(Photo : Reuters)

There are a lot of traditions and superstitions for the coming new year and it differs by region, country, culture, and other factors. There are traditions on what to serve for dinner, the color of clothing, the type of clothes to wear, and others. 

Some of the traditions from different cultures are considered strange by many while some are plain hilarious. No matter the reasons for such traditions and superstitions, everyone should respect each other's beliefs. 

There is a different set of Latino New Year traditions for welcoming and celebrating the coming of a new year. 

The following are some of the Latino New Year traditions that many members of the Latino community practice during the celebration of the New Year:

1. Eating Grapes

It is a common tradition in Latin American homes to eat twelve grapes at midnight. For the first twelve seconds of the New Year, one grape is eaten. It is believed by Latinos that the faster they can finish the twelve grapes, the greater the fortune they will attain the entire year.

2. Putting on Clothes of Specific Color

Latinos believe in superstitions involving their clothing. Wearing new clothes mean that a person will not be needing any new clothes or will not be buying new clothes in the entire year. This is just one of the many clothes-related superstitions of Latin America.

According to the BBC, many people from Brazil may be wearing an all-white attire in welcoming and celebrating the coming of a new year. They will then jump seven waves in the ocean and float flowers in the sea. 

In other Latin American nations, people wear red, white, or yellow underwear to bring them luck throughout the year. Red is perceived to help a person with luck in their love life while wearing black is similar to walking below a ladder.

3. Cleaning the house

For Latin Americans, cleaning the house before the coming of the New Year means removing all of the bad energies. This results in welcoming the New Year right. They also ensure that unneeded possessions are given away or trashed.

4. Putting Cash in shoes

For good luck in money, Latin Americans place cash in their shoes. Some also put bills in their pockets. Another superstition of Latinos is putting thirteen gold coins in a red coin purse. This is needed during dinnertime on New Year's Eve.

5. Splashing Water

People from Uruguay have a tradition that involves water during the celebration of the coming of the New Year. It is a tradition in Uruguay to through water in a container out of the window during New Year's Eve. It is believed by them that doing so released bad energy from the home and the people living in the home.

A lot of people have traditions and superstitions to follow that are done during New Year's Eve including the Latino New Year traditions. Some perceive these traditions and superstitions differently. Respect in everyone's beliefs is a good value to keep in understanding the differences of many traditions and having harmonious relationships in the diverse global community.