OUR BRAVE NEW WORLD: FELIZ ANO NUEVO

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!

What fun it was to spend New Year in Cuenca. They have a wonderful tradition here that we were able to experience first hand right outside our balcony.

Our observations started the day before when I came upon a stand selling dummies. I had no idea what this was all about. From a distance it looked just like a small group of people , gathered around watching ???. As I drew closer it was more obvious that a young woman was selling stuffed dummies, but for what purpose.

Further along my walk I came upon another stand selling face masks

This young man was very proud of his masks

I was reminded of Mardi Gras, but that was not for several months yet.

Later in the day, as Sharyl and I were riding the bus to town and we noticed that there were stands selling dummies and masks everywhere. It seem almost every corner.

We learned later that this is a Cuenca tradition. They celebrate " Ano Viejo" Old Year.

The tradition involves dressing a dummy ( Monigotes or puppet) with a mask that resembles a bad or good person in your life., or even yourself.They become effigies. They are made from cloth and usually stuffed with saw dust. You then write a note about what was good or bad in your life.

These effigies are placed outside your home

I saw them on the front of taxis and buses and tops of cars.

I even saw them in the backs of pick-up trucks.

These effigies are then burned on New Years eve signifying the passing of the old year and beginning of the new.

On New Years eve I walked around several blocks of our neighborhood. There were house parties happening all over with very loud music, dancing, and lots of fireworks.People were laughing and having a wonderful time.

At midnight we were treated to this tradition right below our balcony.

The puppets were stacked

Then set on fire exactly at midnight. This is happening all over Cuenca.

All kind of fireworks are set off. Some of the " dummies" have small exploding noise makers stuffed inside

As the flames reach higher, there is another tradition of jumping the flames three times for good luck. I did not see any women doing this so am not sure how good your luck will be without the fairer sex joining you.