ecuadorian new year traditions
Ecuador celebrates New Year with as much enthusiasm as any Latin American country. Ecuadorian Festivals, Holidays & Traditions New Year’s Eve: Just a week after Christmas, this is another big holiday in Ecuador, complete with a turkey or ham dinner, a toast to the old year with wine or sangria, and the eating of 12 grapes for luck in each coming month of the new year. What to expect? This is known locally as the año viejo tradition, read on to learn more! © 2017–2021 Copyright © 2014-2018. Although it is a bit of a silly song, and it might not be as appropriate this year (many of us want to forget much of this year) it still brings such great memories of our end-of-the-year celebrations in Ecuador, and of many of the traditions that we have had in our family in receiving the New Year. Photo taken from: This is Ecuador Website. But it’s all for a good cause – the money that they collect goes into a communal pot to fuel the party later into the night. Copyright © 2020 Happy Gringo | Powered by. Catalina Aldaz N34-155. A woman works on effigies at her temporary road side stand in Quito, Ecuador in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve. Top new year’s eve traditions in South America. At the stroke of midnight on the 31st December, the año viejo dolls are set on fire in the street. They are made from papier-mache and stuffed with paper and fireworks, waiting for New years evening to arrive. 4 Wear Colourful Underwear – Latin America. These are some of the most popular and fun traditions for celebrating New Year’s Eve or Año Viejo in Ecuador. Similar to UK’s “penny for the guy” tradition, it is traditional to donate small change for the best prepared effigy dolls – this of course goes into the drinking fund for the big night. Andddd.. here in Ecuador we never run out of things to burn. During the week between Christmas and New Year’s, effigies (known locally as Manigotes) of national and international politicians, celebrities and cartoon characters appear outside the houses and gathering places of the cities and small towns across the country. 8 Holiday Traditions to Embrace in Ecuador 1)El Año Viejo and Nuevo Ano (New Year) December 31st – January 1st. Probably get some beer! It can be anger, a bad job, a stressful period or anything that you won’t be needing anymore. These testaments composed in a funny and even sarcastic prose are supposedly written by the monigote, who tells every member of the family what he/she has left for them to enjoy. And more difficult still, that I am already half-way through my year in Ecuador. Your guide to celebrate a New Year following Ecuadorian traditions. This means that cities like Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca are great fun places to be on New Years Eve. Fireworks are also a big part of the Ecuadorian New Year! Men dressed as women, known as “the widows” take the streets during New Year. In places such as Salinas or Guayaquil, groups of people gather to build huge monigotes which make for a great bonfire in the night. No matter where you choose to spend it, you will be amazed by the colorful and loud explosions of light in the black night, welcoming the new year. • Lighting of different colored candles – blue for peace, red for passion, yellow for abundance, and orange for intelligence. Some of the most popular traditions of New Years in Ecuador include: A common question we get asked is: What do they burn on new years eve in Ecuador? The date when Carnival takes place varies from year to year. Yes, that’s a lot of grapes to eat in 60 seconds! To make their effigies, people fill old clothes with sawdus… Put a dollar bill under your left foot.. Other colors have less significance, but you could always be creative and imagine something for yourself. Some families write wills for their monigote, and then recite them in front of the people who have gathered to watch it burn. What do the women of Ecuador do while their men make fools of themselves? Ecuadorians really know how to party, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. Email: [email protected] It’s hard to believe that it is 2018 already. Abril Macías, fundadora de Chiú Magazine nos cuenta como comenzó este gran proyecto gastronómico. If you’re in Ecuador for this super fun holiday, you’re going to experience many of the same traditions (like kissing at midnight), and a lot of very traditions you’ve probably never seen before. Jon Jared first experienced the itch for travel during summer trips with his grandparents to England, Scotland, and Wales. His work in print includes Delta Sky Magazine and the 2015 Moon Ecuador and the Galapagos guidebook. Ecuador celebrates New Year’s buy putting behind... 2) Carnival- February or March. While it can get frustrating, it is also very entertaining to watch them dance and embrace all their drama, as they sometimes pretend to cry for a loss. In my Ecuadorian American household we have many New Year's Eve traditions that haven't changed much over the years. Dec 30, 2015. 