Leave behind the year that is ending and welcome the new year.
Por: Camila Garcia Voelkl.
2020 has been a year like none. I think we all agree that one of the things we want to eliminate this year is the virus that has brought us so much trouble. However, we can also rescue the life teachings that it has left us. I invite you to know the Latin American tradition created to burn (literally) the old year and receive the new year with the best energy.
What is ¨el año viejo o Monigote¨?
Some Latin American countries still preserve the ancient tradition of making a rag doll and burning it as a symbol of the year that is ending. It is customary for the doll to have elements that characterized the year that is leaving.
The old year or Monigote represents the year that ends and the things we want to leave behind. In some places, it is accompanied by a will. During its burning, the will is read and the moments lived during the year that we want to forget and those that we have to be thankful for are remembered.
Build your own Old Year Doll:
For those of us who are far away from our home country or do not have the time, disposition or materials to make our own rag doll, I have created a printable version that you can customize with different clothes and accessories.
Download the PDF, print, build and leave the year behind!
FREE PDF DOWNLOAD - Baja el PDF gratis.
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1. Cut out the dolls, clothes, and accessories.
2. Dress your doll as you want it to represent the year, gluing clothes, hair, and accessories over it.
3. Write on the cards 5 things you want to forget, 5 to be thankful for and 5 resolutions for the new year.
4. At midnight on December 31st, destroy your doll along with the things you want to forget about the old year. If you have a safe place, place the doll in a fireproof container to burn it (Be very careful where you do it!). You can also symbolize his leaving by tearing him to pieces.
If you found this post useful, help me to continue sharing our traditions. Share your tradition with us on Instagram and Facebook. Tag @amigobilingue