MEXICO CITY, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- On New Year's Eve, unlike people who would give a kiss to their beloved ones at the stroke of midnight, Latin Americans celebrate the new year in their unique tradition.
People across Latin American countries share many traditions in common, such as stuffing money in their shoes or step on a bill, preferably a high denomination to guarantee prosperity in 2018.
More often however, people from the different parts of the continent follow their own endemic rituals.
Cubans, for example, literally carry their suitcases around the block to increase their chances of traveling in the coming 12 months.
"I have already prepared my suitcase to take it round the block, because next year I want to go to Spain," Havana resident Maribel Ortega said, giggling at the idea.
Like many Latin Americans, Ortega avidly follows such New Year's rituals, which have to be performed at the stroke of midnight to be "effective".
Another Cuban tradition is to throw a bucket of water out of the window so it takes all the bad with it.
Those who follow the custom to the letter first clean and mop up the house, always starting from the inside and working their way out towards the exterior. The dirty water is then disposed of the moment the old year ends and the new one begins.
Many Cuban families follow the tradition of making a doll out of used clothes to later burn as part of their cleansing ritual. People also tuck little strips of paper written with all the things they would like to forget or let go of, into the folds of the fabrics.
Farther to the south, Ecuadorians have their own version of the burning doll, which they call "monigotes." These paper-mache effigies resemble political figures, super heroes or other characters, and represent the outgoing year.
Vendors sell effigies of different sizes and colors that embody all the negative aspects of the past year, and New Year's revelers set them on fire, after giving them a few swift kicks.
William Villacis, 48, told Xinhua, "there are too many things to burn, above all, the corruption and the very difficult economic situation we find ourselves in."
With just hours to go before ringing in the New Year, hundreds of Mexicans swarmed Mexico City's storied Sonora Market, supplier of everything from herbal remedies to love potions, good luck charms and white candles.
Enrique Molina, a 40-year-old vendor, has bought 12 white candles he plans to light on New Year's Eve to ward off evil and bring good luck in 2018.
Hugo Garcia, who manages one of the market stalls, explained the uses of some of the items on sale.
"We sell prepared candles, seeds so food won't be lacking at people's dinner tables, and sheep to attract wool (which is slang for 'money' in Spanish)," Garcia said.
"We are really busy today, with just hours to go before the arrival of 2018. People leave happy, since what they want is to have abundance and prosperity," Garcia added.
