Sycamore Living News & Updates

New Year’s Day Traditions from Around the World…..Grapes, Potatoes, Onions ? Brazil: Heading to the beach “In Brazil, people usually go to the beach since it's the summer there. Immediately after midnight, you're supposed to jump seven waves while making seven wishes,” says Hudson Bohr, a Brazilian photographer based in NYC. The tradition is rooted in paying homage to Yemanja, the goddess of water. “Before you get in the water, you're supposed to wear all white to symbolizes purity Spain: Eating 12 grapes The Spanish start off their new year by eating 12 grapes, which symbolize each strike of the clock. The tradition of “las doce uvas de la suerte” started in the late 19th century and is believed to ward off evil while boosting your chances of a prosperous and lucky new year. However, this will work only if you manage to eat all of the grapes in a matter of seconds since they need to be gone by the time the clock strikes midnight.  India: Building a sculpture of an old man and burning it down “Back in Bombay we'd make an effigy of an [...]