Feliz Año Nuevo!

Happy New Year! All around the world people gather together tonight to ring in the new year, and the same holds true for our Colombian friends. Friends and family get together to eat a huge meal, to dance and watch fireworks. Here are a few of the colorful Colombian traditions to ring in the new year:

• The whole family make a large (almost life size) male doll that represents the old year and name him "Mr. Old Year." The doll is dressed with clothes from each family member and stuffed with any items from the last year that may bring sadness to the family. The doll is burned at midnight as a way to put all the bad things about the past year behind them.
• Some families will pack a suitcase and after the clock strikes midnight they will walk around the block. It is believed that if you do this you will travel a lot in the upcoming year.
• It's believed that if you eat 12 grapes (one grape for each month in the upcoming year) you will have good luck the next year.
• Colombians prepare New Year's Bread which contains a coin or charm baked within the bread. The bread is cut into at midnight and whoever receives the piece with the coin or charm will have good luck the rest of the year.

Here's a video of a New Year's celebration in Cali, Colombia which shows a Mr. Old Year being made and lit on fire. Looks like quite a party!