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If you’ve ever travelled to the Ecuadorian coast for the end of year holidays and noticed boys and men running around wearing dresses, masks and makeup, you’re not crazy! The end-of-year cultural traditions in the coastal regions of Ecuador have rich historical, symbolic, and cultural significance, and it’s incredibly fun to watch!
Unlike other countries that only celebrate on the 31st, the end of year festivities in Ecuador begin right after Christmas, and become bigger and more grand each day closer to New Year’s Eve.
1. El Día de los Santos Innocentes
In the smaller coastal towns of Olón and Manglaralto, situated in the province of Santa Elena, festivities begin on the 28th. This day is called El Día de Los Santos Inocentes, which can be somewhat compared to April Fool’s Day. On this first day of the fiestas, you will see boys and men wearing cloaks, masks and long black dresses, sombrely walking or running through the streets, crying, and asking for spare change.
This representation is called Las Viudas, which translates to widows, and this display represents the grieving and mourning of el año viejo. Masks are worn by las viudas only from the 28th until the 30th, and on the 31st they remove their masks revealing who they really are – usually with a face full of makeup! The reason for the masks during Los Días de Los Santos Inocentes, is so las viudas can play tricks and jokes on the public without anyone knowing who they are.
During these first few days of the fiestas you will also see children dressed as diablos, wearing bells around their ankles and their faces painted red, going door to door asking for money. If you don’t give them spare change, it is said to be bad luck, and no one wants to start off the year with bad luck, do you?
2. Las Mojigas
Among other things you will see in the streets, the 31st is when Las Mojigas come out. Las Mojigas are said to be the daughters of Las Viudas, younger, and representative of the energy of the new year to come. These men and boys wear makeup, skirts, dresses, and wigs, borrowing clothes from their sisters, mothers and friends, and run around asking (again) for change. Typically las mojigas make a lot of money on these final days of the year because they can be very persuasive, and also because they won’t stop flirting with you until you give them some change! Buen trabajo.
3. Los Monigotes
Aside from the public displays of drag, dance, and entertainment, during the last week of December Ecuadorians are busy buying their monigotes, which are large plush or paper mache toys, displayed outside of houses, in the back of trucks, and strapped to the front of cars and houses. In some of the larger cities in Ecuador, people have competitions in their neighbourhoods for who has the biggest and the best, and often each neighbourhood will have their own theme.
Monigotes can be anything from animals, to Super Mario characters, to famous actors or presidents. And right before midnight on the 31st, everyone heads to the beach with their monigotes for la quemada, where they light bonfires and burn their monigotes, saying goodbye to the old year, and making room for the new.
4. Las Cábalas
Other traditions that can be seen around the coastal province during this last week of the year are Las Cábalas. For women, the colour of underwear you choose to wear on New Year’s Eve is very important. If you wear red underwear, you will attract love and romance in the new year, and if you wear yellow, you will attract wealth and success. So why not wear both?
And for those who love travel, some believe that if you pack a suitcase and walk around town with it on New Year’s Eve, you will travel in the new year. And the more vueltas you take around town, the more trips you will take!
There are many rituals here in Ecuador that represent letting go of the old and bringing in the new. As someone who grew up in a country where New Year’s Eve is primarily a one-night party, I have loved watching the dedication, passion and emotion that surrounds this final week of the year. Celebration and family hold great significance here in Ecuador, and I truly think there is no better way say goodbye to one year, and welcome in the new. On your next holiday season trip to Ecuador, be sure to stop by Outdoor Ecuador Spanish & Surf School for an authentic local holiday experience!