It's New Year's Eve. First, we made little figures filled with leaves. This symbol represents everything that went wrong in 2018.

We hung the piñata from the ceiling. Children and adults have to dance before hitting the candy-filled object.

Some people are blindfolded, and the piñata is raised and lowered using a pulley system. In the evening, we are served a generous meal. I went to buy some firecrackers to put inside the piñata figures.

There is a special place where you can buy these New Year's explosives.

Around 11:50 pm, the effigies are prepared by putting firecrackers inside their bodies. They are placed in the middle of the street.

At approximately 11:58 PM, they were sprayed with gas... and... at midnight, the explosions could be heard throughout the city.

After a few minutes, only ashes remain; all the worries of 2018 are behind us, burned forever. We are now ready to face the new year. Wishes fly from all sides, followed by comforting hugs. We hope the country will emerge from its economic slump. 2019 will be a better year, I'm sure of it, for Nicaraguans. The celebration continues, the music resonates, and the dancing feels good! Happy New Year to all!

David Beauchesne