Surprising New Year Superstitions

Photo by: Flickr Photo/Some rights reserved by gennaropascal

Burn, baby, burn!

Another unique Latin American tradition is making a large effigy with old rags and gunpowder. Once the clock strikes 12, this Año Viejo figure is lit on the street and burned to the ground. If making an "Old Year" man becomes too much of an enterprise, many people just write down the year's bad moments on a piece of paper, and burn it. Both serve as signs that the old ... more 

Photo by: Flickr Photo/Some rights reserved by gennaropascal

Burn, baby, burn!

Another unique Latin American tradition is making a large effigy with old rags and gunpowder. Once the clock strikes 12, this Año Viejo figure is lit on the street and burned to the ground. If making an "Old Year" man becomes too much of an enterprise, many people just write down the year's bad moments on a piece of paper, and burn it. Both serve as signs that the old is gone, and something new is about to begin. less