Año nuevo en Ecuador

So after a long pause the blog is back! This time we´d like to share with our friends the New Year traditions of the Ecuadorian people,

The main event, as some may know is the burning of the "Año viejo" This life size puppet represents the year that´s almost gone. Año viejos usually have a mask, (paper mached and hand made)  potraying a politician or popular figure -not very well liked. The president, former and current are one of the favorite mask themes.

Our very own pick: Rafael Correa, previous president

This tradition has very deep roots, and underlines familys unity. The Año viejo represents a man that is dying, the "father figure" and so the widow to be must be present, right... well she is, just not how we might have thought. "She"starts seeking money for the funeral and that´s how we end up with the "Viudas" men (only) who dress up as widowers and go out on the streets dancing and crying, joking around and sometimes pulling ropes across the streets to stop cars and make a little money. This is a very funny and fun thing to do and observe, its ussualy done amongst friends. Widowers sure know how to spice up the money making with mini skirts, sexy-clumsy dances and hairy legs.

Some streets get toghether and build up a "tarima" scenario where the años viejos will be placed through out the 31st of Dec, to be later burned at midnight. Ussually the puppets are set with a few other año viejos by a table sitting and drinking (drowning their sorrows...). Again this is very deep, (haha) Actually this is an excuse for neighbors to colaborate and get toghether, set up elaborate scenarios and blast music enjoying the prelude of the big Año Nuevo party. 

The tradition is acompassed by a will, being left by the monigote (puppet). Shows on radio stations as well as local parties hold contests of the funiest and wittiest rhymes of the will (often including problems to be solved regarding politics and economic crsis - latin american humor)

A few minutes before midnight people take their belts off and start hitting the año viejo puppet for all the bad stuff that it did, sometimes people write down problems or painful memories they want to leave behind stuffing them in the the Año viejo, hidinG the pieces of paper on pockets, or inside the actua body. About that.. there are several versions of año viejo´s body mass jeje, Some bold Ecuadorians jump over the año viejo as it burs down, our guess is it´s for fun as it takes a while...The monigote might be made from wood dust, newspaper, old clothes, rags and, before, (not aymore.. remember guys it´s now forbidden!) lots and lots of fire crakers, for a dismembered and explosive puppet... 

As some better known traditions, we have the 12 grapes for good fortune, one for each coming month or champagne galsses to celebrate My very favorite list has two, Number one!! in no apecific order; 

Number 1: Before the clock hits midnight you get on a chair or anything hight and when twelve strikes you jump down so the New Year catches you in the air, I guess is a lapse thing, don´t know why we do it but it´s still fun.  and...

Number 2: Running around the block with suitcases!! This will ensure the fellow folk happy travels the coming year, this theory hasnt been proved yet lol... but that doesn´t keep the faithful voyagers from a little extra traveling luck. The best part is when you are running with your luggage and your neighbors yell " happy travels!" as you blast by (yes! this has to be done running) all this amidst their own Año viejo pyre.




There is also a love/money spell to be cast on New Years Eve, let me introduce to you the ecuadorian secret weapon to ensure good luck! this is how it works, you must buy yellow or red underwear depending on your "need" yellow for money and red, of course for love, they must be brand new and wear them on New Years,  diverse shops and improvised street stores sell them as a must item for the New Years atire, we must clarify this aplies to all family members, regardless gender and age, from the toddlers to grandmas and grandpas everyone must wear their new underwear lucky charm.

The grand finale approaches with every pyromaniacs dream New Year, the Año viejo who´s been beaten and poked faces death! Sometimes gasoline is poured or we burn it the old fashioned way (a lit candle in strategic joints) and the Año Viejo burns down to ashes, while we all watch the fire leaving a clean slate of 365 brand new days.

As you must´ve realized this isn´t La Casa de la Gringa Quito, it poured Dec 31st but we didn´t forgive the año viejo and burned it the 1st of January in the farm house (soon to be La Casa de la Gringa Pifo) hint hint!!!






We hope you enjoyed reading our blog and learning some crazy-fun filled Ecuadorian traditions, we sure had fun reliving our memories!