Ecuadorians traditionally burn effigies at midnight on New Year's Eve to symbolize leaving the old year behind.
The figures are commonly called años viejos, meaning “old years.” Families and communities make them from materials such as paper, cardboard, clothing, sawdust, or other combustible materials. The effigies may represent recognizable public figures, fictional characters, celebrities, or a symbolic version of the year that is ending.
Burning the figure marks a dramatic farewell to the past and is associated with renewal, cleansing, and hopes for a better year. In some places, people also write wishes or lists of bad experiences to be discarded as part of the ritual.
The custom is festive but requires care because open flames and handmade figures can be dangerous. It is not the same practice as burning a calendar: the central object is a human-shaped or character-based representation of the old year. Ecuadorian New Year's celebrations also include family meals, fireworks, and other local traditions.