Feliz Año

I rang in the new year in a new way this year.  In Ecuador the tradition is to create, display and then burn años viejos (literally "the old year") out in the street.  This New Year's Eve, Conchita and Alejandro invited Will, Kevin, Mom and I over for shrimp and wine and took us on a driving tour of Cuenca before we set out in the streets on our own for an up-close view at the strike of midnight.

All night, men and boys dressed as women, or viudas (which literally means "widows"), prowled the streets and slowed traffic.  The viudas were quite shapely and often had tears painted on their faces representing the mourning of the old year as it faded and died.  Despite the tears, the mood was upbeat as they held barriers across the street, stopped traffic, danced, and then demanded payment before letting you proceed on your way.  The viuda below gladly shimmied for Will while a giant octopus loomed overhead.

In Cuenca, each neighborhood gets a small chunk of change from the government to build their año viejo display in the middle of the street.  Individuals and small groups of families and friends make their own smaller versions too.  These elaborate effigies of politicians and friends and anyone else in between symbolize people and events from the past year.  At midnight, everything is burned, wiping out 2010 and kicking off 2011 with a clean slate.

Above are a few of the large-scale años viejos.  Notice the Chilean miners on the left and the Ecuadorean military that represent the "attempted coup" of September 30 on the right.

At midnight, fires burned up and down the streets of Cuenca and fireworks filled the air.  We headed home near one and it was indeed a very happy new year and feliz año!