If you are already “over” Christmas, then the next holiday to look forward to is New Year’s Eve. In Ecuador, a Latin American country, New Year’s Eve is the true main event of the holiday season.

In Ecuador, New Year’s Eve is a huge holiday. The first important part of New Year’s Eve in Ecuador is “los años viejos,” which means the old years. Ecuadoreans make big scarecrows and list all their sins on them. They decorate the scarecrows with masks. The scarecrows usually look like the president, politicians, or celebrities. After signing all their sins, they light the scarecrows on fire. This symbolizes letting go of the evils of last year and hoping for a better year. Another big element to this tradition is the “vuidas.” Some men and children dress up as women; men beg for beer money and children beg for candies. They even block the cars and dance in front of them until they get their money. Other parts of this holiday are similar to other countries: beer, party, and family time.