New Year's Day, known as Año Nuevo, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal in Ecuador. This public holiday is observed on January 1st, marking the start of the Gregorian calendar year. The celebrations in Ecuador are unique and filled with rich local traditions. Ecuadorians, like people around the world, herald the new year with parties and gatherings, but they also practice some unique and fascinating customs.
One popular tradition in Ecuador on New Year's Day involves the creation of Año Viejos, which are effigies made of old clothes, sawdust, or newspapers, representing the old year. It's believed these dolls, when burned at midnight, help vanquish the bad things of the departing year. These dolls often resemble disliked politicians, celebrities, or any other symbol of unfortunate happenings of the past year. This Spanish tradition has a deep symbolic meaning as it allows people to clean the slate and start fresh.
Alongside these customs, there are many grand events and street parties on New Year's Day in the cities of Ecuador. Fireworks paint the sky as the clock strikes midnight, signaling goodbye to the previous year and bidding welcome to the new one. After these festivities, Ecuadorians generally attend a first-day mass, as a large percentage of the population is Roman Catholic. This day also serves as a moment for citizens to reflect on the past year and set resolutions for the year to come.