Now that Christmas is over, we’ll continue to celebrate the holidays by getting ready for the New Year. There’s nothing more Latino than practicing and embracing the traditions our mamás taught us.

Some of the following might sound silly, but, trust me, they work… or at least it’s fun to think they do!

Get ready to jot some of these Latino New Year’s Superstitions down and add them to your list. 

Eat 12 Grapes at midnight

This is probably the most classic one and most practiced all around Latin America. Before the clock hits midnight you prep a little cup with 12 grapes. You get to make a wish for every grape that symbolizes each month of the year and set the intention for the year ahead. 

Wear yellow underwear 

Our underwear must be as colorful as our family party. Yellow, to be specific yellow underwear, is supposed to bring good luck. I’ve met families in which members wear a yellow outfit but that’s a bit much. Good luck finding calzones amarillos at the store. You’re better off buying them online days before. 

Shower with sugar and rose petals 

This might be specific to my mother. She would make us take a shower with brown sugar and scrub off every single little pore of our bodies. If you have the time, add some rose petals and cinnamon to your bath.

Lentils in your pockets

I don’t know what it is with lentejas, but usually my Colombian mother has a bag of lentejas and right at midnight she will start putting a handful of them in your pocket. Lentils are supposed to be “prosperity grains” so they’ll bring you money all year long.

Cash on hand

Speaking of money, according to our tías, you must have cash in your pockets ($100 bill to be exact) or the usual folded $2 bill in your wallet will do.

Writing down the good, the bad and the ugly (then burn the last two)

This one goes along with writing down your New Year’s resolutions, but to add a little spice, my family has different pieces of paper (white and color) to write down the good stuff and what you want to keep on the white piece and the bad stuff on the colored paper. After you write everything down, proceed to safely burning the “bad” on a pot if you’re inside or simply on the street if you’re outside. 

The burning of El año viejo

If you happen to be in Colombia or Ecuador, the burning of “the bad” will happen with El año viejo —a scarecrow-like doll made with old clothes and filled with straw or old newspaper. The face is usually a mask of a hated politician that made international news or a popular character. (We know who that is this year). 

Run around with a suitcase

I grew up watching every single one of my tías grab their maleta at midnight and run around the block. This is to alert the travel gods they want to take a trip somewhere. This worked indeed! 

Clean your house

In various Latin American countries, many people clean and sweep their homes to ensure they are “out with the old.” The whole belief states that you need to receive the energies of the new year with a clean slate in order for them to actually come forward. Add Sahumerio to make it even more meaningful. 

Spend January 1st doing what you’d love to do all year long

Whether it is traveling, eating, working out, kissing, or… working? Some of us like to ring in the year on the right foot. For example, you may wanna hit the gym more often, practice self-care, give up the booze, or cook daily. Make sure the new year finds you practicing what you want!. 

We hope you enjoyed these, let us know which ones you’ll be practicing!