New Year’s traditions in Latin America

Coloured underwear

Whilst here in the Netherlands we only need to worry about a festive outfit, in countries such as Ecuador, Mexico and Brazil, the colour of your underwear is also important. This is because the colour of your underwear is said to influence the coming year. Do you want luck in love? Then you’d be well advised to wear red underwear. For financial prosperity, yellow is the right colour. Do you want more peace? Then opt for white.

12 grapes

In countries such as Chile and Peru, people eat one grape for each chime of the clock at midnight. Each grape represents one month of the year. In some countries, such as Chile, it is believed that a sweet grape guarantees a good month and a sour grape a bad month. In other countries, such as Peru and Mexico, people are allowed to make a wish with each grape. However, all the grapes must be eaten within the first minute of the new year, otherwise the wishes will not come true.

Burning effigies

In countries such as Colombia, Nicaragua and Panama, it is customary to make life-size effigies and place them by the side of the road. Family and friends can write messages on the effigies about the past year that they would like to forget. At the stroke of midnight, the effigies are set alight to leave all the negativity behind and attract positivity for the coming year.

Swinging into the New Year

Finally, here’s another lovely festive tradition from the Caribbean. The people of Aruba exchange their best wishes in a – how could it be otherwise? – musical and lively way. Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, groups of singers and musicians take to the streets. These groups call themselves ‘Dande’, which in Papiamento means ‘to enjoy oneself and have fun’. Playing traditional instruments such as the Wiri, the Tambu and the Raspa, and singing traditional songs, the groups visit family and friends to wish everyone all the best for the coming year. So in the Caribbean, they literally swing their way into the New Year!