5 South American Countries With Unique New Year's Traditions

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New Year's traditions are different in various parts of the world. In several South American countries, they believe that wearing colored underwear brings luck, especially when worn around the New Year.

If you're looking for love, wear red underwear, and if you're looking to be prosperous in the New Year, you will be better off donning gold undergarments.

White, on the other hand, brings peace in the upcoming year. The tradition is also common in Turkey.

Check out these New Year's traditions of five South American countries and see if any are similar to your traditions.

Argentina

On New Year's eve, Argentines enjoy a late dinner with relatives and friends either at home or at restaurants. Some of the traditions include wearing new underwear to attract love and eating beans to ensure job safety and promotion opportunities.

Bursting firecrackers and parties are also elements of Argentine New Year's celebrations. An unusual tradition is running around your house with a suitcase in hand to improve your chances of more travel.

There is also a food tradition, and Turrón and Pan dulce are a must-have during those celebrations.

Brazil

Brazilians may be more famous for ushering in the New Year on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. However, they also have another New Years' tradition, and that is wearing white clothing.

They believe that wearing white clothing brings good luck for the year ahead. Don in white, the occasion, in most cases, is celebrated by taking a trip to the beach, where flowers are thrown in the sea as one makes a wish.

Another tradition finds Brazilian eating lentil peas (lentilhas) on New Year's Eve to bring good luck. For wealth, they consume pomegranates (romãs).

Colombia

In the South American country of Colombia, right at the stroke of midnight, people who aspire to travel a lot in the New Year grab empty suitcases and then run with them around the block. The faster you run, the more travel you can expect.

One of the oldest New Year Eve traditions in Colombia is to fill the dining table with wheat in the hope of having a new year filled with plenty to eat. This tradition is important, especially in rural towns.

Peru

There are dozens of Peruvian New Year traditions, and they vary from putting on new clothes and having candles lit to even jotting down wishes. These supportedly bring good luck for the year ahead.

Another interesting tradition is foretelling the fortunes in the coming year using potatoes. According to tradition, three potatoes are placed under a sofa or a chair. One is peeled, another is unpeeled, and the third one is half-peeled.

Come midnight, one of the potatoes is chosen at random to forecast the state of finances in the coming year. The peeled potato is bad luck as it signifies no money. The half-peeled symbolizes an ordinary year financially, and the unpeeled one is a symbol for great financial bounty.

Sprinkling rice around the house is another tradition. It is supposed to bring money, luck, and fertility.



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Cameras And Accessories to capture the moment

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Uruguay

If you like water fights, then you'll love this Uruguayan New Years' tradition. It is called the Guerra de Sidra (The Cider War Festival), which takes place in Montevideo, the capital.

During the celebrations, anyone who visits the Port Market will get doused with cider, beer, and water as friendly fights break out.

What are your country's New Years' traditions? Which is your favorite?