In Ecuador, New Year's Eve is celebrated in a very unique way. Ecuadorians like to dance, have dinner with their families, and drink, but that's not all they do at the end of the year. New Year's Eve in Ecuador is like a mix of the Fourth of July, Halloween, and Christmas. So let's get into the ins and outs of New Year's Eve celebrations in Ecuador!
Burning paper dolls
At midnight on December 31st, Ecuadorians have a tradition of burning paper mache dolls. People gather with their families and friends to burn dolls in a big fire. This action has a very important meaning: burning all these things is a way to wave goodbye to the bad things that happened over the past year. While in the country, travelers also have a great chance to experience this feeling of leaving behind prejudices, problems, and sadness. When the last seconds of the year are getting close, people start counting down from ten, and at five, they burn their dolls. This tradition is very distinctive to Ecuador and can hardly be found anywhere else in the world.
Fireworks
On New Year's Eve, big cities on the coast and in the sierra explode with colors. Large-scale fireworks shows are usually put on in Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil. However, the massive show starts after midnight, just when hundreds of small family shows go off in neighborhoods all over the country and last until the early hours of New Year's Day. If you can get to a rooftop terrace, you can see an amazing view of the whole city. Thus, don't forget to book your accommodation in Ecuador in advance and have a wonderful time!