00:00Also in Venezuela, in Venezuelan homes, Christmas and New Year's are celebrated with traditions, beliefs and small rituals.
00:09Some steam from cultural roots, others have been added over time, but all express the same wish to begin the New Year with hope.
00:18We invite you to explore these practices that are part of the December celebration in Venezuela. Enjoy.
00:25One hundred years ago, Venezuela was mostly rural. Today, more than 80% of its population lives in cities.
00:33This social change has also transformed the ways in which Christmas and New Year's are celebrated, giving rise to a cultural phenomenon known as acculturation.
00:43What is acculturation? It's when cultural models foreign to the idiosyncrasies of the population are tried to be imposed.
00:54A characteristic example is Santa Claus, little trees that imitate pine trees.
01:00We don't have snow here, although there is a pine tree they call the Caribbean pine, from which they make paper.
01:06But these aren't our customs. They are foreign customs. That's why we speak of acculturation.
01:16New Year's rituals show how traditions adapt to everyday life. Each family transforms grapes, lentils, colors and suitcases into expressions of hope, prosperity and collective wishes for a better year.
01:30The thing about the suitcase is that we grab it. And then when it's 12 o'clock or after 12, we have the suitcase ready. And then we grab it and go to the patio of the house. And there we do our suitcase ritual.
01:43Well, each grape you eat is a wish you make. You have to make 12 wishes with your 12 grapes. And the lentils, well, we throw those up in the air so that it brings prosperity, abundance and so that we never lack anything at home.
01:56In Venezuela, wearing yellow for prosperity or red for love is a part of New Year's rituals. Each color is a symbol of hope and good fortune.
02:09The rituals are the Christmas dinner, as always, ayaka, ham, ham bread, wine, of course. And regarding the emotional aspect, we always wear yellow clothes.
02:22There are some people who wear red clothes, right? And well, those who want to travel go out with their suitcase to have good omens and a good trip in the coming year.
02:34Every tradition, every color, and every shared meal celebrates family unity and renews the hope for a year full of prosperity and well-being.
02:43From Caracas, in the Cámara of Marcos Da Silva, for Telesur, Andrea Romero.
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