1. New Year’s traditions in Ecuador and Latin America: My favorite part about New Year’s Eve is the traditions that I grew up with in Ecuador. Other Ecuadorian New Year’s traditions include: • Running up and down the block with an empty suitcase to signal future travels in the new year. This article may sound a bit sassy but it is just meant to be informational to all the people who want to know or want to experience an Ecuadorian New Years. After visiting Zambia and traversing the mountain towns of Colorado, he moved to Ecuador in search of a new understanding of the world around him. Some Ecuadorian superstitions and traditions are quite interesting. That said, improvised celebrations pop-up literally anywhere, from street corners in out of the way neighborhoods to small villages in the countryside. The number 12 could also represent the months of the year. People make large scarecrow-like dolls often of the people they dislike or of notable people from the past year. Ecuadorian New Year’s Eve is a time to get rid of last year’s failures, regrets and anger. Whether you want to find love or you want to succeed professionally, you can choose your panties accordingly! Ecuadorian Traditions. This month a column about new year traditions in Ecuador. Even in this very small town, surrounded by even more modest indigenous Kichwa villages, the traditions remain strong. The next time you are looking for a different place to celebrate New Years, instead of the crowded Times Square and the more traditional bars, pubs, and restaurants, why not try something new? Office opening hours: Mon to Fri: 9am – 6pm This year, ring out the old and ring in the new with a New Year tradition—or two! But that is not all… once the doll is up in flames, another tradition consists on jumping over it, through the flames! Emergency: 0984295830 New years traditions take place right across Ecuador during the day of the 31st December, and family parties last through the night. They usually take photos to embaress the men with later in the evening, or are trusted to look after the spoils of their hard work. For my last visit to Ecuador we had a “chanchada” or pork cook out party with my brother’s in laws family. It can be someone you love, hate, or just a character you find entertaining. How is new years celebrated in Ecuador? Quito-Ecuador, As the clock signals midnight, families begin torching their dolls and this scene is fantastic. Sales: 593 9-925-80562 So, wherever you are in Ecuador on New Years Eve, and whoever you are with, you are guaranteed a great outdoors party waiting for you to join in! Kids celebrating in Ecuador. We are all grappling with a virus that has spread across the world and there has been a long list of bad news this year … or “New Year’s Eve in Cuenca” The post Christmas lull did not last long here in Cuenca. You might also like: Your Anti-Resolution Resolution List for 2016 . Ecuadorian New Year traditions. Many are built upon a foundation of faith. During the night of December 31, Ecuadorians traditionally fire fireworks. What remains the same is that is comprises of a stable covered in grass and straw with Mother Mary and Joseph. And although though some ultimately serve at the individual level, they’re all celebrated in a group setting: 2 family members, 4 friends, 30 coworkers, or 1000 strangers…it doesn’t matter. Viudas translates to the “widow of the old year”. Back in 1895, a yellow fever epidemic hit Guayaquil, devastating the port city. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, families gather and eat twelve grapes per person. They also have fascinating traditions to welcome in the new year. – This Is Ecuador, Masks a Local New Year´s Tradition – This Is Ecuador, New Year 2020: Widowed Drag Queens and Burning Man – Código Ecuador Blog, Verfassungsgericht in Ecuador kippt Ausgangssperren | Critical News, El niño que pintaba montañas: Tungurahua Ecuador, Chiú Magazine: Diversidad y expresión gastronómica. https://www.thisisecuador.com/blog/new-years-ecuador-festivities This tradition does have an interesting Ecuadorian twist though, the 12 grapes must all be eaten during the final minute of the old year! In the major cities across the country, and starting in the days leading up to the New Year, teens take to the streets to block traffic. Example: For Felipe, who broke his foot this year, I leave a crutch, so that he can continue to walk the path he has ahead. A lighthearted Ecuadorian tradition on New Years related to the color of the underwear that you use as the clock passes midnight. There is often a more serious story to these life-sized mannequins. New years in Ecuador is a big deal so be sure to join in the fun! Different families choose to celebrate some traditions and leave out others, but the tradition that doesn’t change is that New Years is a time to share, to eat together, to wish each other a great future, to forgive those who wronged you this year and to wish that the new year brings you closer together with those who have been apart. Although the Pase del Niño parades continue, immediately after Christmas, Cuencanos turn their minds and preparations to the next big celebration: Año Viejo (Old Year) or New Year’s Eve to the northern folk. 1. By Megan van der Moezel. 