4 Portuguese New Year Traditions to Bring You Good Luck
4 Portuguese New Year Traditions to Bring You Good Luck
New Year’s Eve is a special time in Portugal, a night to celebrate the memories of the year coming to an end and welcome a new one filled with hope, happiness and new beginnings.
Like many celebrations in Portugal, New Year’s Eve comes with its own traditions and superstitions. Some are about luck, others about prosperity, but all add a little Portuguese charm to the celebrations.
Here are four traditions you might want to try when welcoming the New Year in Portugal.
Make 12 wishes at midnight
As the clock strikes midnight, raise a glass of sparkling wine and eat 12 raisins, one for each month of the coming year. With each raisin, make a wish for the year ahead.
So, before midnight arrives, make sure you have your 12 wishes ready!
Step into the New Year with your right foot
Want to start the year on the right foot? Quite literally!
One Portuguese New Year tradition is to step down from a chair with your right foot first as midnight arrives, a symbolic way of beginning the new year with good fortune.
Keep some money close, in your hand, or, if you prefer, in your shoe!
At midnight, make sure you have some money with you. Keep a few coins or notes in your pocket, in your hand or even in your shoe.
According to tradition, having money close when the year begins is believed to invite prosperity and abundance into the months ahead.
Make some noise at midnight!
When midnight arrives, don’t expect Portugal to be quiet!
Traditionally, people make plenty of noise by banging pots and pans or using kitchen utensils. The idea is to leave the negative energy of the old year behind and welcome the new year with positive energy.
And one more for the brave…
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, start the New Year with a swim in the Atlantic Ocean!
It may be cold, but for some, there’s no better way to begin a fresh new year feeling completely awake, refreshed and ready for a new adventure.
Whichever tradition you choose, we wish you a New Year filled with happiness, good fortune and unforgettable moments. And perhaps your next adventure will bring you to Portugal.