On the eve of the New Year, New Yorkers said goodbye to the bad memories of 2023

New Yorkers' favorite tradition is to say goodbye to everything bad that happened during the year. They do this solemnly and publicly in Times Square. FOX5NY told how the city residents left all their problems in the past, or rather, burned them.

A new year without old problems. The 17th annual Good Riddance Day took place today, December 28th, at Broadway Plaza. This holiday is inspired by a Latin American tradition: on New Year's Day, people stuff dolls with objects symbolizing bad memories and then set them on fire. This is a special cleansing ritual.

Every year on December 28th, this tradition gives people the opportunity to leave behind and destroy all unpleasant, unhappy and unwanted memories.

During Good Riddance Day, the magician helped everyone get rid of bad memories with the help of his magic wand. When tiny pieces of paper with notes disappeared into the fire, people experienced the genuine joy of liberation and the thrill of anticipation of something new and delightful.

There were many touching moments: some said goodbye to an annoying ex, some with a small salary and an always grumbling boss, and some sent illnesses and indifference of loved ones to the fire. Good Riddance Day provided a unique opportunity to perform a cleansing ritual and enter the new year without the baggage of fears and disappointments.