traditions celebrated nationally

 

The carnivals

Carnival in Ecuador is one of the most traditional celebrations. It is a party full of excitement, it is customary to play the carnival, it is done with water, carnival foam. In certain places this game is more intense, they even use flour and eggs. Carnival parades are held where dancing and costumes are on the order of the day. The most popular carnivals in Ecuador are the well-known Guaranda carnival accompanied by its typical drink, the "blue bird." This celebration takes place in all places, each with its own particularities. Another of the places that celebrates the carnival in a big way is the beautiful city of Guano where parades, parades, presentation of artists and election of the queen of the city take place.

In Carnival, a very visited destination is Galapagos where nature is enjoyed, tourist activities are carried out and it is shared with the local population, since the carnival dates coincide with the commemoration of the provincialization and cantonization of Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a day of great religious significance, which means conversion is symbolized by the placing of a cross made of ash, this ritual precedes the carnival and begins the time of Lent (40 days of reflection for the transformation of the life of parishioners)

Lent - nationwide

As of Ash Wednesday, the stage of Lent begins. The season of Lent has long been one of preparation for the Church for Easter, a liturgical season of forty days. The number forty has a symbolic meaning in the Holy Scriptures and we see it in various passages in the Old and New Testaments. The phrase forty days almost always represents a long time.This period of time is for the purpose of meditating, repenting and correcting the mistakes made. It is the preparation of the body and the conscience, this tradition was brought in the conquest, and is based on the Catholic religión

 

Holy Week 

Holy Week in Ecuador is one of the most important commemorative dates of the Catholic faith. This week runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. During that particular week it includes many rites, one of them is fasting, or the preparation of traditional typical food such as the typical fanesca dish, it was a symbol to consume it on Thursday, however, due to its great demand They are consumed any day of the week, this food is prepared with different types of grains that represent the apostles, and dried cod that gives a special flavor to the dish.On Holy Thursday rites such as the last supper, the washing of the feet are performed. Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross, where the passion of Christ is relived, the Easter Vigil Saturday of glory. Resurrection Sunday is the celebration of the risen Christ, victorious from death.

All Souls' Day - nationwide

On November 2, the Day of the Dead is celebrated, it is an important date of the popular commemorations of Ecuador, the cemeteries are packed with flower arrangements, to remember those loved ones who left this world. The tradition also implies the realization of the guaguas de pan and the purple laundry. .

 

Christmas - nationwide

Christmas represents a time of great importance in the Catholic religion. It is the day that the birth of the child Jesus, God made man, is commemorated.This time of year in Ecuador, family unity is encouraged and ties of friendship are strengthened. One of the symbols of celebration is the delivery of gifts, dinner on Christmas Eve, that is, on December 24. The mass of the rooster at 12 at night.Dinner is a special meal in Ecuador, it is made with turkey or pork, and the inevitable dessert is the famous Christmas pristiños.The decoration of Christian homes is done with the birth, Christmas tree, the novena is prayed waiting for the arrival of the baby Jesus.

 

Old year - nationwide

The Old Year is a puppet that represents the end of the year, some are made with old clothes and stuffed with sawdust, other dolls are more made with cardboard, newspaper, and paint is used. It is a representation of the year and it is done to symbolize the year that ends. At midnight on December 31, the puppet is burned, and the new year is welcomed.