Ingles

OLD YEAR
In Ecuador, Año Viejo (Old Year ) is an old tradition that symbolically burns up the failures, regrets and anger of the old year in order to welcome the hopes and resolutions of the newone. On the last day of the year, People accustom to share with the family and friends playing and dancing loud music in the streets and they also elaborate effigies, eat grapes, and there are men dressup like a woman.
People elaborate effigies that might represent an irritating person, a disliked political figure, or even disappointment about past mistakes or unachieved goals. They also constructa display with eucalyptus branch such a house for this character. To elaborate this effigy, people fill it with sawdust and newspapers. After this, they use old clothes and a mask called “careta” todress it.

A handwritten note called (testamento) is tagged to the dummy explaining why it must be burned and what willing and improvements are desired for the coming year. Then, to a chorusof cheers and clapping, the effigy is thrown into the street and burned to ashes. Although the origins of this custom are murky, many believe it dates back to a particularly virulent yellow feverepidemic that required the mass burning of corpses.
There are a lot of men dress up like a woman and dance in front of cars and ask for money, making jokes, they represent the widows of the effigies whoare crying for her loss. People on the streets enjoy this activity as a part of the night.

At midnight, Ecuadorians eat 12 grapes (with the seeds in it!!) in a minute - (You’re supposed to makeone wish for each of the 12 grapes. Additionally, we drink champagne and other homemade drinks. Additionally, people wear yellow underwear (for money) and tied a red string around it (for love), andpicked out some things to burn for the Old Year some pictures and some things written on the back of them). Therefore, we start the year renewed. People give hugs and their best wishes for the New...