Latino New Year's Eve Traditions
Throughout Latin America, families gather on New Year’s Eve to dance, enjoy each other’s company and most importantly, manifest abundance together. Latinos have been manifesting this since it became popular in recent years. I enjoy reflecting on what I want to experience in the new year and preparing for our midnight traditions is my favorite part of the night.
Throughout the years, I have compiled a list of rituals and traditions from different countries. I invite you to pick your favorite to manifest what you need in 2024. These must be done either before midnight or right when the clock hits 12 a.m.
1. Eat 12 grapes at midnight.
Each grape represents a month of the year, and as you eat a grape, you make a wish. This is a tradition that everyone, regardless of age, participates in.
Pro tip: Write each wish in your notes app so you can remember what you wished for on NYE.
2. If you’re single and ready to mingle, get under the table at midnight.
I’m not sure of the country origin of this belief, but I have heard it from many Latinos who have seen this work for others. At midnight, get under the table to manifest a romantic partner. This seemed silly to me until a friend did it in 2021. That following year, she got into the healthiest relationship I have ever seen. If you are actively searching for a partner, give this one a try as much as you give the dating apps.
3. Spin around with your luggage to manifest travel.
My favorite one! I learned about this one in 2018, so I gave it a try. In 2019, I traveled the most I have ever traveled. This one is a ritual that I do every year, and it never fails me. So far, I have traveled to 25 states and hope to see all 50 before I turn 40.
4. Carefully select the color of your underwear.
In some Latin American countries, there is a belief that the color of your underwear on New Year’s Eve can be a tool of manifestation. Choose carefully:
Red – romantic love
Yellow – wealth and abundance
White – peace and harmony
Orange – creativity and enthusiasm
Green – luck
Blue – health
Pink – friendships
Purple – spirituality and intuition
Black – influence
Manifesting Wealth:
5. Eating an orange and keeping the peel (Guatemala)
My friend Andie grew up in Guatemala where their tradition is to eat an orange at midnight and keep the orange peel in their purse for the entire year. This manifests money in their purses/pockets. If you love oranges, this might be the ritual for you. I suggest putting the orange peel in a plastic bag.
6. Lentils (Venezuela)
My friend Vanessa grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. Every year, I see how she prepares lentils for New Year’s Eve. She told me that back home, people have lentils ready to throw in the air at midnight. You pick up a few lentils and put them in your purse. You may be wondering why lentils? Lentils look like little coins, so get your coins ready for 2024.
Getting Rid of Negative Energy:
7. A bucket of water (Puerto Rico)
Sandra grew up in Puerto Rico and often spends the holidays back home. She remembers that on the island, people throw a bucket of water out of their window to get rid of any bad energy in the home.
8. Sweep it away (Mexico)
This might be popular across Mexico since I have heard of this one from multiple people. In Mexican households, there’s a belief that sweeping dirt out the door will get rid of bad energy on the 31st. This is supposed to represent getting rid of any trash and dirt that happened in the current year and leaving it outside before the new year starts.
Honorable Mention from our cousin, The Philippines:
9. Cleaning on the 31st, not throwing anything away on the 1st (The Philippines)
My friend Meghan grew up in a Filipino household where they would clean and get rid of clothes or trash on the 31st and avoid throwing anything away on the 1st of January. This practice represents the action of getting rid of the old things of the current year. Cleaning on the 1st might get rid of any good fortune in the new year.
I take great pleasure in keeping these traditions alive to remind me how Latin Americans have found ways to hold onto hope even during challenging times. Latinos go through so much back home and as immigrants in the United States, nonetheless we try our best to start the new year manifesting change.
In 2024, I hope you become the best version of yourself, enjoy life with your loved ones, and find peace in anything that comes your way.