it's all fun and games til Peter and Jane go up in flames

Okay, so it's still fun then too.

To welcome the New Year, a friend hosted her second annual New Year's Eve chili eating, game playing, effigy burning bash. This year's crowd was a bit different from the previous year but still an entertaining mix of Americans, Canadians, Brits, South Africans, a Taiwanese, a few dogs, and a kitten too.

As part of our tradition installed at last year's gathering, we had a midnight effigy burning at the park. This custom originates from the childhood traditions of our Ecuadorian-born American in the group. Though a far cry from the explosives stuffed figures that dominate the streets of Ecuador New Year's Eve, our own special creations manage to raise curiosity and a few eyebrows.

It's customary for the effigy to represent a person or symbol of the old year, especially one you'd happily leave behind. Political figures are often used but we decided to shy away from the ample number of candidates in that circle. Instead, we decided to improve upon last year's generic man in a poncho by selecting not one but two figures near, yet not so dear, to several of us - Peter and Jane. Most of us in attendance teach from Peter and Jane books daily, the British equivalent of Dick and Jane readers. What a fitting symbol of something we'd like to leave in the old year. Jane was my handiwork, while Peter was the result of a collaboration by Becky and Rick. Here are a few pics from the evening's festivities.