In Colombia's New Year's Eve tradition, yellow underwear is associated with attracting good luck.
The custom is one of several Colombian rituals intended to influence the coming year. Yellow is commonly linked with optimism, prosperity, and positive fortune, so some people wear yellow underwear during the transition into the new year. The practice is playful and symbolic rather than a formal religious requirement.
Colombian New Year's celebrations also include other distinctive customs. Families may make muñecos de Año Viejo, large effigies representing the old year, and burn them at midnight. Some people carry an empty suitcase around the block to invite travel in the year ahead, while others eat grapes or use candles in personal rituals.
Practices vary by family and region, and not every Colombian follows every custom. The color tradition is also found in parts of other Latin American countries, where meanings can differ. In the Colombian context, yellow is the best-known color for good fortune.