Traditions (continued)

3) Domincan Republic

Eat twelve grapes a few minutes before midnight (six greens and six purple), while making a different wish on every bite. It is said that with this rite the person can crystallize his dreams and aspirations and ensure a prosperous year.  It’s also popular in Mexico, Peru, Cuba and Porto Rico.

Sit down and stand up along with the twelve chimes of the clock will bring marriage.

Receive the new year with a bunch of money in your hands brings economic prosperity. Some say that the money should be inside your shoes.

Spend the last day of the year, cleaning and tidying the house, for the state of where you live will reflect the development of your life the coming year. The more clean, tidy and bright is your home, the better your life will be. Some also get their houses painted. Catholics get their house blessed by a priest with holy water. Others also burn some incense to purify their home.

Put a gold ring in the glass of champagne with which you will make the toast will ensure that you never lack money.

Give the first greeting of congratulations to a person of the opposite sex to get a mate.

Bring your luggage to the front door, or better drag them around the block to have many trips during the year.

Get out to the street, try to great the first young person you see is; the younger that person is, the greater will be your happiness.

Light colors candles at midnight and let them burn completely; especially white, green and red because they represent love, harmony, health and prosperity for the year.  Blue bring peace, yellow - abundance, red - passion, green - health, white - clarity, and orange - intelligence.

Eat a spoonful of cooked lentils within the first few minutes of the beginning of the year: to get prosperity.

Just at midnight repeat aloud or mentally the sentence: "I will be happy this year" along with the twelve chimes of the clock.

Wear yellow underwear the night of the ending year will ensure happiness and good times.

Wear underwear inside out and put them right after midnight will help you get a lot of new clothes.

Wash your hands with champagne and sugar. At midnight, put your hands in a bowl of sugar and then wash them with champagne will allow you to get money in the new year.

Spread ears of wheat around the house at midnight is a symbol of abundance.

Take a bath with essences to purify the soul and receive the year lightly. There are different flavors for each case and the most recommended are: mandarin for prosperity and money, roses for love, and sandalwood to cleanse negative energies.

Colors of dress you wear would signify the type of wish that would follow you this New Year.  Green - improves money situation; Red - brings a dazzling future; Yellow - makes work better; White - for good health

Keep the doors and windows wide open to let go the old year’s spirit and let enter the new one. Old brooms are also discarded the end of every year. The new broom is kept outside the house overnight and brought in only the next morning.