64 HappyNewYears1.com Ecuadorians just do things their way. Another tradition that is very popular here is eating 12 grapes when the clock strikes 12. To the uninitiated some Ecuadorian new years customs may need explaining – there’s a lot more to it than hitting the booze in local bars! As the clock signals midnight, families begin torching their dolls and this scene is fantastic. And as a symbolic cleansing, these effigies are set on fire at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Wear yellow underwear.. And eat 12 grapes a little before midnight. If you are leaving the city you will probably drive by a few of these groups of women, who will come up to your window and ask you to give them a generous donation. Family members stuffed coffins with the clothes of the dead and set them alight, symbolizing purification from the disease and new beginnings. To close the year, some people choose to write a list of all of the things that they want to eliminate. It is almost the New Year. Prohibited its reproduction and total or partial copy without authorization of This Is Ecuador. Click one of our representatives below to chat on WhatsApp or send us an email to [email protected]. The reason why is that it is a deeply catholic tradition. Every new year is a chance to start over again! Our Ecuadorian New Year is our best one yet. Everywhere you look there are años viejos burning in the black night, as families dance and celebrate and hug each other, wishing one another a great year to come. ¿A qué. Once you are done with your list, watch it go on flames as you throw it with the monigote and say goodbye to all of the things that haven’t done you well. When we lived in the mountains any new born (human or animal) would have a red string tied around it's wrist (or in the animals case around it's neck). Accounting: 593 2-512-3486 Pepperdine University. Before they were supposed to represent the 12 apostles but nowadays, each grape symbolizes a wish. 303., Quito, Ecuador. It coincides with the harvest season and the end of an Andean agricultural cycle. Everywhere you look there are años viejos burning in the black night, as families dance and celebrate and hug each other, wishing one another a great year to come. Set apart from the typical western celebrations in Times Square or Big Ben, and in the bars and pubs around the world – Ecuadorian new years traditions take the celebration to the streets and everyone is welcome. Yellow symbolizes luck and prosperity while wearing red stands for love and passion. An important part of Christmas in any Ecuadorian household is the nativity or pesebre, a representation of the birth of Christ. These effigies are packed with gunpowder and fireworks which makes for quite a display. Happy Gringo invite you to join us for New Years in Ecuador. Each city will plan the best way to display all of the effigies. Operations: 593 2-512-3486 Using a rope or chain to block the road, groups of youngsters halt traffic, car by car, and demand a small toll (usually a few coins is enough) before letting you you pass. But the reward for those who manage it is guaranteed good luck in the new year. Men across the country dress-up in drag, complete with balloons to accentuate their figures, high heels, short skirts and female wigs. Ecuador is a place in South America that’s known for their unique culture of music and dance. In some places, public and private institutions organize monigote contests where they vote for the best doll in the bunch! You may need a band for the procession party that might go on in till mid-night. My husband thought I was crazy when I first explained some of these traditions … In places such as, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), El Año Nuevo en Ecuador: ¡Tradiciones ecuatorianas que dan la bienvenida al nuevo año! But this year we took part in New Year’s Eve traditions with new friends at their awesome Anaconda Lodge on an island in the Napo River in the Amazon where we toasted with champagne, watched fireworks on the horizon, and burned the Ecuadorian President (sort of). Some even take it to another level and run around the block! One big part of the festivities for New Years Eve in Ecuador are "los años viejos" (the old years). Hopefully, These Latino New Year’s Traditions Will Make 2021 Better Than 2020 By Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez December 18, 2020 at 4:15 pm. They represent the Año Viejo (the old year). If you’re going to welcome the New Year well, then you must have grapes. • Carrying a pocketful of lentils during the countdown to welcome an abundance of good fortune. Join me to learn Spanish as I share the sometimes humourous ups and downs of … I'm not sure about the traditions in Quito, but in Ambato, I'd say about 99% of marriages are blessed in a catholic ceremony. 