The Author You can visit Allano's web site by clicking here . By Allan Taylor New Year's Eve is always a night for celebration. In most countries people celebrate the coming of the New Year. Ecuador is unique by having a ceremony to say goodbye to the Old Year. All throughout the country on the 31st of December, young people and old go to extraordinary efforts to maintain one of the magical traditions of Ecuador.
Symbolism is rife.
A model house is made of branches and burnt to ashes. Life-size dummies, akin to our Guy Fawkes, made of sawdust and dressed in old clothes, are sold in the streets. Ornate masks are sold for adornment of the dummies. The idea is to represent some happening, activity, or person, that has resulted in a negative impact on the community, or your well-being. Often this is a politician, judge, army leader etc, whose actions you disapprove of.