In Colombia, some people carry an empty suitcase around the block at midnight on New Year's Eve to invite travel in the coming year.
The custom is a playful form of sympathetic ritual: physically taking luggage on a short journey is thought to encourage future trips. The suitcase is usually empty because the symbolic act, rather than a planned departure, is the point. It is one of several Colombian New Year's customs associated with hopes for prosperity, love, health, or new experiences.
Colombian celebrations may also include family gatherings, fireworks, special foods, and the burning of an Año Viejo effigy representing the old year. Practices vary by region and household, so carrying a suitcase is not a universal requirement. The suitcase tradition is sometimes confused with customs involving coins, yellow clothing, or lentils, which have different symbolic associations in parts of Latin America.