A Panamanian tradition burning of “Muencos de Año Viejo” at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Judas Dolls are life-size effigies that can represent famous people, someone you know, or even a representation of yourself.
This Munecas or Dolls are displayed for days or even weeks along the side of the road in the interior regions of Panama. On New Year’s Eve, they are stuffed with fireworks and are burned at midnight. The Judas Dolls represent everything you want to forget or leave behind from the past year. Burning them is a sign of starting the new year with a clean slate.
It’s not unusual to see the Munecas , Dolls of celebrities and political figures.This year our President and the Vice President are under the favorite. But it can be as well an unfaithful husband, boyfriend ,or a positive memory you know finish with the end of the year.
A yearly competition for the best muñeco occurs in San Carlos
Muñecos is a tradition pretty specific to the interior of Panama, specifically between Bejuco and San Carlos. Look for them alongside the highways, especially as New Year’s Eve approaches.
Muñecos typically symbolize things that people do not want to carry with them into the next following year. However, they can symbolize positive things as well. Obviously both images are of muñecos with more negative memories.
Muñecos typically symbolize things that people do not want to carry with them into the following year. But they can symbolize positive things as well.
At midnight, they get filled with fireworks and explode, and a new, fresh year starts with new memories to be made.