After learning Italians like to wear red underwear and throw things out their windows on New Year's Eve, I thought it would be interesting to find out how to spend New Year's Eve (Noche Vieja) Spanish-style! Here are the top 10 traditions you might consider:
- Dress yourself up in fancy new clothes and gather with friends and family to offer up prayers. The prayers are considered to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck in the year ahead.
- Wearing a brightly colored costume, step out into the street and indulge in dancing and wild merriment. Invite your friends to join you--dancing in groups is preferred. (You may want to give your neighbors a little warning before you try this one at home :)...just sayin'!)
- Watch a fireworks show.
- Bake a special cake. The cake must be shaped like a ring with goodies and gifts baked inside. Divide the cake among your friends. Those who find the hidden goodies are supposedly blessed with good luck throughout the new year.
- Construct a large doll out of old clothes stuffed with straw. At midnight, take the doll into the street and light it on fire. The burning of the doll represents the end of the "old person" and the beginning of a "new person." (Do yourself a favor and be sober when you explain this one to the police--you know they are going to show up for this one!)
- At the strike of midnight, eat 12 grapes--one grape per chime. If you can successfully eat one grape per chime while following the rhythm and not choking or laughing too much, you can look forward to a year of happiness and luck.
- Drink cava (Spain's bubbly).
- Wear red underwear. (Yes, the Spaniards also believe that wearing red underwear brings about good luck for the year--as long as it's been bought for you by someone else!)
- Head out to a disco or bar (but only after midnight!).
- Stay up all night celebrating, followed by eating churros con chocolate at sunrise.
