What a
Wonderful World
Written By Nina Simonds
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Ecuador
Ano Viejo
December 31
On New Year's eve, many cultures are looking ahead and making resolutions, but Ecuadorians are focused on Ano Viejo, the old year. Kids and parents make a scarecrow representing the old year, tucking firecrackers into his stuffing. Together the family writes up a "will" — a list of the past year's faults (their own wrongdoings as well as any bad things that may have happened to them) that must be left behind.
Children dress up all in black, as the straw man's "widow," and go to neighboring houses collecting money and candy for the "funeral."
At the stroke of midnight, families return to the scarecrow and read the list of wrongdoings aloud; the effigy is then set on fire, ensuring that the old year's mistakes go up in smoke.
