fortune. This tradition is based on the belief that life should be like the way a pig walks: it always walks forward and never goes back.
6- Burn the ‘old year’: In Ecuador and Venezuela, they “burn the old year”, which is represented by a doll dressed in old clothes. This doll sometimes depicts a famous person (mainly a politician or sportsperson) and it’s normally accompanied by a list of negative things to burn with it.
7- Walk with lentils inside your pockets: In Chile, it is very common to eat a tablespoon of lentils, so people won’t lack food anytime during the following year. In other Latin American countries, you are not supposed to eat the lentils, but just put them (raw, of course) on your pockets for good luck.
8- Throw your old calendar through the window: In Uruguay, they say bye to the year by throwing the calendars of the year that is finishing through the window.
9- Be careful with the color of your underwear: You have to get new underwear and use it for the first time in New Year’s Eve. But be careful, because not any color works! Depending on what kind of luck you aim to get, you have to wear a different color: yellow for money, red for love, white for harmony. However, if you’re in Chile you have it easy, since according to their tradition the only color you can wear in yellow.
10- Leave the doors and windows open: If you are in a place warm enough to leave your doors and windows open, just do it, so you let the bad spirits out.
Whether you choose to try any of these traditions or not, I hope you have enjoyed learning about Spanish Culture!
HAVE A WONDERFUL AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 😀
Featured image: photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/9470123105/”>Thomas Hawk</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/”>cc</a>
Spanish-speaking countries are known for their wide-range of superstitions and deep-rooted traditions. And New Year’s Eve proves that this stereotype is not far from reality. Superstitions vary from one country to another, but what remains the same for every country is the fact that all of them have some kind of ritual meant to bring good luck for the New Year.
So, if this year hasn’t treated you as you deserve, you can always try one (or all, it’s up to you!) of these New Year’s traditions and see if they work for you! After all, you have nothing to lose! 😉 Here you have some ideas:
1- Fill your pockets and shoes with money: In some Latin American countries, people believe that filling your pockets and shoes with money will bring economic prosperity. In some others, you should have your refrigerator stocked with food on January 1.
2- Sit on the table: In Venezuela, single women sit on the table with the intent of finding a good boyfriend in the oncoming year.
3- Walk around your block: Not in any way though. In Chile, Dominican Republic and Venezuela –among others-, they fill a suitcase full of clothes and walk around the block to ensure safe travels.
4- Eat 12 grapes: This is probably the most wide-spread New Year’s tradition in Spanish-speaking countries. According to this ritual, original from Spain, you have to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight (one for every month of the year), one grape at each stroke of the clock. In some countries, with each grape consumed you make a wish too. Imagine trying to swallow one grape per second and make a wish at the same time! Lol Right after the clock finishes striking, we make a toast. Most people are still chewing grapes and trying not to choke on them!
[youtube_video clip_id=”tcgldXSuv0I” hd=”true” width=560 height=315]
5- Eat pork in New Year’s Day: In Bolivia, it is very popular to cook pork for New Year, since it is thought that eating it will bring fortune. This tradition is based on the belief that life should be like the way a pig walks: it always walks forward and never goes back.
6- Burn the ‘old year’: In Ecuador and Venezuela, they “burn the old year”, which is represented by a doll dressed in old clothes. This doll sometimes depicts a famous person (mainly a politician or sportsperson) and it’s normally accompanied by a list of negative things to burn with it.
7- Walk with lentils inside your pockets: In Chile, it is very common to eat a tablespoon of lentils, so people won’t lack food anytime during the following year. In other Latin American countries, you are not supposed to eat the lentils, but just put them (raw, of course) on your pockets for good luck.
8- Throw your old calendar through the window: In Uruguay, they say bye to the year by throwing the calendars of the year that is finishing through the window.
9- Be careful with the color of your underwear: You have to get new underwear and use it for the first time in New Year’s Eve. But be careful, because not any color works! Depending on what kind of luck you aim to get, you have to wear a different color: yellow for money, red for love, white for harmony. However, if you’re in Chile you have it easy, since according to their tradition the only color you can wear in yellow.
Featured image: photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/9470123105/”>Thomas Hawk</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/”>cc</a>
10- Leave the doors and windows open: If you are in a place warm enough to leave your doors and windows open, just do it, so you let the bad spirits out.
Whether you choose to try any of these traditions or not, I hope you have enjoyed learning about Spanish Culture!
HAVE A WONDERFUL AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 😀