It’s a hot day in Argentina, Buenos Airs. We are in summer. Everyone is happy because we are going to start another year.
My grandmother told me we are going to have my favorite food for dinner: a salad with crayfish, turkey with potato cream and dulce de leche ice cream for dessert—our special food for New Year’s.
I am in my room. I think about what I am going to wear tonight in when we go to my grandmother’s house. I know I need to wear something new and pink. It’s our custom. I decide to wear my white dress with small pink flowers. It’s the best for tonight.
Oh! The time passes fast before New Year’s. I watch the time on my clock I have six hours to get ready. I need to buy turron and pan dulce (sweet bread). If we don’t have these two things on my grandmother’s table, my family will be disappointed. Turron and pan dulce are the most traditional food for New Year’s.
I decide to call my cousin. Maybe she has already bought turron and pan dulce. I call. She has. That’s good because I have more time to think about the entertaining things that will give us good luck for the new year. First, if you eat beans, you will keep your job or find a better job. Second, if you run with your suitcase around your house, you will travel a lot next year.
I really enjoy the fireworks on New Year’s. We have a lot of them; it’s amazing how many you see in the sky. I love them, but sometimes I am very worried about the cats and dogs because they are afraid of the noise that the fireworks make. You can see their faces say to you, “Please, no fireworks.”
I am ready. We are going to go to church—all the family. Afterwards, we are going to enjoy getting together with all the family at my grandmother’s house. When the clock strikes midnight, we are going to raise our cups or glasses of champagne and drink a toast: “Happy New Year! Health, love, work, the best for this family! And, to the poor people who don’t have anything: “We hope they are in a warm house!”
These are the beautiful customs in my country, my sweet home, Argentina.