As we are close to saying goodbye to 2023, it's important to cherish that New Year’s Eve, known also as “Nochevieja” in Mexico, is more than the turning of a calendar page, it’s a reflection that embraces tradition with open arms, between personal hopes and aspirations. 

It is a celebration that comes together with threads of history, superstition, and the warmth of familial bonds.  While traditions vary between states in Mexico, they all share the common theme of welcoming the New Year with hope, joy, and positive energy with various traditions and customs.

When the clock marks 12, families and friends toast to a Feliz Año Nuevo, sealing the moment with hugs, kisses, and shared dreams for the future. But Mexicans also have other traditions that have a special meaning.

Año Nuevo dinner: Families and friends often gather for a festive New Year's Eve dinner, which typically includes a variety of traditional Mexican dishes such as tamales, bacalao, pozole and others. 

Countdown and grapes: As the clock strikes midnight, it is customary to eat 12 grapes, making a wish with each one. Each grape represents a month of the upcoming year, and the tradition is believed to bring good luck and prosperity. Be careful with choking! Eating 12 grapes in a minute is not as easy as it sounds, but the intention is what counts. 

Sweeping out the old year: The act of sweeping out the old year is more than a symbolic gesture; an expression of bidding farewell to the past. As brooms sweep away the remnants of the bygone year, homes are cleansed of negativity, making space for fresh beginnings.