New Year's Day

**New Year's Day in Ecuador** is celebrated on January 1st, marking the beginning of the new year with vibrant traditions, festivities, and cultural customs. Ecuadorians welcome the new year with a mix of modern celebrations and unique local rituals. One of the most iconic traditions is the burning of *años viejos* (old year effigies), which are life-sized dolls made of paper, cloth, or other materials. These effigies, often representing public figures, celebrities, or personal symbols of the past year, are burned at midnight to symbolize letting go of the old and embracing the new. Families and friends gather for festive meals, often featuring traditional dishes like *hornado* (roast pork), *fritada* (fried pork), and *encebollado* (fish soup). Fireworks light up the skies, and music fills the streets as people dance and celebrate. Many Ecuadorians also wear yellow underwear for good luck and run around the block with suitcases to encourage travel opportunities in the coming year. New Year's Day is a time for reflection, renewal, and joyous celebration across Ecuador.