Corpus Christi

A popular religious festival, Corpus Christi is a time when Catholics celebrate and honor the body and blood of Jesus Christ. A dazzling fireworks display on the eve of the main festival heralds the start of a long string of fun days. The main day begins with Mass at the church, followed by a procession. Both include folk dancers, performers, and singers, making the atmosphere more like a large religious party than a serious event. Corpus Christi usually takes place on the ninth Thursday after Easter Sunday, so if you're lucky you might be able to attend it alongside the Inti Raymi celebrations in June. Visitors can partake in celebrations anywhere in the country, but those in the towns of Pujilí and Cuenca are the most popular.

Corpus Christi is one of Ecuador's most famous festivals as well as one of the most important folk traditions and has been declared an unseen cultural treasure of Ecuador. The people of Pilaro and surrounding communities gather today to dress up very constructively with important indigenous elements and then dance in celebration in the heart of town. An important element of this celebration is "El Danzante" (the dancer), also known as the rain priest, and it symbolizes the goodness and generosity of the indigenous communities.

• Organization time: June every year
• Location: Ecuador