Guaguas de Pan

Guaguas de pan, or "bread babies," are these brightly colored little sweet breads. This traditional dish, shaped like babies swaddled in blankets, is made on November 2nd to commemorate El Dia de los Difuntos, or the Day of the Deceased.

Many countries in Latin America, Europe, and the Philippines commemorate the Day of the Deceased in some way. It is intended to pay tribute to the memory of deceased friends and relatives. This is done in Ecuador by making guaguas de pan and colada morada, a purple corn and fresh fruit drink. Guaguas de pan are sweet breads stuffed with sweet fillings and made with a sweet bread dough similar to brioche.Families would bring flowers and food to the cemetery to pay their respects to deceased relatives.

The tradition of making doll-like rolls of bread is thought to have pre-Hispanic origins in Ecuador. An ancient tribe that lived in the area around present-day Quito created corn flour figurines for Aya Marcay Quilla, a celebration honoring deceased ancestors. Guaguas de pan and the commemoration of the dead became intertwined with Spanish traditions and the Catholic church over time.