This was the traditional burning of dolls

The traditional doll burning took place both on the outskirts of the city and in the city center with the common goal of saying goodbye to 2025 and welcoming the new year.

Throughout the night and after the clock marked the beginning of 2026, the local tradition unfolded in various parts of La Plata. Not even the atmosphere of controversy, which originated from the municipality’s ban on burning momos in the city area, was enough to prevent massive fires in various places in the region.

There were dolls with allusions to “Chiqui” Tapia; to characters who live in the world of TikTok; Characters from the film “Avatar” or the series “Stranger Things”. Even the usual dolls from “The Simpsons” or “Mario Bros.” were issued. Even in Gonnet, a tribute to a beloved neighbor was held.

As if that wasn’t enough, the usual dolls were joined by other smaller ones, whose organization took care of families or smaller groups who brought their homemade momos to the sidewalk at a certain time to celebrate with their nearest neighbors.

The truth is that in the early hours of the First World War, in addition to the traditional activities that have a decades-long history in the region, there was also music and various festivals in the neighborhoods of La Plata.

On eldia.com you can enjoy the images, the colors and the entire celebration in photos and videos.

The dolls, one after the other

The many figures built aroused the curiosity of the neighbors on the streets of La Plata: the assembly technology became more and more sophisticated.

One of the most colorful Momos that quickly attracted attention was the figure of Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia – President of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), placed at the corner of 124 and 68 in Berisso.

The burning of the doll, which took place under the supervision of Los Pibes de la 68, took place at 2:22 a.m. and included not only flames but also chants directed against the president of the AFA.

In the year 115 between 95 and 96 a “Demagorgon” was burned: a character from the series “Stranger Things”. A few blocks away, at 64th and 15th streets, the Night of Terror doll was on display.

At 72 a.m., between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., on the Circunvalación, after 3 a.m., “Drako, Guardian of Time” caught fire. However, residents warned of “excessive” noise due to the pyrotechnics displayed at the celebration.

In the year 31 between 41 and 42 the “World of Pandora” and in the years 524 and 21 “La Bubu” were burned down. At City Bell, 139 bis and 477, the “Tun Tun y Tralalero” puppet took place.

Homage to Gonnet

At the apex connecting 500th Street to 28th Street, in Gonnet, a warehouse is being built that was always called “Lo de Marcelo” or “del Tibu” to the neighbors. However, its owner, Marcelo Cagnaro, died last November, leaving customers and neighbors a legacy of regret and pain.

A month after his death and as a tribute, the frontists decided to make Marcelo Momo. So, in Plaza Almafuerte, 500 and 27, a shark-shaped figure and the colors of the Aldosivi club from Mar del Plata (of which Marcelo was a fan) were burned. With a smile on his face, the figure pretended to be standing behind a counter, just as Marcelo did for decades in Gonnet.

Those promoting the honor told this newspaper: “We had to say goodbye to Marcelo, as he would surely have wanted.” In addition, they expressed that the memory was not born out of sadness, but out of gratitude: “With a smile, with solidarity, with encounter, with community. Not out of sadness, but for everything shared and for what he left in us,” they said.

Neighbors from the area and Marcelo’s relatives also took part in building the doll.

On social media, one of the neighbors wrote: “Thank you for everything, Tibu. An entire neighborhood will miss you. I hug the sky and rest in peace. This news is a shock and an enormous sadness. You leave an indelible mark.”

controversy

In the days before the end of the year, a phase in which the details of the construction of the momos are being finalized, the municipality published the official list of dolls: only 22 received approval, all outside the central perimeter.

The municipality had argued that the measure was aimed at increasing safety and reducing risks. Meanwhile, artists and neighbors claimed that the solution came too late as many projects were already advanced. Eventually they burned without any major problems.