I just wanted to share with everybody some Spanish traditions. As the new year approaches we have to get many things ready for the countdown.

We eat 12 grapes commemorating the twelve months. As we put the twelve grapes in our mouths we ask for a wish for each one of them.

We pack a suitcase and walk around the house or the block to ensure we will be traveling during the year.

Wearing red underwear for New Year’s Eve, helps bring good luck in love and romance for the ladies. The panties have to be a gift, you cannot buy them yourself. We change into them as midnight strikes.

We count money for good luck, to make sure we will have lots of money through the year.

In some Latin-American countries people make a big dolls representing the old year which is burned at midnight.

Whatever you do during the first day of the year is what you might end up doing the rest of it. That’s why we eat, dance and drink until the wee hours :)

I hope you liked some of them and put them to practice. They might work.

Have a great New year full of success and love.

Yeah and here in Philippines most hispanized and romanized folks always celebrate “New Year” of Roman Calendar, the revised one inasmuch as the original began with March 1 as the commencement of new year and ends in 10th season of Deci-Ember(December).

In Haiti, we usually get a big bowl of oranges. Everyone chooses and orange and opens it up. The more seeds one has, the more money they will recieve in the upcoming year!

In Egtpt we used to through the old things or the broken plates .we put away all the unusful things to through it at mid night,for the new year to get us new things instead!!!!

Very interesting traditions! Thanks for sharing! :)

Here are some traditions that are supposed to be observed in Romania for the New Year:

Traditional customs:
Groups of boys and young men go from house to house (especially in rural areas) with The Little Plough, an agricultural-based ritual to wish fertility to the crops of the new year. On January the 1st, children come with the Sorcova, an ornated stick and a specific song with wishes of good luck and long life. Other winter traditions include The Bear and also The Goat

Contemporary superstitions:

You have to have some money on you at midnight so that you’ll have prosperity all through the year. At the New Year Eve party you have to wear “something new, something old and something blue”. The first person that enters the house (or phone calls) has to be a man or a boy (if it’s female it means bad luck). Also, on the first day of the new year you aren’t allowed to sweep the floor (or vacuum clean) and/or throw out the garbade, otherwise you’ll throw away your prosperity and luck for the whole year! We also believe in the fact that whatever you do on the first day will be repeated throughout the year! (that’s why I’m eduFireing right now, hehehehe)

Thank you Sandra, I was about to take the trash out and clean a bit. I think I’ll do the same as you, spend some time with some Edufire friends.
I wish properity and good luck for you.
Saludos.

Best wishes to you too, Ximena! :)

In the United States we eat some form of cabbage, whether it be sauerkraut, Brussels sprouts, etc. I actually didn’t remember to this year, probably due to another New Year’s tradition—drinking oneself to [temporary] sobriety. It’s also common for people to get kissed during the strike of the new year. Another thing we have is the ball drop in Times Square. I guess that’s really about it.

In the United States it also tradition to wear something silver celebrating the new year approaching and then removing it when the new year is upon you. Strawberries dipped in chocolate syrup with champagne to mean something like deliciously sweet times and money ahead. There are a lot more in the states and southern states have a few of there own i just can’t recall them all off the top of my head at this moment…..

Can’t forget the black eyed peas as part of the US tradition! I think they’re luck and cabbage is money… I get them mixed up.