Bringing in the new year

By Alisha

Happy New Year to everyone! In Peru there are a seemingly endless number of New Year's traditions. Some examples include:

• Picking one of three potatoes without looking (one peeled, one partially peeled, and one with the skin on). The peeled potato represents financial troubles in the year to come while the partially peeled potato means it will be a financially normal year. The potato with skin represents riches in the coming year.
• Eating 12 grapes at midnight (one for each of the months to come) for good luck.
• Wearing yellow for good luck especially yellow underwear.
• Walking around the block with a suitcase to signify good luck with travel.
• Making and then burning a doll. Dolls are usually made with old clothing and with fireworks stuffed inside. The idea is to get rid of the old and make room for the new.

I decided to make a doll and got pretty excited about burning it in the street at midnight. Most of our neighbors burned dolls as well. I didn’t stuff mine with any fireworks or douse it with gasoline so it was somewhat uneventful in comparison to the neighbors who had bon fires roaring in the street. All and all it was fun to partake in the tradition. Perhaps a bigger and better doll will be in order for next year.