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While the hype around this New Year may be dying out - cue in Omicron and the fact that 2022 sounds like "2020 too,” our team remains optimistic. After all, our creative team is from Brazil, and they believe (and relish) the “New Year, New Me” vibe around Dec. 31st.
Brazilians celebrate the arrival of the new year with traditions, superstitions, offerings, and high expectations. Read ahead to discover a few hopeful tips by Natasha and Ana to help us all conquer 2022 — whatever that may look like!
The all-white clothing tradition is inherited from religions of African origins, such as Candomblé and Umbanda, which usually use white in certain rituals and as an homage to the god Oxalá. Wearing white for the New Year’s festivities represents peace and purification for a new start.
We recommend ramping this tradition up with Half & Half our soft white nail polish shade, a snowy white coat and some shimmery eye shadow swept across your eyelids.
Though people typically wear white, the tradition has extended to all colors where each shade signifies a different intention. The most popular (and curious) superstition amongst color theories is wearing specifically colored undergarments to fulfill a wish.
The intention color guide goes: white for peace, yellow for money, red for love, green for health, blue for tranquility, and purple for inspiration.
Our Nail Artist shades The Perfect Red, Goddess, Billions and Big Night Out are the perfect way to complete any look!
We welcome January by getting rid of bad energies and hoping for the better. And in Brazil, a good coarse salt bath is just the spell to drive away any evil eye. We hope that this recipe makes for a relaxing reset!
Follow these steps:
If you find yourself beachside, here are a few traditions for that extra good luck boost. Head on over to the ocean at midnight and jump 7 waves. Only face the waves head-on. For every wave, you can make one wish. Throw flowers into the sea. Light up candles. Write down your resolutions on paper, roll them up, and burn them. Ask Iemanjá for help and good fortune.
These superstitions are also inherited by Afro-Brazilian religions. The number 7 is extremely sacred and linked to the Water Goddess Iemanjá, an important orixá, or deity, from Umbanda. Offerings are thrown in the sea as a symbolic act of getting rid of your troubles and afflictions and getting her blessing.
Natasha, our Brazilian art director, follows many end-of-year traditions. “I learned these rituals throughout my life from talking to various people… These rituals go beyond religious and spiritual beliefs, they’re cultural. My grandmother has a ritual that I love; every year, she makes me a sewn pouch with bay leaves, pomegranate seeds, and my written resolutions. I keep it in my wallet throughout the year. Before the year ends, I give it back to her so that she can cast a magic spell — she has never told me what she does to it… But, does it work? I wholeheartedly believe that it does. You never really know where all of these traditions come from, but I think it's beautiful that we can collectively spend our time and energy on these sorts of things!”
