Quinceañera is a celebration of growing up in Latin America. Walk, America, or how Latin Americans celebrate the New Year Interesting and unusual holidays in Latin America

On New Year's Day in our country there is a tradition of making wishes during the chimes. Many people like to confirm their desire in writing, burn a piece of paper and drink it with champagne. Did you do this? I did it once, and, what’s most amazing, what I wrote came true.

Perhaps the key role here was not played New Year's miracle or magic, but visualization. I wrote it and had to do it. Of course, in order for our dreams to come true, it is worth making an effort, and not just hoping that they will come true on their own.

You've probably heard about the Italian tradition of throwing away old furniture on the eve of the holiday; in the UK, rooms are decorated with mistletoe branches and lovers or those who want to become lovers need to kiss under the mistletoe.

The New Year's tradition of eating one grape at a time during the chiming clock came to us from Spain. Twelve grapes - 12 wishes for yourself and others for each month of the year.

All traditions are important, all traditions are needed, or What kind of underwear do Latin women wear for the New Year

I have long been attracted to the countries of Latin America, so distant and mysteriously sunny. Apparently, these are excesses of the profession, but I like them (the excesses). So I’ve been interested in the peculiarities of countries for a long time and seriously.

AND new year traditions and theirs are also mysterious and interesting. It is about them that I will tell everything that I know and remember.

By the way. Latin America is the name given to the territory where Spanish is spoken. Brazil and a number of other countries do not belong to these countries, they speak Portuguese or another language.

Argentina. I really like this country because of its original accent. Even knowing Spanish perfectly well, understanding an Argentinean out of habit is an impossible task. But if you get used to it, you really fall in love with their pronunciation.

New Year holidays here begin in early December. The Christmas tree is decorated on December 8-10, the decorations are modest and in two colors. For example, in white and red.

Decorate the Christmas tree in " soviet style"is considered bad taste - that is, to use colorful toys different shapes and styles, with a lot of rain and serpentine.

Like all Catholics, main holiday- this is Christmas, which is celebrated in a noisy big company all relatives. Sweet bread and beans are always present on the table, bringing success in business.

Tradition. Single girls wear pink underwear to the feast. Local senoritas believe that this is how they attract gentlemen and love.

On New Year's Eve, it is customary to throw away everything unnecessary, old trash. And is thrown away

it's all from the windows. The same thing happens in offices - old statements, calendars and notepads fly out of the windows. The entire capital is covered with an even layer of paper, and with a rich imagination one can imagine that snow has fallen.

IN New Year's Eve Argentines pick up a suitcase and... No, they don’t go on a trip, but go around the house. This tradition promises pleasant trips. We can also adopt this tradition.

Peru. In Peru, on New Year's Eve, all young and single people find themselves in a dangerous situation, because... girls, walking along the streets with willow twigs, invite the guys to take it up. Whoever touches the twig becomes her groom.

In tourist areas you can find yourself an eligible European groom this way. And the rest of the Peruvians, like the Argentines, walk at night with suitcases, attracting travel. Only, unlike Argentina, they walk all over the city.

They also have a less romantic tradition - they like to fight on the eve of the holidays. Moreover, fight seriously and no matter with whom - both teenagers and women take part in this matter.

Why are they fighting? They believe that, having punished each other for the misdeeds of the past year, fate will spare them in the new year and will not beat or punish them. Yes, after mass fights, Peruvians burn an effigy of the old year. This is similar to our Maslenitsa.

Colombia. Here main character - Old year. He tells the kids funny stories and fairy tales. also in holidays Dolls, Santa Claus (Papa Pasquale in local) on stilts, clowns and fairy-tale characters walk around the city.

As you can see, Colombians organize an amazing carnival on the occasion of the holidays. Homemade dolls are attached to cars or sticks and walked around the center with them.

It is customary to thank them for all the good things that have happened during the year. But these dolls have a secret - gunpowder is sewn into them. Therefore, on New Year's Eve they are set on fire and grandiose fireworks are displayed. It is believed that the Old Year is frightened by explosions and runs away, taking everything bad with it.

By the way. Colombian girls wear yellow underwear for good luck. So figure out what color attracts grooms. It's probably worth looking at the marriage statistics of Argentina and Colombia to find out the circumstances of happiness.

