New Year's Day in Puerto Rico

History and Traditions: New Year's Day, known as "Año Nuevo," is celebrated on January 1st in Puerto Rico, following the widely-adopted Gregorian calendar. The day marks the beginning of the year and is a public holiday across the island. The history of New Year's Day in Puerto Rico is tied to both Spanish colonial history and local traditions.

Puerto Ricans have a rich set of traditions associated with New Year's Day:

• Eating 12 Grapes: At midnight, it is customary to eat 12 grapes, one for each strike of the clock, symbolizing hopes for each month of the new year.
• Throwing Water: Some people throw a bucket of water out their window or door to signify throwing out the old year.
• Wearing New Clothes: Donning new clothes, especially in bright colors like yellow (for good luck) or red (for love), is common.
• Religious Services: Attending church services on New Year's Eve or Day is a way for many to give thanks and pray for blessings in the forthcoming year.

What People Do: On New Year's Day, activities include:

• Gathering with family and friends for celebratory meals featuring traditional Puerto Rican dishes such as "arroz con gandules" (rice with pigeon peas), "lechón asado" (roast pork), and various pastries.
• Sharing well-wishes and "bendiciones" (blessings).
• Many locals also take this day to rest after the festivities from the night before.

The festive atmosphere continues beyond January 1st as it leads into the island's extended holiday season, which includes events like Three Kings' Day (Día de los Reyes Magos) on January 6th.