Mexican New Year’s Traditions: Grapes, Underwear & More
Curious about Celebrating New Year’s in Mexico?
As someone who’s been living in Mexico since 2018, let’s start out by saying New Year’s in Mexico isn’t just about popping champagne 🥂🍾 and shouting “Happy New Year!” at midnight.
At midnight on New Year’s Eve, Mexicans eat 12 grapes, one for each wish for the year ahead.
Other popular traditions include wearing red underwear for love or yellow for money, and walking around the block with an empty suitcase for a year of travel.
I’ve spent every New Year’s Eve since 2018 in Mexico, including cities like Mérida, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Huatulco and Oaxaca City.
In my experience, New Year’s in Mexico is more of a family holiday than a big night out, a lot like Thanksgiving in the U.S. Most people celebrate at home with a big dinner, and January 1 is a quiet day. In big cities and tourist areas, some places host U.S.-style New Year’s parties, but this isn’t the norm.
And that’s just the start: Mexico has a whole arsenal of quirky traditions, colorful superstitions, and joyful celebrations that make ringing in the new year uniquely Mexican.
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, participating in these customs is a surefire way to start your year with a bang (and maybe a little bit of chaos).
Let’s dive into the fascinating, fun, and sometimes downright hilarious traditions that make New Year’s in Mexico unforgettable.
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🍇 Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight: A Race Against Time
If you’re in Mexico on New Year’s Eve, you’ll notice a lot of people clutching small bunches of grapes 🍇 as midnight approaches.
This tradition known as Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte, which means “The Twelve Grapes of Luck,” was imported from Spain and involves eating 12 grapes in sync with the clock’s 12 bell chimes at midnight.
Each grape represents a wish for the coming year, so you better chew fast and think even faster.
Sounds easy? It’s not.
I’ve done the 12 grapes myself, and it’s VERY hard to finish them before the last chime.
By grape six, you’re likely to be panicking as the chimes speed up. By grape 10, you’re making a mental note to train harder for next year.
The key is to not choke — not on the grapes, and not on your ambitions for the year ahead.
Eating Your Grapes Under the Table
A newer twist, popular on social media in recent years, is eating your 12 grapes under the table. It’s said to bring love in the new year.
🩲 The Underwear Color Code: Choose Your Destiny
Forget New Year’s resolutions — in Mexico, your fate for the next year could depend on the color of your underwear. (Yes, you read that right!)
What you wear underneath your party outfit is believed to set the tone for the year ahead, so choose your color wisely.
- 🔴 Red Underwear: Love and passion
- 🟡 Yellow Underwear: Money, prosperity and abundance
- ⚪️ White Underwear: Peace, health and harmony
- 🟢 Green Underwear: Hope, health and protection
- 🔵 Blue Underwear: Balance and clear thinking
Tradition says the underwear should be a gift, not something you buy for yourself. Some people even wear it inside out until midnight, then flip it right side out so their wish comes true.
But beware: Wearing the wrong color might send mixed signals to the universe.
If you’re hoping for financial success, but you wear red undies, you might end up broke and in love — so plan accordingly!
🧳 Walking Around the Block with Your Suitcase
Want to travel more in the New Year?
For those bitten by the travel bug, there’s a wonderfully eccentric Mexican tradition you’ll love: Walking around the block with an empty suitcase at midnight.
The idea is that this will ensure plenty of travel opportunities in the coming year.
Some people take this tradition very seriously, sprinting around the block as if their next vacation depends on it — and who’s to say it doesn’t?!
Others might just take a leisurely stroll with their luggage, perhaps dreaming of sunny beaches or faraway adventures.
Either way, it’s a fun way to manifest your wanderlust — and if you’re hoping to travel to Mexico, check out my list of the 35 Best Places to Visit in Mexico.
🧹 Sweeping Out the Old Year
If you spot someone sweeping their house frantically on New Year’s Eve, they’re likely not doing last-minute cleaning for guests.
In Mexico, sweeping is a symbolic act to get rid of bad energy from the past year and make room for good vibes in the new one.
Some even go the extra mile, sweeping the bad energy right out the door. It’s like spring cleaning, but with a mystical twist.
And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want a clean slate (and a clean floor) to start the year?!
🎆 Fireworks Will Light Up the Sky
Fireworks are a universal staple of New Year’s celebrations, but Mexicans take it to the next level.
As soon as the clock strikes midnight, the sky lights up with colorful explosions, and the air fills with the sound of popping, crackling, and of course, the occasional dog barking in protest.
As fireworks symbolize joy and the desire to ward off evil spirits, they are the perfect symbol to usher in a New Year.
