Customers have not arrived as often as in previous years. There are dolls from $ 2 and up.
Viviana López took advantage of her lunch break to leave work for a few minutes and buy three small puppets to one of the merchants that are located on the sidewalks of Avenida América, in the north center of Quito.
The dolls were about 12 inches tall, did not wear a mask, and cost $ 8 each. Viviana bought them for burn them on the afternoon of December 30, on the terrace of the building where he works, in a small event to say goodbye to the year with his colleagues.
On America avenue, In the section between Mariana de Jesús and Colón avenues, the days before the end of the year, dozens of merchants sell puppets, masks, wigs, costumes, masks and even intimate clothing (for cabal).
For 40 years that’s where the vendors of the December 31 Association are installed. They are open from 08:00 to 18:00; On December 31, some work until 11:30 p.m.
The most wanted characters for the clients are: the masked men from the series The Squid Game; virus figures representing COVID-19; fictional movie characters, such as Spiderman; metropolitan police; the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, among others. Prices range from $ 2 to $ 50, depending on the size and type of doll.
This year, merchants began to work from December 28. Sales in the first two days they were low compared to the years before the pandemic. They attribute it to the resolution of the national Emergency Operations Committee (COE) that prohibits the burning of puppets in the streets.
Regina Parra has been selling vintage years in the area for 35 years. Her he spends the night on the sidewalk where he located his post, because it cannot transport the merchandise every day. Nor does he want to leave the products alone and return in the morning, because he fears that they will be stolen in the early morning.
He said that, in addition to the COE provision, merchants also have a drawback because the prices of the freight that they pay to bring the puppets from Guayaquil rose. To this is added that the price of paper increased, before a quintal was bought at $ 17 and now up to $ 50.
For this reason, Parra this time acquired a shipment of 100 dolls to sell, when previously he had around 400.
National COE reiterated that the burning of puppets at the end of the year can be done with a close family circle
Faced with the COE’s ban, Valeria Callataza and her family, who have a kiosk on Avenida América, put up for sale small 8-inch dolls, priced at $ 5, which come inside an aluminum tray.
It is suitable for burning indoors such as on balconies, in the living room or kitchen, but always taking care to avoid accidents, said Callataza, who regrets the restrictions imposed by the authorities, since sales have decreased.
In the north of Quito, in the Carcelén sector, Ivonne Torres went with her 10-year-old daughter to the canchón where the vendors are located. In addition to buying from a puppet, they were looking for costumes and wigs.
For Torres, the ban on burning the dolls in public spaces, although it affects a tradition of the country, It is a necessary measure to prevent people from crowding together and spreading the COVID-19 virus further.
Alicia Trejo has been a merchant in the area for 40 years. It is part of the Senderos de Carcelén Association. Mentioned that until 2019 sales were made on the streets, But that in 2020, due to the pandemic, they were relocated to a space next to the Club Deportivo Quito complex.
Municipality of Quito will fine with $ 200 those who burn puppets in public or private space
Trejo said that customers come especially in the afternoon, after 4:00 p.m., although fewer have arrived today than in the past. However, from her experience, she commented that between the afternoon of 30 and all of December 31 there will likely be more influx of people; hence the service in the place extends until 23:30.
The Comercial activity for the end of the year festivities it is found in various places in the capital. Other traditional points are the South Tribune, located on Teniente Hugo Ortiz avenue, as well as the Atahualpa or Quitumbe sector.
The Municipality of Quito, through the Metropolitan Control Agency (AMC), will sanction with $ 200 those who carry out open cast incinerations garbage, containers, papers or other materials, including puppets. In this way, the prohibition of burning puppets in public and private places.
Also, you can’t cPlace the dolls or other objects on the sidewalks, as this constitutes a improper use of public space, because it prevents the free movement of people. For this it will apply a fine of $ 100. (I)
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