Ecuador is a country that has diverse traditions and Ecuadorians do many activities to say goodbye to the year. The four natural regions of the country have similar traditions in this holiday, but some of them have specific traditions that are unique to their area. The most common places that Ecuadorians go is to the cities on the coast or near to the beach. Almost all Ecuadorians are superstitious because they have different beliefs. The start of a new year is one of the events that brings more superstitions for Ecuadorians. They do different traditions to give them a new year with benefits in different aspects.
Monigotes are the most famous tradition, Ecuadorians buy or make them (a giant doll, made of paper, old clothes, sawdust, wood or paperboard) to celebrate the best things of the year. They usually represent the most important events or people from the past year, for example sports icons, presidents or celebrities.
At 11:45pm people start bonfires in the streets or on the beach, throw all their “monigotes” there to leave those events behind and start a new year with new goals to accomplish.
by Derek Espinosa