Today is the last day of 2013 and like every year-end, people prepare to fulfill a series of rituals to bid farewell to this twelve-month cycle that concludes and receive, with illusions and hopes, the one who starts. Unlike Christmas, in which we celebrate an event intimately linked to the Catholic religion - the birth of the Messiah - on New Year's Eve the population indulges in various practices of superstition diametrically opposed to the faith that brought us together in front of to the manger in Bethlehem, just a week ago. Religion invites us to reflect, pray and trust that the God in whom the vast majority of Peruvians believe will make our dreams come true if we behave well. Instead, for the New Year we turn to various cabals that will help us invoke good luck. Coincidence or not, these customs make us go from faith to superstition in the blink of an eye. In this note we share some of the most popular superstitious practices for this New Year's Eve:
1. WEAR YELLOW OR RED UNDERWEAR
This superstition is one of the best known. In all the markets you will see people buying yellow underwear (to attract money and abundance) and red underwear (to be successful in love). Naturally, the yellow garments are the most required for this night. Be careful, it is essential that said garment is a gift so that its action as a good luck charm for this year that begins.
2. RUN WITH SUITCASE
Suitcases symbolize the coming year and the new opportunities that may arise, especially related to travel. If you want to visit new places next year, then grab a suitcase and run home with one or two in hand.
3. EAT TWELVE GRAPES AT MIDNIGHT
As soon as the clock strikes midnight, the immediate consumption of twelve grapes will ensure success in each month of the coming year. It is necessary to do it quickly and making a wish for each grape eaten, visualizing at the moment that you eat them what you want to happen with your life and your work. It is said that this tradition, very widespread among us, came from Italy and Spain.
4. PUT A RING IN THE CHAMPAGNE GLASS
With this superstition you have to be very careful when toasting. Luck tells us that by doing this simple gesture we will attract money during the following year. It is not surprising that many try it. There are those who say that the higher the value of the ring, the greater the fortune will also be attracted for the coming year.
5. KISSING SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX
If what you really want is to find a partner next year, this is the little cabal that you should apply tonight. Try to congratulate the year and therefore, kiss someone of the opposite sex as soon as the year is over. If you are a woman, instead of giving it to your sister or mother, congratulate your brother or father first and vice versa.
6. WRITE A WISH LIST
Before dinner, write “three wishes” for the new year and fold the paper. Leave it glued to your skin throughout dinner and, when it's New Year's Eve, burn it. In other countries, they also do this by putting the paper in a small doll dressed in old clothes that they also burn later. There is something voodoo in this practice, so do it with great care.
7. START THE YEAR WITH THE RIGHT FOOT
There are many people who use the phrase “getting in with the right foot”, and they take it to the end. The idea is that the first foot that hits the ground as soon as the 12 chimes are finished is the right foot. Although this kabbalah is applied practically on a daily basis, it takes on special importance at the beginning of the year. We would have to ask ourselves what left-handers think about it.
8. EAT A TABLESPOON OF LENTILS
It is a tradition imported from Italy. They say that if you eat lentils during the last day of the year or immediately after midnight (in this case a single tablespoon) you ensure prosperity for the next 12 months.
9. START THE YEAR WITH THE LIGHTS ON
Receive the New Year with all the lights in the house on. This symbolizes clarity, prosperity and success for everyone in the house, but make sure you turn them on just a few minutes before 12 o'clock and turn them off a little later so you don't waste electricity.
10. WEARING UNDERWEAR BACKWARDS
They say that if you put your underwear inside out during the last hours of the outgoing year and then, when it's New Year's, put them back in their usual way, you will have the most full closets of clothes during the year than ever.