New Year's Day, observed on January 1st every year, is a public holiday in Uruguay, as it is in many countries around the world. In Uruguay, the holiday is welcomed with enthusiasm, mile-long beaches, night-long parties, cookouts, and vibrant fireworks. While Montevideo, the capital city, tends to quiet down as locals go to the beaches, the coastal city of Punta del Este becomes a hive of activity and festivity.
Uruguayan New Year’s Day celebrations draw in both locals and tourists. Cultural influences can be seen in the traditions, which include throwing buckets of water out of windows to symbolize renewal and a clean beginning. Other practices, such as burning dolls made of old clothes, are reminiscent of Latin American cultures' ritual farewells to the old year. The lively atmosphere extends from private gatherings at homes to public parties at hotels and resorts.
Eating is a significant part of the New Year's Day celebration in Uruguay. Asado, a traditional barbecue style where large sections of beef ribs are cooked on a parilla, or grill, is a customary New Year’s dish in Uruguay. Many other traditional foods, like salads, sausages, and sweet treats, are also consumed. Family meals are considered important during the holiday, as the New Year celebration in Uruguay is as much about family bonding as it is about merrymaking and welcoming the New Year.