In Mexico and other Latin American countries, women wear yellow underwear on New Year's Eve to bring good luck and wealth in the year to come. Red underwear indicates a New Year's wish for an exciting love interest!
Superstition or not, many here in Mexico have the custom of ritos del Año Nuevo (New Year's rituals). Some rituals include foods, others prescribe certain clothing, and still others warrant attention for religious interest.
As the clock strikes midnight, it's common to eat twelve grapes--one at each ding, one at each dong of the bell. While eating the grapes, you make a personal wish for each one you consume, welcoming the new year that's beginning. Mexico Cooks! finds that it's helpful to write down the twelve wishes so as not to forget one or choke in the rush to swallow the grapes before the clock finishes striking the hour!
Eating a tablespoonful of cooked lentils on New Year's Eve is said to bring prosperity and fortune. You can also give raw lentils--just a handful--to family and friends with the same wish.
On a small piece of paper, write down the undesirable habits and customs you'd like to let go of in the New Year that's just starting. Burn the paper, then follow through with the changes!
Choose three stones that symbolize health, love, and money. Put them in a place where you will see them every day.
Light candles: blue for peace, yellow for abundance, red for love, green for health, white for spirituality, and orange for intelligence.
Spill clean water on the sidewalk in front of your house as the clock rings in the New Year. Your house will be purified and all tears will be washed away.
To have money for your needs all year, have some bills in your hand or in your pocket to welcome the arrival of the New Year. Some people fold up the money and put it in their shoes!
Take your suitcase for a walk. Legend is that the farther you walk with your suitcase, the farther you'll travel. Several New Year's Eves ago, Mexico Cooks! and a few friends celebrated by walking our suitcases around the block, and we all traveled far and wide during the new year that followed.
Mexico Cooks! wishes all of you a muy Próspero Año Nuevo--and especially wishes that your red underwear brings you (or keeps you) the love of family, friends, and that special someone.
We'll see you in 2009!
Looking for a tailored-to-your-interests specialized tour in Mexico? Click here: Tours.
Its amazing, looking at the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you provide. I'll bookmark your blog and visit it weekly for your new posts.
Posted by: Puma | June 12, 2010 at 02:47 AM
im going to church for newyeaars... what about u?
Posted by: Makayla | March 26, 2010 at 12:15 PM
never thought that underwear could play such an important role! hilarious!
Posted by: maria | January 01, 2010 at 04:28 PM
I have been wondering for weeks what the story is with the multitude of yellow and red undies on display in all the supermarkets here in Playa. This explains it! Another mystery solved!
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Michele in Playa | January 02, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Happy New Year's! Rather than asking "Red or White", one might inquire "Red or Yellow" with comida today. All the best in '09.
Remember that the red or yellow panties are meant to be worn on New Year's EVE! I think for comida today you can wear your regular sequined purple tanga...
Best to you as well!
Posted by: Deb | January 01, 2009 at 02:03 PM
Ay Cristina mil gracias! I needed this information to make certain fashion decisions for the day! Do you think one is permitted to change underwear as the hours pass, in hopes of both good fortune and exciting romance? Please advise ASAP.
muchos besos y abrazos para el año nuevo.
One should wear either two pairs of underwear--one of each color--or the special two-wish underwear that is red AND yellow. Abrazos y besos, Cristina
Posted by: Claire Ramsey | December 31, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Saludos =)
Oye, pues gracias por tu comment en la bitacora, realmente no lo esperaba jeje.
Por supuesto que te agrego a blogroll, realmente es una excelente bitacora la que tienes.
Y bueno, comentando un poco tu entrada..
Realmente son tantas las costumbres en año nuevo!...
El rito de comer las 12 uvas viene siendo casi obligatorio jajaja.
Tambien tenemos la costumbre de llenar pequeños jarrones de barro, o bolsitas amarillas de fieltro con semillas como arroz, lentejas, alpiste.. cubiertas con polvo de oro o pintura dorada y una pequeña imagen religiosa.
De esta forma se atrae la abundancia para el proximo año.
Al menos es lo que en tu pobre casa hacemos jejeje.
Que estes bien, un abrazo.
Posted by: Rafael | December 28, 2008 at 01:07 PM
I find that taking your suitcase for a walk to the airport and getting on a plane is a good way to get your wish of traveling during the new year. I hope you have an incredibly good year.
Posted by: Steve Cotton | December 27, 2008 at 02:24 PM