Nicaragua New Year

Happy New Year!

I went to a small roof top party in San Juan del Sur, looking down on the streets and up at the fireworks. This town is the vacation spot of the country and the town over the last two weeks has been growing more and more busy with Nica's and gringo's alike. The tradition here is for the families to take an old set of clothes and stuff them to make a dummy. Then, they give their man a cigerette and a beer and parade him all around town. So, looking down from my rooftop, pick-ups filled with family were circling, some even followed by a trumpet and horn section.

At midnight they throw their man in the streets and burn him. Fires blared everywhere, fireworks wizzing by our rooftop heads, the heat from everywhere, cars trying to drive around the burning men and if it weren't for all of the laughter you might think that you were in some crazed war zone. The belief is that the burning smoking man will keep their family from smoking and drinking that year. It's a good idea, really, in a place where a normal income is $100 US a month.

Today the buses poured in from Managua and the beaches are packed. Music is still playing along with an occasional leftover fireworks. It's hot. It's new year. Enjoy!