New Year celebration in the Dominican Republic

The same as everywhere else people of the Dominican Republic enter the New Year with hopes for the better future. Several traditions are observed for this occasion. Locals clean their homes very thoroughly. It is believed that it brings good luck.

Colour of the clothes worn on the New Year's Day dependes on your wishes for the coming year. Wearing green means that your main priority is to improve your financial situation. Red clothes means wish for a bright future. Yellow clothes represent your fish for an improvement at your work. Wearing white symbolize your wish for good health.

At midnight all doors and windows should be opened for the spirts of old year to go out and those of new one to enter. Local people never sweep their homes on the New Year's Day. They believe that by doing the sweeping a person may sweep one's luck together with the dirt.