New Year in Colombia

 

New Year's is one of the most exciting holidays in Colombia. It's when families and friends get together to say goodbye to the year that is leaving and welcome the new one with lots of joy, music and good wishes. Here I'll tell you about some of the most fun and special traditions that take place in Colombia for this long-awaited date.

 

What do Colombians do on New Year

1.    Eating 12 grapes at midnight At midnight, when the clock strikes 12, people eat 12 grapes, one for each chime.

2.    Going out with an empty suitcase: If you want to travel a lot next year, grab a suitcase and take a walk around the block just after 12

3.    Money in shoes: To attract money, people put bills in their shoes. It is a symbolic way to attract prosperity.

4.    Yellow underwear: Some people wear yellow underwear on New Year's Day, believing it will bring them happiness and luck.

5.    Burning the Old Year In some parts of the country, families make a doll out of old clothes that they call "Old Year." This doll represents all the bad things that happened in the year. At midnight, they burn it to leave the bad things behind and start the year with new energy.

New Year's Eve Dinner

There is a lot of delicious food on the New Year's table.:In some homes, typical dishes are prepared such as:

 

Lechona: A special dish made with roast pork and stuffed with     

rice and peas

 

Buñuelos y natilla: These typical Christmas sweets are also  enjoyed on New Year's Day

 

Tamales: Each region has its own way of making tamales, but they are all delicious. They are made with corn dough and filled with meat, chicken or vegetables.

 

 

Music and Fun!

In Colombia, New Year's is also a celebration of dance and music. People love to dance cumbia, salsa, vallenato and reggaeton. In cities like Medellín or Barranquilla, there are large celebrations with fireworks that light up the sky.

 

Reasearch made by Juan José Almario