From Burning Dolls to Eating Grapes, Here are Some of the New Year’s Eve Rituals Across Latin America

From Burning Dolls to Eating Grapes, Here are Some of the New Year’s Eve Rituals Across Latin America
Credit:Cesar Munoz A./ANDES

As this calendar year slowly transitions into 2025, Latinos are ready to celebrate. However, it is important to note that each Latin American country welcomes the new year uniquely.  

So, BELatina examined how different Latin American nations greet the New Year, uncovering a variety of customs shaped by history, culture, and, most importantly, family. How the New Year is welcomed from Argentina to Mexico reveals the importance of joy, renewal, and shared hope for the year ahead. 

Welcoming the New Year Across Latin America with Rituals

In Argentina, the summer heat transforms the typical celebration. Cold platters like lomo frío and vitel toné are served, alongside beer and champagne. As the clock strikes midnight, fireworks light the sky. Many wear white, borrowing a custom from Brazil. 

Colombia offers a symbolic start to the year. At the dinner table, wheat stalks are placed for prosperity. At midnight, effigies of the old year (also called “Año Viejo”) are set alight. These figures, made from worn clothing and banana leaves, burn away the past. Yellow underwear is worn by many to attract good fortune. 

In Peru, a different approach focuses on renewal and the clearing of negative energy. Yellow garments promise good luck. A walk around the block with an empty suitcase signifies a desire for travel (other Latinos share this tradition too). At midnight, families raise glasses of champagne in a toast, while effigies are burned to close the door on past misfortunes. 

El Salvador centers its celebrations on togetherness and fortune. Turkey dinners (think pan con pavo – yum) mark the evening, with grapes eaten with the clock’s chimes, one for each month. Some families use cracked eggs in water to predict the year ahead. Fireworks light up the night, filling the air with sound and color. 

Mexico blends ancient customs with modern traditions. The 12-grape ritual continues, while in places like Yucatán, effigies are burned to end the year. Despite their differences, many traditions resonate across Latin America. The 12 grapes, fireworks displays, and the burning of effigies are shared practices that connect communities. Colorful garments — yellow for luck and red for love — add another layer of meaning, with music and gatherings creating an unmistakable sense of unity. 

As the clock strikes midnight, the shared hope for a better year ahead unite Latinos. From the streets of Buenos Aires to the quiet towns of Veracruz, Latin America greets the New Year with rituals that honor the past while embracing the future. Best of all, Latinos living abroad keep these traditions alive.  

Will you be partaking in any of these traditions?  

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