New Year's Eve festivities - traditions that last

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Traditional New Year's Eve celebrations, also called New Year's Eve. They are celebrated all over the world. The customs and traditions vary according to the geographical area, but they all have a common denominator: a feeling of hope that the coming year will be better.

It is the last night of the year in the Gregorian calendar, running from December 31st to January 1st, New Year's Day. It is said that it was the culture of the Babylonians, the first civilization to celebrate this event, approximately four thousand years ago.

To say goodbye to the Old Year and to welcome the New Year there are countless traditions such as toasting after 12 bells, wearing yellow or red underwear if you want happiness and luck in love, hugging the beloved person or carrying money in your shoes, to attract economic prosperity.

A deep-rooted rite in all cultures is the one that evokes abundance in terms of food, therefore the varied and exuberant tables of these celebrations with the desires and hopes to attract abundance.

The islands of the Caribbean and the countries of America have their traditions to celebrate this last night of the year. Just like the style in many parts of the world, midnight is expected next to the loved ones, some dressed up in their new clothes, others wearing specific colored underwear to attract love and luck. Popular rites and customs are enlivened, expressions of faith or superstition are present. It is a day of celebration and joy, people dance to the rhythm of native rhythms and enjoy the typical dishes of these dates, accompanied by the most diverse drinks and typical desserts of this special occasion.

At midnight, the fireworks illuminate the sky and the traditional customs to welcome the new year begin. One of the most famous actions is to throw water on the street to keep away the bad things and to augur a year of happiness and good health.

Another tradition is to walk around the neighborhood with a suitcase to attract trips. In some countries like Venezuela, Colombia or Cuba, the "Año Viejo" (Old Year) is symbolically burned, represented by a rag doll, in order to erase all the bad things left by the year that ends and to receive future times with joy.

While in Brazil, it is tradition to use white clothes to keep away the bad spirits. Another Brazilian tradition to say goodbye to the year, is to take to the sea gifts to Yemanyá, goddess of the seas, to ensure good luck in the new year.

In the midnight toast, it is usual to ask for health, money and love for the whole family, either to the saints, to God or simply to luck. It is a moment to remember those who are absent, while hugs, kisses and congratulations are given out.

All these customs to say goodbye to the old year and to welcome the new one have as common denominator to attract the good for each one, and to motivate the peace and harmony of the family. The recapitulation of what has been done in the season that is ending and the search for prosperity and personal welfare in the new stage to come are typical of this last night of the year.

Happy and prosperous 2021!

Tips

The barrier reef off the Belize coast is 175 miles long.