The giant illuminated figure burned during some Guatemalan New Year's Eve celebrations is called the Old Year.
Guatemalan communities may construct a muñeco del Año Viejo, or effigy of the Old Year, and burn it at midnight or near the end of December 31. The figure symbolizes the year that is ending and the wish to leave misfortunes, troubles, and unwanted habits behind.
The custom is related to wider Latin American Año Viejo traditions, but its appearance and local meaning vary. Some effigies are made from paper, cloth, or other combustible materials and may be dressed as recognizable public figures or characters. Families and neighborhoods often add their own humor and symbolism.
This practice should not be confused with Guatemala's burning of the devil on December 7, a separate pre-Christmas observance known as La Quema del Diablo. The New Year's effigy belongs to the transition into a new calendar year, while the December 7 ritual has different religious and cultural associations.