New Years Celebrations in Ecuador
The Tradition of Burning Sawdust Effigies to Ring in the New Year
Called "años viejos", these sawdust-stuffed dolls represent the passing of the year, and all the hardships that it caused are burned away at midnight.
New Year's Eve is an exciting holiday in Ecuador, full of tradition, politics, and history. Like Halloween, people of all ages dress up in costumes, the most popular being men dressed as the widows of the "old years". Instead of candy, they ask for money, offering a dance in return. At midnight, firecrackers pop across the country as años viejos burn on almost every street.
Años Viejos - "Old Year" Sawdust Effigies
One of the most important Ecuadorian traditions for ringing in the New Year is making años viejos, effigies representing local and international politicians, famous celebrities, or even cartoon characters. The effigies are made from old clothes sewn together and stuffed with firecrackers and sawdust (newspaper or any other flammable material can also be used). The heads of the effigies are covered with paper måché masks, shaped into caricatures of politicians or other people who have been in the news, generally for scandals. As the effigy parodies the year's top news stories and scandals, it is often seen as a social and political commentary, and its likeness is usually someone notorious or who has recently been involved in a scandal. At midnight it will be beaten and burned for all of the trouble it has caused in the year.
The Old Year Comes to an End
On December 31, the años viejos sit alongside the road in small huts constructed out of eucalyptus or palm branches. The dolls patiently await their midnight death. As the year slowly comes to a close, Ecuadorians, especially the men, dress up as viudas, the widows of the dying year. These viudas, however, are not very upset about their husbands' death, and tend to act promiscuously. Dressed in skimpy black clothes, tights or nylons, and a black shawl around their shoulders, the viudas stand outside of the makeshift huts and ask passing cars for money to help pay for their husband's funeral. As with most Ecuadorian festivities, dancing is involved, and in order to "earn" the money, the viuda will perform a short dance. The money collected is used for the New Year's Eve party.
Burning the Año Viejo
At midnight, the effigy is beaten with a belt, punishment for all of the hardships it has caused in the last twelve months. Everyone, young and old, gets a chance to beat it before it is set on fire. As it burns, the firecrackers go off and the bravest jump over it, taunting it as a matador does a bull. By midnight, the city is dotted with the smoldering remains of the "old year", and everyone is ready for a fresh start to a new year on January first.
