Experts Emphasize Celebrating Without Commercial Pressures and Enjoying Emotional Bonds
As the New Year arrives, it serves as a universal moment for renewal. According to Jorge Traslosheros Hernández, an academic at the Institute of Historical Research of UNAM, each cycle change—from birthdays to collective celebrations—reinforces our ability to look forward.
This date marks a transition in the Gregorian calendar, which has been in use for 443 years, establishing January 1st as the beginning of a new cycle. It also serves as an emotional window, prompting reflections on the past year and reevaluation of personal goals. However, it can also trigger anxiety or sadness, especially for those facing losses or loneliness. Including children, young people, and older adults in celebrations helps strengthen emotional bonds.
Popular Rituals in Mexico to Welcome the New Year
Here are some widely practiced rituals and their symbolism:
- Eating 12 grapes: Originating from Spain, this ritual involves making a wish with each bell chime. The grapes represent the coming months and the hope for good luck in each.
- Wearing new clothes: A sign of fresh beginnings, new garments symbolize renewal.
- Colored underwear: A medieval tradition that now personalizes desires for the upcoming cycle:
- Yellow: money and abundance
- Red: love and passion
- Green: hope
- Pink: romance
- White: peace
- Blue: balance
- Purple: spirituality
- Orange: vitality
- Black: pleasure and luxury
- Travel-themed luggage: Walking around the house or street with packed bags symbolizes adventures and movement throughout the year.
- Lighting 12 candles: Each candle represents a month, with colors and light aiming to illuminate desires and express gratitude for what has been experienced.
- Seeds in wallets: Rice or beans, ancient symbols of food abundance.
- Throwing coins around the house: A direct call to ensure financial prosperity within the home.
The Money Lamb: A Symbol Embraced by Mexico
Among the end-of-year amulets, few are as popular as the money lamb. Its use is linked to the idea that wool signifies wealth, evident in the popular saying “to have a lot of wool.”
According to UNAM researcher Idanely Mora Peralta, it is believed that this element must be given for it to work and can include coins, hearts, clover, or seeds. It is typically placed near the door as a welcoming gesture for prosperity.
Though its origin is not documented, there are two possible attributions:
- Swiss Alps, where a small incantation is recited over wool and money
- Andalusia, Spain, where it represents harmony and good luck
Today, the custom is reinvented with versions incorporating plants of abundance, bells, or grains, blending religious beliefs, popular culture, and artisanal creativity.
Rituals That Cross Borders
New Year traditions are replicated worldwide in diverse forms:
- Japan: temples toll 108 bells to purify the spirit
- Russia: written wishes are burned, and the ashes are consumed in champagne
- Denmark: plates are shattered to attract good fortune
- Latin America: strolling with luggage has become a common scene
The UNAM scholars agree that the New Year is a time to appreciate the good, review the painful aspects, and build from what has been learned. They also stress that it should be celebrated without commercial pressures and enjoyed with emotional connections.