Puerto Rico. A cute Puerto Rican tradition is to come over to a friend's house and start singing and dancing without warning. Thus, they attract fun and carefree time to the owner’s house. The signature dish of these days is stew with rice. Having tasted the stew, the whole company, now together with the owner, goes to the next house for singing and dancing. Celebrations can last until dawn.

Ecuador. They have strange rituals, shamanistic ones. On New Year's Day, at midnight, they burn ritual doll. And everything would be fine. If not for the addition to the ritual - the crying of widows. If the widow is not nearby, they are portrayed by men in wigs and capes.

A more attractive tradition is to throw a glass of water out of the house. By breaking, the glass symbolizes the destruction of everything unpleasant, clearing the place for joy and happiness.

Mexico. An amazing country where you can find a lot of unusual traditions. The most pleasant (which our compatriots would gladly adopt) - Mexicans may not go to work for two weeks until the New Year!

How noble of the authorities! During these two weeks, carnivals and festivals take place across the country. Religious parables are staged on the streets and in churches. Anyone can join the performance. At the height of the night in the center of the village, you can not only see national Indian dances, but also taste local dishes, washed down with tequila or punch.

An old tradition is breaking a clay pot (pinatas). They are made in the shape of a star or an animal. Pinatas are hung from the ceiling and broken with eyes closed. Sweets pour out of them, which the participants of the ritual eat with pleasure. All this symbolizes faith in God.

How breaking pots of sweets is related to faith, we cannot understand.

By the way. The girls wear red underwear. Maybe, to be on the safe side, you should wear three-color underwear?

Chile. There is a wonderful tradition in Chile - you can't swear during the holidays. You need to be kind, smiling and cheerful.

Everyone here congratulates everyone, even ordinary passers-by and strangers. It is also customary to look for a swallow’s nest. The cat who finds it will be revered throughout the year. Why not search for our fern?

However . Not everything is fun in Chile. Since 1955, residents of the small town of Talke, after mass in the church, go to the cemetery. The mayor makes a speech and the orchestra plays soft music.

Venezuela. Venezuelan traditions are similar to ours. They gather with family and friends at the table, wish them happiness, and forgive insults and quarrels. Only the festive one is different table. Instead of Olivier and shuba, they eat corn tortillas, in which they put raisins, meat and capers.

By the way. Girls wear yellow underwear. Total - yellow Lingerie wins!

In conclusion

These are the New Year's traditions in some Latin American countries - funny, cheerful, and some even strange, but still incredibly interesting.

Few people can boast that they celebrated the New Year in Latin America. Well, except for the Latin Americans themselves. And you and I won’t have time to fly there, even if we want to.

But we have the opportunity to make a wish to celebrate 2016 in Mexico or Chile by writing it on paper or swallowing grapes. If there is a desire, there will be fulfillment!

It is also widespread in other Mediterranean countries, primarily in the regions of Old Romagna and among the Latin American diasporas around the world, among the large Latin American community in the United States.

An analogue of a fiesta in Russia and the CIS countries is the so-called folk festivals.

In the Russian-speaking world, the word fiesta is used as exoticism, as well as in an ironic context.

Origin

Fiesta is a typically Mediterranean concept that originated during the Roman Empire.

The Latin word "festa" meant folk festival, in which residents of a community or city block participated.

Unlike Russian festivities, fiestas are very often held in the evening or at night, when the heat of the day subsides, and often continue until the morning.

In modern Romance languages, the concept of fiesta and its derivatives, etc. and port. festa and French fête is used to refer to any party or feast.

Carrying out

In Latin America and Spain, fiestas are the most colorful.

Fiestas are often accompanied by masquerades, various kinds processions and parades turning into a carnival, fireworks and illumination, dancing, traditional ranchero music and other rhythms, discos, feasts, games with

ORIGINS OF THE CELEBRATION The Day of the Dead was found among the ancient cultures of the Aztecs, Mayans, Purépechas, Nahuas and Totonacs, who 3000 years ago performed special rituals that symbolized Death and Rebirth. The Indians were convinced that death is a transformation, and no one disappears without a trace. Conducted cults in praise of the god of Death- Miztecacihuatla, dedicated to both the dead and newborns. Shamans kept the skulls of the dead as trophies and decorated the sacrificial altar with them during important ceremonies.

