New Year’s traditions are as varied in Latin America as its people. Even within one country, practices change from house to house, just as they do in the United States. As a result, one can’t say with confidence, “This is how Cubans celebrate the new year.”
Growing up, my family celebrated with a whole roasted hog, fireworks, and the Miami Orange Bowl parade. We didn’t burn effigies, our fear of setting our house on fire overriding any superstitions.
The practice of burning an effigy isn’t unique to Cuba. Large stuffed scarecrows called años viejos are burned in Mexico and Colombia, as well as other countries. Sometimes the scarecrow is even stuffed with fireworks.
Other common and popular Cuban traditions are rooted in superstition. For example, if you want to get rid of bad luck and start over on January first, burning an effigy isn’t your only option. A safer (and nonflammable) choice would be to sweep and mop your entire house, throwing the dirty water out your door at midnight. If you want to travel in the new year, walk around your block holding a suitcase. You could also try eating twelve grapes at midnight. Each grape represents a month of the year, and you make a wish as you eat each one. Just be sure you don’t choke!
Finally, a word on Mari and her abuelos. The way they communicate, with Mari speaking English and her abuelos speaking Spanish, mirrors the way I grew up talking to my own abuelos. When learning a new language, receptive language (listening and reading) is learned before productive language (speaking and writing). Many multilingual families with different levels of language acquisition often communicate this way.