303., Quito, Ecuador. It is a time to bring up new hopes and resolutions. Tags:2019, año nuevo, celebrations, colors, festejos, festive, festivities, folklore, monigote, new year, new years, tradiciones, traditions, Es importante despertar en los niños la curiosidad sobre las culturas que los rodean para que las respeten, las vivan y las conserven. However, this celebration isn’t only to bid farewell to the old year but to ensure the next one is even better. - Inti Raymi is one of the most traditional Ecuadorian Andes festivals. • Carrying a pocketful of lentils during the countdown to welcome an abundance of good fortune. Ecuadorian people are especially warm and friendly at this time of year, and relish foreigners joining in their celebrations. New Year’s Eve sees a unique ritual where elaborate effigies representing bad vibes from the departing year are displayed throughout the towns before being burned at midnight to the backdrop of fireworks and music. This sounds like a curious custom but actually originates in Europe, where the 12 grapes are said to symbolize the twelve apostles. This figure represents the old year, and on Jan 1st 12:00 am, we set it on fire. With the new year approaching, prepare yourself to live it the Ecuadorian way. Read on to learn how to celebrate New Years in Ecuador like a local. New Year’s also begins on Jan. 1 for Ecuadorians. While this tradition is not always embraced and often overlooked, it is very entertaining.. Inti Raymi is the ancient Inca Festival of the Sun celebrated between June 18 and June 24th - The day the sun on the equator is at his highest point of the year. As you drive through the streets you will notice the colorful masks and monigotes lined along the sidewalk, waiting to be chosen by a family for this festive celebration. Part of the reason that time flies, I believe, is that there are so many holidays here. Catalina Plaza bldg., Off. New Year’s Eve in Ecuador is one of the biggest events of the year. http://preparetoserve.com/ECUADOR Ecuadorian holidays: Christmas and New Year's traditions. But it’s not quite the same as what you would see in North America. Vendors crowd the streets selling different colored undergarments. Plus how to guarantee luck in love and money in the new year to come. Just be open to the customs and traditions, and who knows what the new year might have in store for you! In Ecuador, Jon has worked at hotels, restaurants, and bars; served as a local guide, and a freelance writer and editor. This ritual has ancestral origins, since the cultures that precede us used fire in their ceremonies. View of Stooges during a traditional New Year… Red is predicted to bring you love in the coming year, while Yellow brings prosperity. They then take to the streets, stopping traffic to ask for small change before letting commuters continue on with their day. Happy Gringo is an Anglo-Dutch owned travel company run by passionate travelers for like-minded clients. While there is hardly a need for a holiday to light off dazzling displays of fireworks in Ecuador, New Year’s Eve brings out a blitz of color exploding in the skies in the major cities of coast and sierra. So wherever you find yourself in Ecuador on the 31st December you need not miss out on the action. Many Ecuador new years traditions and customs are quirky and unique, making New Years Eve a great way to gain a glimpse into Ecuadorian culture. Volanthevist / Getty Images . This tradition consists on picking the color of your underwear to ask for something of the new year. The following are traditions that are celebrated to close the year and welcome the next one. And what do they do with the pocket money? If you have access to a rooftop terrace then the views across the city are spectacular! Most Popular New Year’s Eve Traditions in Ecuador Keep cash in your pockets.. Año Viejo . The symbolic meaning of course is the forgetting of the bad of the past year and the hope that the coming year will be better. Tradition also dictates that you jump over the resulting fire twelve times to ensure happiness and prosperity in the coming year. Contact us to custom make a trip which includes enjoying these unique New Years celebrations. Tenemos la suerte de vivir en un, Autor: Adrián F. Soria Cuentan que, en la ciudad de Ambato, provincia de Tungurahua Ecuador, allá por la segunda mitad del siglo XIX, nació un niño que desde muy, “Creeo que la comida cuenta historias, conecta realidades y nos hace más humanos”. New life and new feelings! For all those who wish to travel in this upcoming year: don’t forget to bring a suitcase for the celebrations! And then at mid-night everyone lights them on fire. Watch out because they can get pretty insistent, dancing in front of cars wearing their big hair and heels, until they receive some pocket money. In many places, New Year’s Eve is a time of party, champagne toasts and good wishes, but in Ecuador it is so much more… El “Año Viejo” – The Old Year. It's very true the fact that a lot of Ecuadorian men cheat, but also, you have to keep in mind that a lot of Ecuadorian men are faithful and have long lasting marriages. On the first of January, at 12 a.m., while the old-year dummy is burning, many people eat 12 grapes — one grape a month, this is to attract prosperity and good fortune. Where to join the party? If you know of a superstition or tradition from Ecuador that isn't mentioned here, please add it to the comments below. — Año Viejo. Cartoon