Borreguitos de la Abundancia: Mexico’s Cutest Good-Luck Tradition
Tiny sheep, big wishes! Mexico’s New Year charm for prosperity (with a very Mexican joke built in).
- If you visit a Mexican market in late December, you’ll spot them among poinsettias, candles, and sparkly New Year charms: little sheep decorated with coins, red ribbons, and hopeful smiles. These are borreguitos de la abundancia and they’re here to invite a year with plenty.
What is a borreguito de la abundancia?
A borreguito de la abundancia (literally, “little lamb of abundance”) is a small figure, often plush, ceramic, or handmade used as a New Year good-luck charm in Mexico. People place one in their home around New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day to welcome prosperity, stability, and abundance.
They’re also a popular New Year gift, especially for family, newlyweds, or anyone starting a fresh chapter.
Why a lamb?
This is where the Mexican wordplay comes in: in Mexican Spanish, lana literally means wool—but it’s also everyday slang for money. Sheep make wool (lana), and lana also means cash… so the lamb becomes a cheerful symbol of financial abundance.
And yes, people really talk like this:
¿Traes lana?
“Do you have any money?”No tengo lana ahorita.
“I’m broke right now.”Ese coche cuesta mucha lana.
“That car costs a lot of money.”
So when someone gives you a borreguito, what they’re basically saying—half joking, half wishing—is:
Que nunca te falte la lana este año.
“May you never be short on money this year.”Mexican Good Luck and Abundance Card
What do the decorations mean?
Not every borreguito looks the same, but these add-ons are the classics:
- Coins – a straightforward symbol of money and prosperity
- Red ribbon or heart – often linked to protection, luck, and keeping negative energy away
- Seeds or grains – a “things will grow” symbol (more harvest, more plenty)
- A tiny plant – sometimes included to reinforce prosperity and renewal
The vibe is always the same: may nothing be lacking this year.
Where should you put it?
Tradition says to place your borreguito somewhere visible, often:
- Near the front door (so abundance “enters” the home)
- In the living room
- On a desk or shelf where you handle financial matters
There are no strict rules, what matters is the intention (and maybe the good mood you start the year with).
Where did this tradition come from?
Like many folk customs, the borreguito doesn’t have one single “official” origin story. You’ll hear different versions including explanations that connect sheep with prosperity symbolism beyond Mexico, while many people simply treat it as a modern, market-loved New Year ritual: hopeful, funny, and easy to share.
A small sheep with a big wish
In the end, borreguitos de la abundancia aren’t about taking life too seriously, they’re about starting the year with hope. A tiny sheep reminds you to welcome abundance, work for it, and believe good things can grow.
And if prosperity shows up wearing a ribbon and carrying a coin? Even better.
FAQ: Borreguitos de la Abundancia
What are borreguitos de la abundancia?
They’re small sheep figures used as a New Year good-luck charm in Mexico, commonly displayed or gifted to invite prosperity.
Why is a lamb used?
Because lana means wool and is also slang for money in Mexican Spanish, so the sheep becomes a playful symbol of “more lana” this year.
What do the coins and red ribbon mean?
Coins symbolize prosperity and money; the red ribbon or heart is often associated with protection, luck, and blocking negative vibes.
Where do you place it?
Many people keep it visible, near the entrance, in the living room, or on a desk, anywhere it feels like a daily reminder of abundance.
When do people gift them?
Most commonly at the end of December, especially on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
