Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela!

Ava Gabriela is so shy that she rarely speaks; she really wants to be different. She and her parents are visiting her extended family in Columbia where they are preparing for a big New Year's celebration.

I enjoyed all the little Spanish phrases and the simple way their meaning was made clear in the text for non-Spanish speakers.

Best of all, I loved reading about the traditions the family in Columbia celebrated on New Year's. I've eaten the twelve grapes for luck, but I've never heard of wearing yellow underwear, something also said to bring good fortune. I like the idea of walking around the street at midnight with luggage in hand to be sure we travel well in the coming year and the idea of cleaning the house to get rid of the dirt and negativity of the old year. Making El Ano Viejo and breaking the doll to represent leaving behind the disappointments, sadnesses, and troubles of the old year sounds like a great tradition, too. (I'll have to try these this year...maybe it will sweep away 2020.)