¿Cómo celebra Latinoamérica la llegada del Año Nuevo?

Each country has different ways to celebrate the old year that leaves and welcomed a new one.In the popular imaginary, it is a ritual that serves to close one cycle and start another with good foot.

Some of them are similar to each other, with the occasional variant depending on the country.

And others are standardized throughout the region, based on traditions from other countries.

Some rituals are well known, such as the famous 12 grapes that you have to swallow one for each bell at twelve o'clock at night while asking for a desire.

There are also those who keep a ticket in their pocket or put a coin on the shoe so that money does not miss in the next year.

And there is no one to miss the one who turns the apple with a suitcase to make sure a year in which the trips are not missing.There are those who even do this ritual with the passport in their hand.

Known or not, or similar or different, all these rituals have a common point: try to start the new year with prosperity.There are those who ask for money, other health or the love that so long for;and others who do it for pure fun or just "just in case."

Which of these are the least known rituals?

Throw water through the window ...

Water is a powerful change and renewal catalyst.But in some countries you have to walk carefully that you do not fall a bucket of water in your head if you are walking down the street on the last day of the year.

In Uruguay, "El Baldazo" is celebrated, which is to throw a bucket full of water through the window to the street.It is said that this tradition scares the sorrows of the year that ends and welcomes one full of prosperity.

As it is summer in the southern cone, many people do not take it seriously and see it more as a game (or something annoying depending on whether you are the person who throws or receives the water).

Other versions spoil the amount and instead of a bucket throw a glass or a "chocolate", a balloon full of water.

In Cuba, something similar is made called "El Cubazo", which, as in Uruguay, consists of throwing a bucket of water through windows and balconies.This has two objectives: clean the energies and give fun to the neighbors.

... and papers

Another variant of the water is to throw papers through the windows.In Uruguay, the old calendars (or almanacs) already broken or burned is used to throw.

This can obey the tradition of getting rid of everything old to make room for the new objects that the New Year will bring you.

They do not necessarily have to be calendars.In some countries they usually clean the house thoroughly as a purifying act, whether those shoes you no longer use or something you do not need.

In other places there are those who sweep the house, making sure to get the dust from the inside out through the door.But you have to make sure to clean as deep as possible, every corner, to prevent the energies of the old year from being at home.

The burning of the year and "the widows"

Like water, fire is an element that means renewal or purification.

In many Latin American countries we proceed to burn a doll or monigote made of flammable materials, such as paper, sawdust and old clothing.

In Ecuador the "burning of the old year" is popular, a practice with origins in the time of the colony that consists in burning a doll.This can represent a famous character, whether real or fictional, as a politician or the protagonist of a film.

This tradition is accompanied by "Las Viudas", men dressed as women with exaggerated makeup and wig that "cry" by "the old man" while walking between traffic asking for a collection that will later use for the party.

Minutes before midnight, the testament is read, prepared with a lot of humor and satire, in the midst of widow's pain.People attend celebrated by doing other rituals, such as twelve grapes and the Paseo de las Mistetas.

In northern Chile instead, the “burning of monkeys” is carried out, which are huge figures of recycled paper and old objects that symbolize the bad experiences of the year that goes.

The practice of doll burning also extends to Nicaragua (where it is called "El Viejo"), Colombia, Peru, Mexico and some areas of Venezuela and Argentina.

Another variant that is practiced in many countries, much simpler, is to write a number of desires for the New Year (generally three) on paper, or write down the bad of the old year, and burn it at midnight with the respective precautions.

Lentils, but not just to eat them

If good fortune you want to have, you must eat lentils.It is believed that this food means not only good health but also fortune.

There are those who do not just eat them.There are also people who try to put lentils in those places where there are usually money, such as clothing pockets or wallet.

There are also those who receive the New Year hugging their beloved with a handful of lentils in their hand, or who place these grains in the corners of the house to ensure that good luck arrives at home.

The custom is not limited only to lentils but also to different types of grains, such as rice.They are placed on a plate with a candle that is left on during the night of 31 and then buried.

Many people believe that lentils remind them of the coins of ancient Rome and that is why the custom that comes from Italy.

Although people are not based only on having a handful of lentils or rice to call luck and money.

In Mexico there are people who tend to give stress because it is an animal that brings said (not in vain, Mexicans refer to money as “wool” informally).

In Costa Rica people also usually carry a branch of Santa Lucía, a purple flower plant from which it is believed brings good luck.It is placed in wallets and bags so that money does not miss.

How will the weather be?

If you are in Mexico or Colombia you may know what the Cabañuelas are, which in some parts of Spain is known as temporas.

But in the event that you do not know what they are, it is a traditional method of weather prediction.And many people, believing in their veracity, looks at them to know what the new year's climate will be.

There are those who insist that this method has no scientific rigor.But this does not prevent many people from taking advantage of the last day of the year or January 1 to fix how time will be in the next 12 months and even make plans based on it.

The method is as follows: The first twelve days of January represent one month ascending (January 1 represents January, January 2 is February, January 3 is March and thus consecutively).And from January 13 to 24, the same but conversely (January 13 is December, January 14 is November, etc.).

After January 25 to 30 every day it represents two months ascending depending on the time (from midnight from January 25 to noon it represents January, and from noon until midnight on January 25 represents February).

And finally on 31, each two -hour stretch represents one month of descending way (midnight until 02:00 am is December, from 02:00 am to 04:00 am is November, etc.).

Ekeko

In Peru and Bolivia, the Ekeko cannot be missing, a figurine of a few centimeters that represents a man dressed in the typical way of the Andean highlands.

Although the cult of this character is not limited to the New Year, people take it as an ideal opportunity to keep in mind Aimara.

It is said that the Ekeko is loaded with a large number of packages full of food and objects of necessity.And if you take care of you will bring abundance and joy.

But be careful, because if you are neglected or abandoned, Ekeko can reverse things and bring misfortune.

The care of this amulet at the end of the year also coincides so in January the Alasita Fair is celebrated, a traditional party that Ekeko is a central figure.

The egg

In some countries in Central America, an egg is customary and put in a glass with water.There are those who leave it all night from December 31 outdoors next to the window, or even put it under the bed.

It is said that the form that the egg adopts will be what the new year holds.

What left us pandemic

It is known that the clothes you view is an important element to consider when the bells of 12 at night sound.

In countries like Venezuela it is known as "carrying the premiere" or "putting the premiere" to the latest acquired garments.The idea is that the New Year cannot grab you wearing old clothes.

The color is also important.Yellow for money (many insist that it has to be underwear), red for those who are looking for a partner and white for good energy.

But modern times require modern solutions and there are those who already adapt the old customs with the new ones carrying masks of these colors.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PHL2BPXFX8&t=112s