New Year in Ecuador

New Year in Ecuador

By Genesis Mendoza and Dayana Calderón

New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year. Nowadays, New Year’s celebration is one of the main celebrations in the world.

In New Year's Eve there is a firework display in Ecuador.

In Ecuador the old year is represented by a doll that symbolizes the past year, made from old clothes, cardboard or paper, stuffed with straw or sawdust and often with fireworks. The dolls are made by the family or by the neighbors for parades and local competitions. They usually represent people who belongs to the world of politics, entertainment, sport and celebrities in general. The night of 31 people put their dolls outside their houses and then in the middle of the street they are burnt with gasoline.

The burning of old at midnight on December 31 is a ritual to ward off bad luck or the negative energies of the past year.

After that, people make a big dinner and a party with the family until dawn and they eat the typical meals of the country.

People usually wear yellow as a sign of good luck and all families buy new clothes for their children because they consider this day the most important celebration in the country.

New Year in Spain

New Year in Spain is celebrated with the ringing of the bells at the midnight when the clock strikes 12.

People gather at the restaurants and privates parties, and wait the bell to ring what marks the entry of the New Year. They eat the grapes and cava. Then they go out until sunrise. A lot of people choose to receive the first sun of the year at dawn on the beach eating chocolate with churros.

Those who can't go to the square watch TV, because this event is broadcasted over all the country.

New Year in Spain is one of the best times to explore Spain's nightlife and to visit this country.

People often wear red underwear as a sign of good luck.

New year in London

A lot of people go to Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly Circus, others prefer to go to the Big Ben to begin the New Year. At midnight, people sing an old song called "Auld Lang Syne." This is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 that became a traditional folk song. It is well known in many English-speaking (and other) countries and it is often sung to celebrate the start of the New Year.

The next day, a lot of children get up early and sing songs to the neighbors in exchange of coins or candy.

London is one of the best places to be on New Year’s Eve, because its pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs open all the night. Most pubs and clubs offer music and food. Theatres and night clubs often feature special guests to welcome the New Year.

There are also house parties and a lot of people choose to bring in the New Year at home, with family and friends.

In New Year Evening Welsh people give to their friends and family an apple with three twig legs stuck with dried fruit.

This tradition is called Calennig.

Wnen there are few seconds for the New Year people say in Yorkshire:''Black rabbits, Black rabbits, Black rabbits,'' And then they say: ``White rabbits, White rabbits, White rabbits'' as their fist words of the new year because they think they bring good luck to them.