In Ecuador, New Year’s celebrations are steeped in unique traditions and peculiar rituals. One such eccentric custom is the creation and burning of Año Viejo effigies on the night of the 31st December each year.
These events are part of a collective effort to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. The effigies—often representing political figures, celebrities or personal acquaintances—embody the struggles and triumphs of the year gone by. Often crafted with meticulous attention to detail, it’s a therapeutic and communal process, allowing individuals to channel their hopes and grievances into the creation of these expressive figures.
New Year’s Eve effigies, known locally as monigotes, which are burned at midnight in Ecuador. (Renato / Adobe Stock)
Ancient Origins of Ecuadorian New Year’s Eve Effigies
Juana Cordova, in the Revista Artesanías de América, wrote that the ancient origins of this custom can be traced back to ancient Rome, where effigies symbolizing evil and human vices were burned as people sought renewal and purification at the start of a New Year. Cordova argued that echoes of these traditions can be found in the Fallas celebrations held every March in Valencia, Spain, and the Easter-time ritual burning of Judas traditions.
The New York Times reported that Año Viejo effigies are a fusion of indigenous Andean rituals and the influence of Spanish colonial traditions. There is even archival evidence of indigenous peoples in Otavalo burning effigies of their…
