Thursday, January 1, 2009

Año Viejo


This is my first Holiday season here in Ecuador. I learned about how Ecuadorians celebrate New Year's. They celebrate the old year more than the new year. We went out walking around last night and everyone was out on the street. They make papier mache dolls (life-size) and they say that they have put everything bad that happened in the old year in the doll. They set these dolls up in scenes with notes and sayings. Then at midnight, they burn them in the middle of the street. Then they have a big dinner and stay up partying until about 5 am. And today (New Year's day) they sleep all day.

Here are some photos of the dolls before being burned, and then while being burned.