EL AÑO NUEVO PUERTORRIQUEÑO

EL AÑO NUEVO Key vocabulary: A ño Viejo- “Old Year,” New Year’s Eve Año Nuevo- New Year Fuegos artificiales- fireworks Limpiar- to clean Comer- to eat Las uvas- grapes La celebraci Ó n- celebration La fiesta- party

AÑO VIEJO “Año Viejo” is spent with lots of friends and family. Before the celebration can begin, Puerto Ricans spend the entire day “limpiando” everything (houses, cars, etc.). It is believed that the way “limpias” on Año Viejo is the way it will stay all year.

THE NEW YEAR Puerto Rico celebrates its “Año Nuevo” with the rest of the America on January 1 st. The “Año Nuevo” celebration starts in the evening/afternoon. “Fuegos artificiales, música, fiesta,” and fun are associated with the New Year in Puerto Rico as well as in America.

TRADITIONS It is believed that the way “limpias” on “Año Viejo” is the way it will stay all year. In tradition, when the clock strikes midnight “se come” twelve grapes to symbolize all of the months in the upcoming year. It is also tradition to sing the poem ‘El Brindis del Bohemio‘ after midnight is over. Home organized “fiestas” are usually served with bacalaitos, it is considered to be a true Puerto Rican party dish. Another tradition is that people throw a bucket of ice water onto the road to rid the home of all bad things.