“The Tank Doll” prepares “Avatar” for night burning/a.sosa
The countdown has already begun and just a few days before the farewell to 2025, there is already an atmosphere of celebration and tradition in different parts of La Plata. On boulevards, improvised sheds and emblematic corners, the historic New Year’s Eve dolls gradually take shape and rise, a custom that once again brings together neighbors, families and groups of friends who maintain one of the city’s most characteristic rituals.
With themes ranging from large film productions to characters designed specifically for the little ones, the Momos move between long work days, high temperatures and nights together. The scene repeats itself: structures growing day by day, curious people dropping in and collaborating, and teams adjusting details to arrive in time for the night of January 31st and the early morning of January 1st.
In this context, one of the dolls that is already raising expectations is that of the group “El Tanque” – winner of first place in 2024 – which this year has chosen “Avatar: Heart of Pandora”. With nearly three decades of experience, the team relocated again, settling on the corner of 31 and 40. “We have been making dolls for 28 years. We started in the neighborhood where we were born and grew over time until we reached what people see today,” said Manu, one of its members. Commenting on the importance of the proposal, he added: “We are not doing it with the expectation of winning, but so that people can have fun and families can have a good time on the promenade.” Using the first doll in 1998 as a reference, Manu recalled: “The first one was a witch. Back then we were very young, with many hopes and dreams. Today, now older, we continue with the same hopes and the same dreams.”
At another traditional point in the city, the historic group of 19, 64 and 65 prepare for a special burning with a large “Stitch”. Given the 52-year history of the district, Agustina and Nicolás, the team’s leaders, explained that the choice of the character was related to the film premiere of the year and the intention to give it a realistic touch. “It is a long-awaited and highly valued tradition; we always try to give it a special detail,” they commented. They also highlighted the strong support of the neighborhood: “In the last few days there is music, meetings and many families coming. It is a very nostalgic date.”
On Boulevard 32 and 10, another historical doll from the Barrio Norte from the group “Somos 10 y 36” will be presented with a theme related to the fashionable characters of the little ones. “If you spend an afternoon, it feels like December 30th: there are children taking photos even though the dolls are still being processed,” said Nico, a member of the group who works with a small team of four or five people. “The doll of this edition is a tribute to the characters that exploded on the networks in 2025. The characters include Tralalero Tralalá, Balerina Capuchina and Chimpancini Bananini. We do all this for the neighbors,” he noted, announcing that there will be activities and food sales to cover the costs.
Also in the Parque San Martín area, 55 and 25, a group that has been building dolls for 19 years in a row has already built its main building. This year they chose a “scarecrow” as their symbol. “This is the 19th doll we have made. Every year it costs a little more, but we continue,” said Fran, one of the testimonials. With a broader view, he analyzed: “There used to be dolls on every corner and today you see fewer new groups; we follow the big ones, but we try to make sure that the tradition is not lost.”
Meanwhile, other groups announced in early December are continuing their progress. Among them, the doll of Tomás Mazza and Alonso, originally planned for years 21, 35 and 36, but already moved to the corner of 22 and 38, where it began to take final shape. There are also various proposals underway that are spread across different neighborhoods, have different themes, and have a strong neighborhood feel.
In parallel, the community made progress on the fire control and prevention program. The planned measures today include a mandatory meeting with those responsible for each group in the municipal operations center, during which the safety regulations, established schedules, minimum distances, permitted materials and the use of approved pyrotechnics will be reviewed. In addition, it was recalled that each doll must have a fire extinguisher, the adults responsible for it must be identified and prior registration must be complied with, a necessary condition to be able to carry out the combustion.
This is how the giants reawaken between collective effort, neighborhood memory and popular creativity.
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