Due to the influence of African-based religions, such as Candomblé and Umbanda, in Brazil, white is associated with peace and purification, perfect for opening new cycles
New Year arriving and, with it, sympathies and rituals begin to enter conversations and planning for the New Year. One of the most common superstitions observed in the New Year is choosing a look with only white clothes. Influenced by African religions, such as Candomblé and Umbanda, in Brazil, the color is associated with peace and purification, perfect for opening new cycles. However, there are also other common features among people.
suck pomegranate
In fact, this is a Three Kings Day tradition, but many practice it on New Year’s Eve. The ritual calls for eating three pomegranate grains, sucking the pulp and keeping the grains in your wallet throughout the year, so that it is always full.
Associated with fertility in ancient religions, the tradition of eating fruit at New Year came from Greece. There, people throw the pomegranate on the ground to break and share among those present.
Jump seven waves
Also influenced by religions such as Umbanda and Candomblé, due to the sea’s connection to Iemanjá, jumping the seven waves as soon as the clock strikes midnight on the first of January is one of the traditions most followed by those who are spending New Year’s Eve at the beach.
The ritual consists of jumping over each wave making a wish, without turning your back to the sea at the end. Seven because it is a number associated with perfection and considered sacred by countless cultures and religions.
Eating twelve green grapes
According to Spain’s Official Tourism Portal, the tradition was born in the country and also has its origins in Portugal. At each New Year’s bell (twelve) you must eat a green grape. Some make orders for each piece of fruit eaten, others just emanate positivity and think of good things when doing so, it depends on the customer’s belief.
Eat a spoonful of lentils
Legend has it that eating a spoonful of lentils on New Year’s Eve brings luck for the next 365 days. This comes from a biblical passage, part of the Old Testament, in which Esau, son of Isaac and brother of Jacob, gave up his rights as firstborn for a dish of lentils and, after that, became a rich man.
blow cinnamon
The ritual went viral on social media, mainly because actress Giovanna Antonelli does it every month of the year. With a focus on attracting prosperity, simply take a handful of cinnamon with your right hand, go to the door of your home or business and blow towards the interior of the building, inviting abundance to enter by saying “when I blow this cinnamon, prosperity will come here. When I blow this cinnamon, abundance will come to stay. When I blow this cinnamon, abundance will live here”.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
