Text: Below is a student’s performance describing a New Year’s tradition.

Interviewer: Are there any traditions you follow for New Year’s?

Interviewee: Yeah, so for New Year’s, in, like, Brazil, just as the clock strikes midnight, uh, we, people that are at the beach, we all, like, jump seven waves to rid ourselves of any bad luck that comes with the previous year.

Context:

The interviewee is a college student, who grew up in São Paulo Brazil. This interview took place after a conversation about Holidays, and a discussion on if there were any unique ways he partook in Holiday celebrations. At first, he could not think of any particular folk traditions, but eventually he remembered this one. He participates in this ritual when he is on the beach in Brazil for New Year’s Eve.

Analysis:

This folk habit represents a commonality of New Year traditions, which consists of preparing for the future year. Some traditions seek to bring good luck, for example, by eating grapes to bring fortune. However, this particular tradition engages in conversion magic, seeking to remove bad luck built up from the previous year. The habit of jumping, in particular, seven waves showcases how the number 7 is viewed as lucky in Western cultures. This action reflects a similar New Year’s tradition, the Times Square Ball Drop, where excitement over the New Year’s is also shared in large groups.