New Year's custom of eating 12 grapes and burning effigies to ward off bad luck

Ecuadorians have a custom of beating and burning effigies before the New Year, so that bad luck never returns.

Locals make giant effigies to celebrate New Year

At the moment of transition from the old year to the new year, people often perform traditional customs as a way to erase bad luck and pray for a peaceful new year. Each country has its own customs.

For Ecuadorians, the long-standing tradition of beating and burning scarecrows or effigies is an important part of New Year's Eve.

Before the last day of the year, people often make effigies out of old clothes, straw... Then, they put different types of masks on the effigies.

On New Year’s Eve, people punch and kick effigies before setting them on fire. Locals believe that this will help clear away bad luck from the old year and bring in a better new year.

The effigy is burned at midnight all over the streets. Afterwards, people hold New Year's parties. Ecuadorian New Year's Eve must include beer. They sing, celebrate, and dance in the streets.

Many families also celebrate the New Year in their own way, the most common of which are the following activities:

Fireworks: People believe that setting off fireworks on New Year's Eve can ward off bad luck and evil spirits. The explosive fireworks display is highly anticipated.

Eat 12 grapes: Locals believe that eating 12 grapes at the moment of transition between the old year and the new year will bring good luck.

Wearing colored underwear: Many locals believe that wearing yellow underwear on New Year's Eve will bring prosperity in the new year. Meanwhile, wearing red underwear means you will find love.

Pulling a suitcase around the house: Carrying a suitcase around the house on New Year's Eve will bring good luck and convenience for your trips in the new year.

Lentil Bag: On New Year's Eve, people will take a handful of lentils and put them in a bag in the hope of having many wonderful things in the new year. Some families take the lentils and put them in a bag and keep them in a drawer until the end of the year.

(According to Vietnamnet, December 31, 2023)

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