New Year Traditions in Latin America: Celebrating the Countdown

As the year comes to an end, many people start thinking about their New Year traditions. In Latin America culture, it’s no different: each country has its own way of ringing in the new year with unique customs and celebrations.

These traditions, marking the end of one chapter and the start of another, are more than just rituals; they reflect the values and beliefs of the people across the region.

To shed some light on these New Year traditions in Latin America, we conducted a survey with the team at Sherlock Communications. With 81 responses, the results show just how diverse these customs are and how each one reflects the rich culture and individuality of each country.

Where do Latin Americans usually celebrate New Year’s Eve?

Our survey revealed that 64.2% prefer to spend New Year’s Eve at home with family, while 19.8% enjoy partying with friends. A smaller group mentioned attending public events or concerts to celebrate.

That said, most respondents (74.65%) said they sometimes travel to celebrate the New Year, suggesting more flexibility during this time. Meanwhile, 11.27% said they always travel, and 14.08% prefer to stay put and celebrate at home.

When it comes to travel, data from Booking.com shows that all of the top 10 New Year destinations for Brazilians are coastal cities, highlighting the clear preference for beach destinations during the celebrations.

Flavours of a New Cycle

Food is always a big part of celebrations in Latin America, and New Year’s is no exception. Here are some of the key dishes and drinks that people tend to enjoy during this holiday:

• Brazil: 21.74% of respondents said they eat lentils on New Year’s Eve. Other popular foods include salted cod, grapes, turkey, barbecue, and nuts, along with champagne or sparkling wine to toast.
• Argentina: According to our survey, Argentinians often have Russian salad (or variations like potato salad with boiled eggs), sweet bread, arrollado (a rolled and stuffed meat dish), and asado (a classic Argentine barbecue dish).
• Colombia: 27.27% of people said that one of the main traditions in Colombia is eating buñuelos—small fried dough balls that are a local treat. Other typical dishes include turkey, natilla (a creamy egg-based dessert), and pork dishes like tamales.
• Peru: In Peru, typical New Year dishes include turkey, salad, and apple purée, with drinks like rum, wine, champagne, and the traditional pisco to wash it all down.

The Main New Year Traditions

One of the most common New Year traditions around the world is making a list of resolutions for the year ahead, and Latin America is no different. 53.52% of those surveyed said they take part in this tradition, while 28% don’t bother with resolutions and 18.31% said they sometimes do it.

Before diving into specific traditions by country, it’s worth noting that the tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight was mentioned by 32% of respondents from Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and Guatemala. This shows it’s a popular practice that crosses borders.

In Brazil, many New Year traditions are rooted in African-influenced religions, particularly Umbanda. These include wearing white clothes for peace, jumping over seven waves at midnight (if at the beach), and avoiding chicken because of the superstition that it scratches backwards. Many Brazilians also avoid wearing black during the celebrations and often pray at the turn of the year, seeking protection and prosperity.

In Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Venezuela, New Year traditions are often linked to rituals designed to attract prosperity, love, and good luck. One popular tradition involves walking around with an empty suitcase at midnight, symbolising a desire to travel and explore new places in the coming year.

To bring luck, people choose their underwear in specific colours: yellow for money, red for love, and other colours depending on their personal wishes.

In Colombia and Ecuador, it’s common to burn an effigy called Año Viejo (Old Year) to let go of bad things and wear a red ribbon around the wrist to make seven wishes. In Ecuador, people also throw rice to attract prosperity, put a large bill in their shoe or hand to bring wealth, and run around the block to bring international travel.

In Argentina and Peru, cleaning the house on December 31st is a key tradition, symbolising the removal of bad energy from the old year and preparing for the new one.

These New Year traditions in Latin America reflect the variety and uniqueness of each country, shaped by rich cultural influences and a history of diverse backgrounds, making each one special and full of character.