Traditions, Costumes, and Bonfires. New Year's Eve Ecuador Style
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| Traditional paperboard masks for New Year's Eve in Ecuador. Photo by: Daniel Ramirez |
The traditional burning of the Año Viejo is carried out every year in Ecuador on December 31st at midnight.
The burning of a dummy or monigote, as we call it in Ecuador, symbolizes an act of purification, which starts with people gathering around and reading a will written by the oldest member of the family (at least, this is how we do it in my family). This testament consists of a funny story of what the old-year or Año Viejo inherits to its beloved children before his imminent death at midnight.
The origin of this tradition dates back more than a century, but how it truly began is still a mystery. There is a belief that it started in 1895 in Guayaquil city, after an epidemic when people had to burn their dead in pyres. Others claim the tradition was born in Cuenca city.
In some regions of Ecuador, people have different rituals for the new years eve night, or Nochevieja for the Ecuadorians, such as: eating 12 grapes, one per each chime at midnight while making twelve wishes for the new year; others choose to go on a quick sprint around the block carrying a suitcase, to call upon good luck and a year full of travels; and the funniest and most kabbalistic do not fail in wearing yellow or red underwear depending on what they wish for the next year: fortune or love! All of these traditions hoping for a better year are taken very seriously by most Ecuadorians, something we are taught generation after generation.
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| Ecuadorian traditions for New Year's Eve. Photos by Roberto Peralvo |
If you visit Ecuador during this time of the year, particularly on December 31st, and especially if you are a man, be aware of these crazy viudas approaching you and dancing on the streets.
I know some male friends who like to play the perfect role of viudas, and it is even crazier if men dress the most feminine possible. Can you imagine groups of very tomboy widows wandering and doing foolishness on the streets?... yep, it happens in Ecuador!
Naturally, no decent man will make a fool of himself alone. So it is not a surprise to find groups of viudas hanging out on the streets, mourning too happily their old man (the ending year) and stopping the traffic asking for some charity, that way they can give a proper goodbye to their beloved old year. Of course, the crying is not enough, and some viudas use (what they think is their sex-appeal) to make people give them more pennies, so they will start dancing and sending flying-kisses to get more attention. My advice for dare-drivers and walkers that night: always carry a fair amount of pennies in your pockets!
Back to a more worldly popular tradition, fireworks! You can also expect to see fireworks shows during the celebration of New Year's Eve in Ecuador, plus lots of happy Latin music playing in and out and many people dancing on the streets. At least this was the rule before the pandemic. This past December, due to strict mobility restrictions, no parties, no widows, no celebrations on the streets were allowed, so sad! Only the fireworks lit the sky that night, although I think it was still a nice way to say goodbye to 2020.
My in-laws have a tradition of making costumes for the night of the 31st, using their imagination (no rental allowed, so no cheating!) Every year we have to create our costumes for a topic that we previously chose, and this year's theme was: the Muppets. One of the rules is, no one can see the other's costumes until that very night. We always laugh seeing our crafts and are very proud of how good we are at creating the most original costumes.
Just picture this: a beardy guy dressed as a very foxy widow, wearing makeup, a wig, and his hairy legs on high heels. It is madness!
Naturally, no decent man will make a fool of himself alone. So it is not a surprise to find groups of viudas hanging out on the streets, mourning too happily their old man (the ending year) and stopping the traffic asking for some charity, that way they can give a proper goodbye to their beloved old year. Of course, the crying is not enough, and some viudas use (what they think is their sex-appeal) to make people give them more pennies, so they will start dancing and sending flying-kisses to get more attention. My advice for dare-drivers and walkers that night: always carry a fair amount of pennies in your pockets!
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| Photo by Daniel Ramirez |
Back to a more worldly popular tradition, fireworks! You can also expect to see fireworks shows during the celebration of New Year's Eve in Ecuador, plus lots of happy Latin music playing in and out and many people dancing on the streets. At least this was the rule before the pandemic. This past December, due to strict mobility restrictions, no parties, no widows, no celebrations on the streets were allowed, so sad! Only the fireworks lit the sky that night, although I think it was still a nice way to say goodbye to 2020.
My in-laws have a tradition of making costumes for the night of the 31st, using their imagination (no rental allowed, so no cheating!) Every year we have to create our costumes for a topic that we previously chose, and this year's theme was: the Muppets. One of the rules is, no one can see the other's costumes until that very night. We always laugh seeing our crafts and are very proud of how good we are at creating the most original costumes.
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| My family's 2020 costume party! |
And what about food? We wouldn't be prouder of our traditions without making our delicious meals for that night. Most families gather together and share a midnight dinner that can be anything like chicken, beef, pork, or tasty seafood, whatever we decide to serve our family and friends. The whole idea is to share some time with our beloved ones!
How different are your New Year's Eve celebration parties? Share with us in the comments below.
Happy New Year! 🎆
Your <virtual> guide,
Roberto
Ps. Do you want to learn how to build the Año Viejo dummy ?
Check out this video and subscribe to my YouTube channel!
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