At New Year's Eve celebrations in Ecuador, effigies are commonly burned at midnight.
The Ecuadorian tradition is known as Año Viejo, meaning “Old Year.” Families and communities make large figures from materials such as paper, cardboard, sawdust, and old clothing. The figures may represent the old year, disliked public figures, fictional characters, or events that people want to leave behind.
Burning the effigy symbolizes destroying misfortune and closing the previous year. In many communities, the ceremony is accompanied by music, fireworks, family gatherings, and humorous performances. Some people also wear masks or costumes connected with the figure.
These effigies are not simply ordinary fireworks decorations. They form part of a ritual of renewal, and local authorities may regulate where they can be burned because of fire and air-quality risks. The custom has related forms elsewhere in Latin America, but Ecuador's Año Viejo is particularly prominent.