New Year Traditions with Mexican Flair

As the New Year is approaching, many families across the United States will begin to wrap up the Christmas events only to begin planning the events of the New Year's Eve celebration. This year, when preparing for a New Year's Eve event, consider throwing a party based on the traditions of Mexico.

Mexico, rich in culture and tradition, provides for an interesting and unique party opportunity for New Year's Eve as well as New Year's Day. As a themed event, one such Mexican tradition involves the use of color to enhance good will and blessing into the new year. Colors such as red, to encourage an overall improvement of lifestyle and love, yellow used to encourage blessings of improved employment conditions, green to improve financial circumstances and white for those who are seeking improved health. With each of these colors; red, yellow, green and white, many Mexican families decorate homes and parties, during New Year's, to stimulate the overall blessings of those in attendance at the New Year's party.

In addition to color selection, New Year's Eve parties, with a Mexican theme, commonly include the presentation of Mexican pan dulce or sweet bread. When prepared, the sweet bread is served at the stroke of midnight. When prepared, the baker will inject the dough with a coin or lucky pendant which will be given to one lucky person at midnight when the bread is cut. The receipient of the lucky coin or pendant is believed to be blessed with good luck throughout 2007. Often with this sweet bread, grapes are served and eaten, one at a time, with a wish for New Year's made in each bite.

For entertainment at your New Year's Eve celebration, with a Mexican flair, consider adding games and events to entertain guests and family. While some Mexican based traditions are unfounded, they are still fun to play. One such event includes each guest making a list of all bad or negative events from the current year. Immediately before midnight, this list is thrown into a fire, burned to ashes. In doing so, this symbolizes the removal of negative energy and the restoration of new beginnings with the New Year.

Whatever the plans for your New Year's celebration, providing a unique twist to the holiday event with make for an interesting and memorable tradition for guests of all ages. This holiday season, whether planning a large New Year's Eve party or simply spending an evening at home with a few guests, consider incorporating the traditions of Mexico into your holiday plans.

For more information regarding New Year's Eve celebration planning, visit www.topics-mag.com.