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New Year's Eve in Spain is accompanied by quite a few superstitious traditions. In a previous blog, we wrote about the most famous one, which is eating grapes (see here). But there are many other, sometimes quite bizarre behaviors that Spaniards engage in to ensure a successful new year.
Let’s start with wearing red underwear. Lingerie stores do good business in December because superstition dictates that the red underwear must be removed and burned immediately after midnight. Only in this way can the maximum effect of a happy new year be achieved. At least, that’s what superstition says.
Those who seek economic prosperity should put money in a shoe before midnight or eat the 12 grapes with money in their mouth. The latter seems to be a somewhat diluted version of this superstition.
Travel enthusiasts who want to make beautiful trips in the new year take a suitcase and go for a walk exactly at midnight. One problem with this is that it is difficult to combine this behavior with eating grapes and burning red underwear at the same time. But, life is full of choices.
Burning colored candles is a custom that can hit many targets at once. Yellow is for abundance, orange for intelligence, green for health, and white for clarity. With all these rainbow colors, a great new year is more or less guaranteed.
On the last day of the year, it is also customary to clean the house with a broom to remove all bad energy. And don’t forget to enter a new space after midnight with the right foot for good luck.
Those who prefer to write down their wishes make a list of up to three desires and stick it somewhere on their body before the last dinner. Like with the red underwear, the list must be burned immediately after midnight.
Finally, there is dancing around a tree (for luck and prosperity) and drinking champagne with a ring in the glass (be careful not to swallow it). Regardless of all the superstitions, Van Dam Estates wishes everyone a very happy new year.