The ancient Quitu and Cara tribes, inhabiting the territories of Ecuador, believed that a person comes from the womb and goes into the womb. They practiced burial in large clay pots, in which the body of the deceased was placed in the form of an embryo. The clay vessel was lowered into the pit, along with food, utensils, and jewelry that could be useful to the deceased in his afterlife. A semicircular vault was erected over the grave, resembling nothing more than the belly of a pregnant woman...

The Spanish conquerors were horrified by pagan savages. In an attempt to convert the Indians to their faith, restrictions were imposed on the performance of rituals, including the date of this holiday was changed to November 2 - and from now on it began to coincide with the Catholic All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day(pray for souls in purgatory).

Although the origins of the Day of the Dead originate in Mexico, the holiday has become popular in many countries of Latin America, each with its own characteristics, and in each case one can find echoes of ancient tribal rituals:

IN MEXICO Day of the Dead is the most popular holiday. People go to the cemetery at night to decorate the graves orange flowers. In every house, an altar is erected in honor of deceased relatives, their photographs, favorite food and drinks are placed on it, so that at night, when the deceased visits the house, he would remember the tastes of his worldly life. Special folk craftsmen make masks in the form of wryly smiling funny skulls and corpses. Children are the luckiest on this day - ghosts turn into kind heroes who hand out sweets and candies to them. And if your Mexican friend on this day gives you a sugar skull with your name emblazoned on its forehead, don’t be offended, because skulls on this day are traditional gifts. Many even rhyme poems for their friends about facing death. The Day of the Dead is celebrated everywhere in cities and rural areas, and the best places to watch this holiday are in Patzcuaro and Oaja.

IN GUATEMALA There is an opinion that blessed souls leave cemeteries and appear in different places. During these days, the living see ghosts or hear strange sounds that indicate the presence of their deceased relatives.

IN PERU There is a custom - the night of offerings to the dead. Peruvians believe that souls watch over the preparation of altars in homes. Friends and relatives gather at the home of the deceased to remember him. During this meeting, it is customary to talk about the deceased over a cup of strong coffee.

IN NICARAGUA They take this day very seriously, going beyond conventional celebrations. Nicaraguans go to the cemetery at night to sleep on the grave of the deceased - such a unique way of honoring the dead... Not everyone is capable of such feats, do you agree?

IN ECUADOR this holiday turns into a real feast. Families gather at the cemetery at the grave of the deceased and “share with him” a traditional meal: baby-shaped bread “guagua de pan”, washed down with a thick jelly drink “colada morada”. This drink is made with cornmeal, blackberries, cloves, sugar and myrtle. Relatives discuss family problems and news so that the deceased is aware of the events that occurred after his death. Local Indians have a tradition of “feeding the dead” - they make a hole in the ground at the supposed location of the dead person’s mouth. Food and drinks are placed in the hole. Only after the “dead man has eaten” can the living begin their meal. In some regions, they also bring to the grave weapons and objects that were important for the deceased in worldly life, evoking the spirit of the deceased, they tell fortunes on the bones to find out his opinion on some issues, and in some cases this even helps resolve family disagreements...

Based on materials from www.viajeros.com

As throughout the world, in Latin America it is customary to celebrate the New Year. However, it is worth noting that most countries there profess the Catholic faith, so the main holiday is still a quiet and family Christmas. At that time, the New Year brings stormy feasts, cheerful festivities and colorful fireworks. And, of course, each Latin American country has its own special customs for celebrating the New Year.

In Argentina holiday tree They dress up already on December 8th. From this day on, children write a letter to Papa Noel (their Santa Claus) asking him to bring them gifts for Christmas. Christmas. Real Christmas tree You won’t find them here, they don’t grow in this climate. Usually dresses up faux Christmas tree, and always in a strict style, when there are balls of one or two colors. In 2002 Architect Eduardo Catalano installed Christmas trees made from waste paper and milk packaging cardboard in the main square of Buenos Aires.

On the eve of the holidays, city streets are decorated, and store windows are striking with Christmas motifs. Large shopping centers they create stylized New Year’s “villages” in front of their buildings and organize pre-Christmas night sales.

Christmas Eve is celebrated at home among family and friends. Only on New Year's holidays do Argentines bake rich tarron bread with nuts, dried fruits and raisins. Only on Christmas is it customary to give gifts. Then the Argentines take to the streets and organize noisy celebrations, launching fireworks and fireworks. Young people have fun in nightclubs until the morning, while older people spend the night talking at home or in restaurants.

