New Year Traditions in Puerto Rica

New Year Traditions in Puerto Rica bring out the typical New Year customs of South America. Go through some popular New Year traditions in Puerto Rica

Ano Viejo -

Ano Viejo is a New Year festival that is marked by festivity and fun. In this celebration an effigy of a person dressed like a scarecrow is put up. The effigy is decked with old newspapers and firecrackers. The scarecrow represents all the bad things that have happened during the last year. At midnight each family lights the dummy on fire. As the effigy is burnt the firecrackers burst out with the loud cheers and merrymaking from the crowd. In this way people bids adieu to the old year and embraces the new one.

Throwing Pails of Water -

In Puerto Rico South America children enjoy throwing buckets of water out the window at New Years Eve midnight. Some believe that this emancipates their home from evil spirits.

In Puerto Rico, everyone goes to the beach at midnight and falls backward into the ocean. Making loud noises at the stroke of New Years Eve midnight with car horns, boat whistles, church bells or drum beats is also practiced to drive off the demons.