Editorial:

At times it is hard to believe – here we are starting a New Year. 2012 holds much promise as it appears the economic strain that we have all been living under is slowly easing, there is a bit of relief as we look forward to better days that each New Year promises. This is why we all say Prospero Año Nueva or Happy New Year.

To get the New Year off to a prosperous start we are going to share with you our readers a tradition often practiced in Mexico that I learned of in talking with Maria Delgado here at work and it goes like this: 

On New Year’s Eve about an hour before midnight we pray, twelve credos for the twelve months and light twelve candles for each month.

After the prayers she spreads fake money (you can use real money) and walk on it. This means more money for the year.

Then twelve grapes are eaten, each with a wish for each month.

You then pack a backpack with cloths and take a walk up and down the block representing good travels during the year.

Then you have the first food of the year, a bowl of lentils and bananas cut to represent coins.

Lastly, you can then sweep from the front door to the sidewalk, sweeping all the bad from the last year.

So with this we wish you all a Happy New Year!