Cuban New Year's Eve Traditions

I'm sooo ready.

On New Year's Eve, at the stroke of midnight, we Cubans are BUSY.

When the clock strikes 12 we:

quickly eat 12 grapes - one for each month of the past year.
wash these down with sparkling cider to celebrate the end of the old year.
throw a bucket of water out the front door to symbolize getting rid of all the bad juju from the past year.
put a suitcase outside if we are hoping to travel in the new year.
put some money in the mailbox for prosperity. =D

We did all of this one year ago today.

So I'd like to do a quick recap of this past year based on our Cuban New Year superstitions.

We traveled to all of these places:

Hawaii
Mexico
Las Vegas (twice)
Yosemite
Miami (twice)
Sacramento

It's been a wonderful year for us in so many ways.

My husband was able to quit his day job and come home and he doubled (yes, you read that right. =D) his income.
I published My Big, Fat, Cuban Family Cookbook. =D
I got to meet so many of you at Cuba Nostalgia - what a treat that was!
I celebrated my 2 year Blogiversary with lots of give-aways.
Not to mention getting to spend time with three of my favorite Cuban blog-friends, Amanda, Chantel, and Carrie.
I get to be a part of Babalú blog - always an honor.
Of course, we spent lots of time at The Park this year.
I finally got my white picket fence.
I got to cook (and cook, and cook some more) for you.
I had my magical moment with my new friend, Desi. ;-)
My kids, well... you can read all about their wonderful exploits here.