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Hello and welcome back to Cult Leader and an extra welcome back to our new and improved little leaders where I read the stories that you send to me, but also now tell you other things in the beginning because why not? It's 2022 and we've got nothing to lose. That's the slogan, guys.

2022, nothing to lose. This week, I thought it would be a real treat to talk about some bizarre traditions surrounding New Year's Eve and the New Year in general because hey, it's January.

I started off January really nice. The first couple of days of January, what did I do? I did New Year's, well obviously quiet at home.

Had a nice dinner at R&D Kitchen, which is a fave. If you're ever in LA, it's in Santa Monica on Montana, really good. Actually, I got dinner in a show because there was someone, someone I don't want to name names. There was a... an infamous, or I guess just... thumbless, famous.

Entertainment News reporter sitting at the bar with their significant other. And next to them was this older gentleman and the older gentleman looks over at them. We're sitting in a booth right by the bar. I see him like look over like he's going to say something to them. And he's like, are you guys vaping? And so it turns out that the entertainment reporter and their significant other had been like hitting their jewels at the bar, which is kind of crazy.

I mean, the vibe there is definitely not that. But you know, I mean, I'm like, whatever. I don't care about anything. And the older man tells him like, are you seriously bait? I've never at R&D Kitchen of all places. Get me the manager. So he goes like bullcaron mode, calls for the manager. And then the guy's significant other. It's his wife. His wife chimes in and she's like, come on man. It's New Year's. Come on. Let's not have this negativity.

He's like, no, you guys are hitting your jewels. The manager comes over and then the old man's like, you know what? I got nothing to say to you. So the manager is like, okay, and walks away. And then they're complaining about the vaping or whatever. And then the older man's like, he's like, I just thought you do it again. You're vaping at the bar. And then the entertainment reporter guy was like, who's vaping? And the old man was like, you bowzo. It's you. And it was just like the most dramatic thing I've ever seen in my life.

I loved it. I was living for it the entire time. I was like, I can't wait to see what happens next. But then it just kind of quieted down after that. And I left came home, watched the countdown. And that was it. That was my New Year's. And I loved every minute of it. The Sunday after New Year's, they do like the Rose parade here in Pasadena. And we went to that. That was a lot of fun. Matt is in the cave with Doris. I had hot dog. And it was a good time.

Got to see all of the parade floats. Got some cattle corn, which is always a bonus. A really nice Sunday afternoon. So hopefully that's an inclination for a fun wholesome 2022.

Anyways, though, I'm interested to know. Do any of use babes? Do some sort of ritual every year? I don't know. Any traditions that you love. Maybe you light one of those wish lanterns or whatever.

I typically I will do two things. I first write out everything that I'd like to accomplish in the New Year personally, professionally, like whatever it is. You know, like different business goals. Even simpler things like, oh, I want to furnish the backyard. I want to finish hanging art.

Things that I know I can accomplish. So it's a pretty realistic. But then, you know, we've got some dreamy wishes on there as well. But then I also make a list of things that I don't want to bring with me into the New Year. So maybe it's anxiety surrounding something specific or just a bad habit, self doubt around something. And then I set it on fire. And I say goodbye.

So I think that's all over the world in many different cultures. People celebrate traditions in many different ways, which is something that I feel like my eyes were very open when I started looking into the Krampa's traditions and everything because there are so many different wild Christmas traditions. Madison talked about a few of them on the episode of obituary that came out. I believe around Christmas time. And I talked about superstitions this week on obituary that's coming that came out yesterday.

I was just heavy on my mind. And I thought, you know what, it's January. I mean, there's just so many traditions. People do things so many different ways. And some were like, oh, yeah, I love that when I was looking into these and then some were like, wait, what?

So I decided to look into some of these traditions, not a deep dive, more of a surface skin. And we're going to start with one of my favorites that I learned about, which is a tradition called Los Onyos Vahos, which translates to the old years. I hope I said that right.

This takes place on New Year's Eve. And it's sort of like me burning my list of bad things. According to the Cultural Explorer's channel, quote, in Ecuador, people make scarecrows of people that they dislike or want to leave in the past.

These scarecrows are usually made with old clothing that is filled with newspaper or sawdust and a mask is used for the face.

Sometimes people will make scarecrows of important people who died, celebrities or even politicians, which they dislike. When the clock strikes midnight, everyone lights up their scarecrows on fire.

To them, this signifies forgetting and letting go of the bad from the past year and hoping that the coming year will be better.

Okay, I love that. I'm into that. Watch out. Stay on my good side. Otherwise, I'm going to make a scarecrower out of you and light it on fire.

Also in Ecuador, as well as Colombia and parts of Mexico, some people will take an empty suitcase on a little trip around the block, a little jaunt, or even just put one by their door.

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