If you’re not lighting your own (safely, of course), find a good vantage point to watch the show.
Bonus points if you’re enjoying it with a shot of tequila or Mexican mezcal, a cold Mexican beer, or one of these non-alcoholic Mexican drinks in hand.
💦 Throwing Water Out the Window
Here’s one tradition that might catch you off guard: Some families throw a bucket of water out the window at midnight.
This is meant to wash away the bad vibes of the old year and start the new one fresh.
If you’re walking on the street at midnight, consider this your fair warning: Dodge the water or embrace it as a baptism into the coming year.
(💧 Oh, and if you’re wondering about drinking water in Mexico, check out this article, Can You Drink the Water in Mexico?)
🧆 Eating Lentils for Good Luck
Want to attract abundance in the New Year? Have a plate of lentils!
This tradition, rooted in ancient beliefs about lentils resembling coins, is still popular in many Mexican households.
Some people eat lentils, while others might sprinkle raw lentils around their homes or even carry them in their pockets for good luck.
Sure, it sounds odd, but hey, a little lentil never hurt anyone — unless you’re allergic, in which case, skip this one.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, lentil soup (sopa de lentejas) is a common home-cooked dish in Mexico, so lentils are easy to find.
🔥 Burning an “Old Year” Effigy
In some parts of Mexico, people create effigies called “Año Viejo” (Old Year) that represent the year that’s ending.
These effigies are often stuffed with firecrackers and burned at midnight.
It’s a fiery goodbye to the challenges and misfortunes of the past year — and a spectacular way to start the new one.
If you see one of these effigies, step back and enjoy the show.
It’s cathartic, symbolic, and just a little bit dangerous — everything you’d want in a New Year’s celebration.
✉️ Burning a Wish Letter at Midnight
Some families write their wishes for the new year on a piece of paper, then burn it at midnight to send those wishes out into the universe.
Others write down everything they want to leave behind in the old year, and burn that list instead.
🍽️ What Mexicans Eat on New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve dinner in Mexico often looks a lot like Christmas Eve dinner. Popular dishes include bacalao (a salt cod stew), romeritos, pozole and roast pork leg (pierna), with warm ponche to drink.
For the full holiday menu, see my list of 45 Mexican Christmas foods.
El Recalentado: January 1 Leftovers
On January 1, many families enjoy el recalentado, the reheated leftovers from the night before. After a late night, it’s the perfect lazy-day meal.
🏝️ Mexicans Flock to the Beaches for New Year’s
While many Mexicans celebrate New Year’s Eve at home with family, thousands take advantage of the holiday to head to the country’s stunning beaches.
Popular destinations like Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan are buzzing with energy, music, and festive vibes during this time of year.
The beach is the perfect setting for a tropical New Year’s celebration, where the fireworks light up the ocean and the parties stretch well into the early hours of the morning.
Families gather on the sand to share midnight picnics, while younger crowds hit the beach clubs for live music and dancing.
Many also take a symbolic dip in the sea at midnight, washing away the old year and starting fresh — quite literally — with the waves.
Whether you’re there for the tranquility or the fiestas, the Mexican coastline offers a New Year’s experience like no other.
📅 Is January 1 a Holiday in Mexico?
Yes. January 1 is one of Mexico’s official holidays under the Federal Labor Law, so banks and government offices are closed.
Many shops and restaurants also close or open late, so plan your meals ahead.
What do Mexicans do on New Year’s Eve?
Most Mexicans spend New Year’s Eve at home with family, with a big dinner. At midnight, many eat 12 grapes for 12 wishes, wear colored underwear for luck, and walk around the block with a suitcase for a year of travel.
What do Mexicans eat on New Year’s?
New Year’s Eve dinner often includes bacalao (salt cod stew), romeritos, pozole and roast pork leg, much like Christmas Eve. On January 1, many families eat el recalentado, the leftovers from the night before.
🥂 Why New Year’s in Mexico Is the Best
New Year’s in Mexico isn’t just a holiday celebration — it’s a full-blown cultural experience where you start the year with hope, laughter, and a healthy dose of Mexican superstitions 👻
It’s about eating too many grapes, wearing the right color underwear, and running around with suitcases like your future vacations depend on it.
Whether you’re a fan of the spiritual, the quirky, or the outright festive, Mexico has something for everyone.
So, this New Year’s, embrace the chaos, join in the fun, and let Mexico’s traditions guide you into a fantastic year ahead.
¡Feliz Año Nuevo! (which is how you say Happy New Year in Spanish) — May your grapes go down smoothly, your suitcase lead you to faraway lands, and your fireworks light up the sky!