Christmas in Peru, as well as in other Catholic countries, is celebrated by the whole family for festive table, the obligatory attributes of which are sweet bread with fruit filling, turkey or chicken and hot chocolate. In the city of Cusco on the eve New Year's holiday Many residents take to the streets to take part in a comic fight, the meaning of which is similar to the Italian custom of throwing old things out of windows.

The New Year itself in Peru is celebrated very noisily - on the night of the celebration, all the streets are full of dancing and singing people, and the sky is colored with many fireworks and lights from bonfires in which a symbolic effigy of the old year is burned. In addition, in Peru there is an original New Year’s custom, 5 minutes before the New Year, to run out into the street with a suitcase and run around the block - Peruvians believe that this will help them make a long-awaited trip in the coming year.

South America is a continent that is crossed by the equator, most of which is located in the Southern Hemisphere.The Portuguese conquerors brought their religion, customs, architecture, and language to America.

Portuguese cultural traditions influenced the formation of Brazilian music, literature, etc. The traditions of South America (Brazil) are, first of all, a fusion of Indian, African and Portuguese elements. Currently, two trends are observed in its development. The first of them is the conservation of local traditions and customs of South America. The second trend is strictly aimed at replacing them with cultural national traditions.

The Brazilians adopted the traditions of weaving household utensils - hammocks, rugs and bedding - from the Indians. One-story houses, most often built of clay, are covered with vines or palm leaves tied in a special way. Villagers sometimes hang crossed knives above the entrance to their houses, thereby protecting the house from evil spirits. The interior decoration of the house is extremely simple - wooden or wicker chairs, tables and often hammocks that replace the bed. Clay dishes are used in everyday life. In the modeling technique, local residents use centuries-old Indian traditions

Nowadays, most of the country’s population does not even know where they developed such customs, which they try to pass on from generation to generation.

The traditions of the peoples of South America include rituals. For example, a marriage must be sanctified by the church, but a “sorcerer” is also invited to the celebration, who protects the young from the evil eye.

Legends and the famous “cycle of Indian songs” became widespread, in particular myths about the king of snakes, and dances.

Holidays and carnivals are a favorite pastime of Brazilians.

Almost the entire population of South America participates in them and the influence of common cultural traditions is especially noticeable in them.

Many borrowed African rituals and beliefs have become quite tenacious. Among them, the most popular and persistent among the blacks of Brazil is Candomblé - the Afro-Brazilian fetishistic cult.

Brazilians are quite musical. There are a huge number of clubs open in the country that study and tell everyone about folk music.

Radio and television play an important role in the development of local residents, which serve as their only sources of information, because approximately 20% of the population is illiterate. Popular sports in Brazil include basketball and football. Brazil is one of the largest football countries in the world. The leading football teams are Cruzeiro, Santos, etc. Young people are fond of surfing.Argentina is another, but more developed state in South America, which has formed its own special culture. There are quite a lot of people from Germany, the British Isles, as well as Slavic countries, but there are almost no Indians, only small groups of them live in the extreme south and north of the country.

Despite the economic disasters in Lately, which greatly influenced the standard of living of the inhabitants of this once prosperous country of South America, the Argentines still remain what they have always been - an independent and proud people, preserving their history and traditions.

Argentines are known for their Latin temperament, which is characteristic of both women and men. At the same time, the attitude towards people is very caring. Politeness is the custom here. Moreover, this is not just window dressing, but completely natural behavior of people. And if you meet well-known people, then the mutual compliments and smiles are endless.

When meeting, Argentines kiss each other on the cheek, and strangers shake hands. Everyone is literally obsessed with football and politics, as well as what people will think of them and what impression they will leave on their interlocutor. Argentines speak only Spanish with various jargons and slangs, such as "lunfardo" or Buenos Aires.

In Venezuela, the main traditions are festivals with dances and holidays, which fill the entire calendar.

In a state in northeastern South America, Guyana has developed sports such as rafting and kayaking.

In general, all the traditions of the population of South America are similar in all countries. It's always very interesting to learn something new. If you are affected by the information, go to South America, you will be greeted with joy there, and you will plunge into the mysterious life of this continent