Mexico is a mysterious and original country with a tropical climate, a huge baggage of cultural traditions and customs. She is famous all over the world for her unusual, colorful and noisy holidays. The New Year is no exception. Its celebration is necessarily accompanied by grandiose carnivals and incredible fireworks. There are also special New Year's rituals in the country.
The main New Year's tradition in Mexico is hanging on a rope an earthen vessel - piñata, in which gifts in the form of sweets, toys and New Year's souvenirs are placed. Participants are blindfolded and take turns trying to break the vessel with a stick.
Locals love to arrange a kind of theatrical performances - Las Pasadas. They act out short scenes near each house and are rewarded with various delicacies - fragrant gingerbread, fruit, wine.
The Mexican New Year's table is distinguished by its abundance and many national dishes. The most popular of them are kejena - fried chicken or turkey with rice and vegetables, fufu - banana balls with sauce, which are served with meat dishes. The New Year's table is necessarily decorated with grapes and, of course, the national Mexican alcoholic drink - tequila. Contrary to popular belief, Mexicans do not eat tequila with lime and salt, but wash it down with natural tomato juice, abundantly flavored with chili.
Another popular New Year's ritual of the Mexicans: during the chiming clock, sweep out all the dirty linen from the house with a broom, and with it all the troubles, quarrels and resentments that have accumulated over the past year. Anyone who dreams of traveling in the new year should wrap themselves around with a packed suitcase.
Anyone can take part in the numerous New Year's carnivals parading through the city streets. Together with dancers in colorful costumes, whole live orchestras walk around the city, performing national music. On New Year's Eve, fairs and contests are held in all squares for everyone.
Usually, on the morning of January 1, all the streets of Mexican cities are empty, but by the evening, residents go out onto avenues and squares and continue to celebrate noisily the holiday that has already come - they have fun with friends, smile, remember the names of Catholic saints and launch fireworks.
