As sure as green and red are the traditional colors of Christmas, yellow is the color of the New Year in Peru! Everywhere you go this week, the stores, stands, and street corners are yellow; balloons, streamers, hats, party favors, flowers, and yes, down to your underwear. Yellow is for good luck and many customs are practiced to ensure good luck for the New Year. I would have liked to take a picture of the stands at the mercado filled with yellow but I dare not for fear of not having my camera when I return home. I opted instead to take a picture of the lady across the street from the convent selling yellow flowers. (To be bathed in flowers on New Years Day is to bring good luck.)
The Sisters got into the spirit with our own celebration here. We did try
our luck with the New Year by putting lentils in our pocket and eating twelve
grapes at midnight. If one were to believe in luck, I'm sure I blew it with
the grapes because I think they were supposed to be eaten while under the
table. The final tradition of the New Year's celebration is one from the good
Sisters. To go to chapel at midnight. For all that has been in 2006 and for
all that will be in 2007, blessed be God for ever.