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In Spain, many Latin American countries, and amongst the Latino diaspora in the U.S., children eagerly await the arrival of the Reyes Magos on January 6th, known in many places as Epiphany or El Dia de Los Reyes. It is a time for families to come together, exchange gifts, and enjoy traditional foods such as the Rosca de Reyes, a circular cake with dried fruit, and a small figurine of a baby Jesus hidden inside.
For many immigrant families in the U.S., this is often treated as a second Christmas, which makes complete sense because when the opportunity for extra gifts arises…
Reyes Magos Explained
The celebration of the Reyes Magos dates back to the Middle Ages and has become an integral part of the cultural fabric of Spanish and Latin American countries. In many homes, children write letters to the Reyes Magos, listing their gift requests and leaving out cookies and water for the wise men's camels.
In the days leading up to Epiphany, which according to the U.S. Library of Congress, commemorates "the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world and the coming of the Magi," parades and pageants are held in honor of the Reyes Magos, with people dressing up as the wise men, their camels, and other characters from the nativity story.
Image by Municipalidad de Miraflores - Flickr
The tradition of the Reyes Magos was brought to Latin America from Spain during Spanish colonization. When the Spanish conquistadors plundered and conquered indigenous lands, they brought their cultural traditions with them that they imposed on their new subjects, including the celebration of the Reyes Magos.
Over time, the tradition of the Reyes Magos has become an integral part of the cultural fabric of many Latin American countries. It is now a widely known holiday celebrated by millions of people throughout Latin America and the U.S.
The Rosca de Reyes and Baby Jesus
In Latin America, the Reyes Magos celebration is similar to how it is celebrated in Spain.
The Rosca de Reyes, or King's Cake, is a traditional sweet bread baked in a circular shape made with sweet dough and decorated with dried fruit. It often comes with a small baby Jesus figurine hidden inside.
The tradition of the Rosca de Reyes is believed to have originated in France. It was later brought to Spain and then to Latin America, where it has become an integral part of the Reyes Magos celebration.
The small figurine that is hidden inside the Rosca is an important part of the tradition. The figurine is usually a small hard plastic doll that represents baby Jesus and is placed inside the cake before it is baked.
demi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
According to tradition, the person who finds the figurine in their slice of the Rosca de Reyes is considered the King or the Queen for the day and must host the next celebration or party. This is meant to symbolize the generosity and hospitality at the heart of the Reyes Magos celebration. In some places, it is also traditional for the person who finds the figurine to make a small charitable donation or to perform a good deed as a way of honoring the spirit of the holiday season.
The small figurine that is hidden inside the Rosca also adds an element of surprise and fun to the celebration. In many Latino households, it’s become customary to dread being the person who ends up with the baby Jesus in their slice because then they are responsible for hosting a tamalada for the next family get-together on February 2, or Candelaria Day.
Candelaria Day officially marks the end of holiday celebrations that started on December 12 with the Virgen de Guadalupe feast day and extends into Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), Christmas Day, and Three Kings Day.
But everyone knows Latinos don’t need a religious holiday to get the family together for some good food, fun, and traditions that transcend generations!
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Rituals, or “cábalas,” are an essential part of Latin American culture, often passed down from generation to generation, reflecting its cultural diversity and rich history. Call it manifestation, call it superstition, but what’s true is that the mind is a powerful tool capable of bringing about change in our lives through focus and willpower.
So what are you looking for this upcoming year? Your amorcito? A new job? Traveling around the world? Keeping our traditions alive is wonderful whether you genuinely believe in these rituals or are just doing them for fun! Read on to find a Latino New Year’s ritual that fits your needs.
Getting Under The Table
Photo by Liza Bakay
A popular tradition in Mexico, it may feel silly, but hey, it’s all about the intention. Plus, some people swear by it every year. Just a few seconds before the clock strikes midnight, run and hide under the table. Focus on what it is that you want for your love life. If it helps, picture yourself with your dream partner. Some people also combine this ritual with eating the 12 grapes, so make sure you bring them with you. Hopefully, you’ll soon get the tías off your back asking, “Y el novio?”
Wearing Red Underwear
Photo by Penki ir
Red is the color of love, romance, and passion. Wanna find your soulmate? Reignite the fire in an existing relationship? Legend says if you wear a pair of red underwear on New Year’s Eve, love will surely come your way! Regardless of whether it works, there’s something about wearing some stunning red lingerie underneath a killer outfit that could have you feeling some type of way and projecting that out to the world.
Not prioritizing romance this year? Different colors are meant to symbolize other things.
Gold or Yellow: Wealth, prosperity, happiness, and success
Blue: Tranquility, wisdom, and stability
White: Purity, new beginnings, peace, and happiness
Green: Luck, health, adventure, and the balance of nature
Throwing Water Out The Window
Photo by Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz
Called “El Baldazo” in Uruguay or “El Cubazo” in Cuba, this tradition consists of throwing a bucket (or a cup if you don’t want to be wasteful) of water out to the streets to remove any bad energy still lurking inside your home. Before throwing it out, the cup of water must be passed around each area of the house. It’s believed that this way, the bad energy is collected inside the cup and cast out of your home, allowing you to welcome the new year surrounded with positive energy.
