New Year in Ecuador

So the sleepy little town of Vilcabamba turns into a full party town on NYE, the main square was full of families of all generations. Coming together to see in the New Year, they had a live band outside the church that never stopped all night. There was the token girl in skimpy clothes who only jobs seemed to be to shake her bootie and smile, ok I was a little jealous of that bootie.

We learned about some Ecuadorian traditions for NYE, first being you have to wear yellow underpants. Was strange to look at a plaza full of people and know everyone had yellow pants.

Another is to eat 12 grapes at midnight, one for each of the new months to bring luck. I sadly forgot this but did have a glass of red so in someway feel I may get extra luck….

Our waitress at breakfast told us in her house they put 3 potatoes under their beds, one peeled, one half peeled and one un peeled. After midnight in the dark you have to see which potato you pick up first, peeled means bad luck for a year ( bit harsh I thought), half means ….yes you guessed it mas o menos and finally a year of good luck with the unpeeled. We thought about doing this but god knows what else is under hostel beds…..

Final one is to make a ano Viejo a life size dummy which is often is a political or famous figure, they burn in the streets after midnight to clear for a new year. It was rather eerie to see the street on fire with what looked to be bodies and having children running around setting off fireworks anywhere. Then people started to jump over the fires which brings again more luck, guess if you don’t make the full jump it would be very bad luck! 

South America seems to be a very superstitious continent that has many ways to bring luck, I hope some of these have been given to me and my friends.

Happy New Year everyone and I hope you also get given yellow pant luck for 2013

Mx