New Year's Traditions in Puerto Rico

Puerto Ricans welcome the New Year surrounded by family and friends. Traditional food is served: arroz con gandules, roasted pig, pasteles, coquito, pitorro, rice pudding or tembleque.

But did you know that in Puerto Rico people throw a bucket of water out of their windows to drive away evil spirits?

Another popular tradition that originates from Spain is to eat 12 grapes close to midnight, during the last 12 seconds of the ending year. The tradition consists of eating a grape with each strike of the clock bell. It is believed that if you finish eating all grapes this will lead to a year of prosperity.

Another tradition is sprinkling sugar outside their house for good luck, and last but not least if you are near a beach, drop backwards into the breaking waves as the clock strikes 12 to keep bad sprits at bay.