Sweeping Your House From The Inside Out
Photo by Daniel von Appen on UnsplashDuring the first few minutes of the New Year, Chilean tradition says if you want to remove any malas vibras from your home, you must sweep the house from the inside out. It doesn’t have to be tedious, though (it probably won’t work if you’re cleaning the house grumpily anyway). Instead, have everyone bring a broom and make it a family ritual! Blast some cumbias, have fun with it, dump any dust or trash in a trashcan outside your house, and you’re off to a clean, fresh start.
Throwing Last Year’s Calendar Out The Window
Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com
In countries like Argentina and Uruguay, calendars and old documents are shredded and thrown out the window, a gesture that symbolizes getting rid of the old and making space for the new. Even office workers participate in it! If throwing paper out the window is not an option (you might get fined for it in the U.S.), burning them in a fire-safe container is also a great way to symbolically say goodbye to everything you don’t need anymore. Adiós a lo que no te sirve!
Burning An Effigy
Quema de años viejos (15979407538).jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Or a mini version of one, anyway. In Ecuador, burning effigies, also known as “Años Viejos,” is believed to destroy all the negative things that went on over the past year and bring about good luck and happiness for the next. Some Ecuadorians construct life-size papier-mâché dolls made to look like famous people or political figures, or just buy any old cartoon character piñata and then throw a block party where it will be set on fire at midnight.
Burning may seem like an act of anger, but it’s a symbolic way of closing a chapter in one’s life and celebrating the birth of a new one. It’s a deeply meaningful tradition for Ecuadorians that has been adopted in other countries like Uruguay, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Using Lentejas to Attract Abundance
Lentil Soup | 33/365 - February 2, 2010 Recipe here | Emily Carlin
In many cultures around the world, lentils, with their coin-like shape, are a symbol of abundance and prosperity. In Latin America, there are all kinds of ways lentils are used to manifest financial stability for the upcoming year. Some will eat a bowl of sopa de lentejas at midnight, others plant them, and others stuff their purses and wallets with them. Rice is also a popular grain used to represent prosperity. However you want to do it, just make sure you have enough grains in your pantry!
Gifting A Sheep
Photo by Magda Ehlers
A tradition commonly seen in Mexico, sheep are associated with abundance and good fortune. Who couldn’t use some extra “lana” in their life? It is said that receiving a decorative sheep as a gift, or giving one, will bring luck and prosperity! It has to be a gift, though. Otherwise, the magia is broken. Afterward, you’ll have to hang or display it near the door, calling the money into your home. There’s even a mantra you can recite to supercharge your good luck sheep, it goes “Borreguito de la montaña, has que con tu lana junte dinero cada mañana.”
Eating 12 Grapes
12 Grapes Before Midnight | Chris Oakley | Flickr
Arguably the most widely practiced of all, this tradition is said to have originated in Spain dating back from at least 1895. While in other cultures, they’ll be cheering with a glass of champagne as the clock strikes midnight, you’ll find Latinos having a quiet, rather intense moment as they focus on eating 12 grapes and assigning a special wish for each one. You’re supposed to eat them at each strike of the clock before midnight for maximum effectiveness. But no rush, mija. Better safe than sorry!
Writing What You Want, Then Burning It
Photo by cottonbro studio
Write down your wishes, things you want to accomplish, or things you want to change in the upcoming year on 12 separate pieces of paper. After you’re done writing, burn them in a safe container. In Chile, this is a powerful way of manifesting these thoughts into reality. Use this as a chance to reflect on the past year, let go of anything you don’t want to take with you going forward, and focus on what you really want. It can be very cathartic.
Running Around the Block with a Suitcase
Photo by Oleksandr P
Popular in Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, this tradition involves dusting off a suitcase and taking it for a ride around the block! Bonus points if your family sends you off as if you’re actually going on an around-the-world trip. Legend says this will guarantee a year filled with new places, people, and experiences! It might look funny to the neighbors, but joke’s on them. You’ll be too busy traveling the world to care.
Bonus: Make Your Chonies Work For You!
Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com
This list couldn’t be complete without a quick run-down of the most popular underwear colors and what they claim to attract. Whether it’s love, money, or health, put your calzones to work this New Year’s Eve!
- Red: Attracts love, romance, and passion. Wear them if el amor de tu vida is taking too long.
- Yellow: Bring money, prosperity, abundance, and financial stability into your life. Put them on to keep those dollars coming.
- White: Represents peace, harmony, and calmness. It could be helpful for those with a hectic lifestyle who just want to chill.
- Black: Associated with luxury, power, and sexuality. Get those alpha Latina vibes flowing and attract everything you want, girl!
- Green: The color of health, good luck, and protection. Wear them for all-around good fortune!
- Blue: Believed to bring balance and stability. Good for making that elusive personal project come to life or getting that job you always wanted.
Our traditions are an essential part of who we are and a reminder of where we come from, timeless gifts given to us by our tatarabuelos. That said, we can always create our own rituals and pass them down for generations to come! What New Year’s ritual does your familia do every year? We’d love to hear it. Tag us on Instagram @theluzmedia.
Feliz Año Nuevo from the Luz Team!
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