characters have become fun for families with children, who burn the año viejo in sake of tradition, but burning a political figure has become a manifestation of wanting to “eliminate” this character, hoping he/she won’t be around for the next year. For Martina who is always complaining about her car, I leave a few dollars so that she can take the bus and get where she needs to go without having to drive that horrible car. To have a full Ecuadorian tropical experience, you could hire a local folk singer who sings a mix of Quechua and Spanish languages and sometimes with pre-Colombian instruments. Catalina Plaza bldg., Off. Why 12? Barbara Arizaga. It gives you a little rush of adrenaline to run around with the bags, asking the universe to send you adventures for the next year. with an empty suitcase at midnight.. Small towns and many big-city neighborhoods take to the streets, set off fireworks, and burn effigies of the old year, all while wearing yellow underwear and eating grapes at midnight. In today's video I talk about our traditions and how we celebrate New Year's in Ecuador. This New Year don’t forget to buy or make your own life size doll to burn at midnight! What many people don’t know though is that the aaño viejo ritual originated from tragedy. Carnival (Ecuadorian Mardi Gras) in February or March . Across this modest Andean nation, communities gather to celebrate in high style. When the afternoon of the 31st December comes around it can be hard to travel by car in the city due to so many viudas blocking traffic on every block. For this reason political figures are very common – people remember the bad things that came from politics that year that adversely affected the country. New year’s eve is a common festivity around the world, and many countries celebrate it in different ways. Not a lot of people opt to marry only in a civil ceremony. Some people take an empty baggage and run around the closest square. I love introducing my friends to these Latin American good luck superstitions for New Years. Other Ecuadorian New Year’s traditions include: • Running up and down the block with an empty suitcase to signal future travels in the new year. What better way to bring better fortunes for the country in the new year? Donald Trump dressed in jeans and old button-down shirts, Ecuador’s president, Sponge Bob, Speed Racer, and Shrek quietly appear out of the blue streetside. Generally the larger cities or towns are the best place to be for large scale celebrations, while each city district will often organise their own smaller parties. Interpretation is up to you! Run around the block. Address: Catalina Aldaz N34-155. From singing “Auld Lang Syne” to eating black-eyed peas for good luck to eating 12 grape at midnight, discover different ways to … Happy New Years everybody! That means that we are almost done with the dumpster-fire of a year known as 2020. In fact, there is another typical tradition for these days of the year. It is a way to attract adventures and prosperity for the next year. This Ecuadorian tradition is said to banish any ill-fortune that happened in the past year. In Ecuador it involves a lot of traditions and customs. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. A new Perspective The days activities surround the tradition of burning the “año viejo”, or the “old year”. At least one is rooted in historical tragedy. Many New Year’s traditions that we take for granted actually date from ancient times. While several años viejos or monigotes are constructed with the traditional masks which are given meaning by the family themselves, it has become increasingly popular to burn the figurines of hated politicians, superheroes and cartoon characters. This tradition is popular among families, as they gather to build their own “año viejo” (old year). Red String. So this is a chance to leave behind all of the trials and tribulations of the previous year and welcome better luck in the coming one. Large scale firework shows are usually organised in Quito and Guayaquil, but the real show starts after midnight when hundreds of small family displays erupt in the neighborhoods around the country, often lasting into the wee hours of New Year’s Day. Here in Ecuador, to represent the letting go of this present year, we take asserín (sawdust) and fill old clothes to create a figure that resembles a body which is finished by putting a mask as the head. They also wear brans new clothing of specific colors to attract good luck, prosperity, love, and money. Carnival should take place on Monday and Tuesday, 40 days before Easter each year, prior to the Catholic fasting period (around mid February). As you’ve now discovered, Ecuador is a country rich with New Year’s Eve traditions. People usually hang out with friends and family during the day. While some are eating grapes, jumping over the monigote, or even trying to complete all of the traditions, those of us who love to travel will be seen running with an empty suitcase around the house. Most companies, families or groups of friends have their own doll, so you will see this tradition repeated in the streets across any town or city.