Ecuadorian Festivals, Holidays & Traditions
New Year's Eve: Just a week after Christmas, this is another major holiday in Ecuador, complete with a turkey or ham dinner, a toast to the old year with wine or sangria, and the consumption of 12 grapes for good luck in the coming months. Setting off fireworks and burning "Monigote" papier-mache figures that can range from one meter to an impressive 5 meters at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve is a fun tradition.
Carnaval, Lent, and Easter: Although Ecuador's traditions do not compare to those of Brazil's Carnaval (Mardi Gras), they are enjoyable. There is a national holiday two days before Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten season during which people "play Carnaval," which means chasing each other with water balloons, powdered paint, and spray foam. When Lent begins, a solemn mood of reflection and penitence pervades Ecuador in preparation for Good Friday. If you are fortunate enough to be in Ecuador during Holy Week, you may encounter a Via Crucis, or "Way of the Cross."
Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos): As in many Hispanic countries, the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) allows people to pay tribute to deceased family members. This is usually followed by family visits to the cemetery to light candles or lay flowers on their loved ones' graves, and then by large celebrations, parades, and community parties.
Independence Day: On May 24, 1822, the combined forces of Simon Bolivar, San Martin, and Antonio Jose de Sucre successfully defeated the Spanish army at the famed Battle of Pichincha in the Ecuadorian Andes.
Beauty Pageants: In many South American countries, especially Colombia and Ecuador, beauty pageants are a fun way for communities to come together and help support and empower teenage girls as leaders in their towns.
