Carnival in Ecuador

Carnival is celebrated throughout Ecuador. Some cities have larger celebrations. In Quito, the government is trying to make the event more cultural. Currently, there are massive water balloon fights in the streets amongst entire families. The two most famous Carnival...

End of the Year and the Mad Widows

Año Viejo (literally translated old year) is one of the most peculiar festivals in Ecuador. Those who were widowed in the past year create life-sized dolls to set up in a kiosk on December 31 to represent the deaths of their spouses. Female widowers ask for money on...

It is Quichua or Quechoa?

Both “Quichua” and “Quechoa” are correct. The difference in spelling is geographical: Quechoa (with an “e” and “o”) is the term used for the language of Peru, whereas Quichua (or Kichwa) is a the term used for the language of Ecuador. This is because the...
Good Friday  in Ecuador

Good Friday in Ecuador

Because Ecuador is predominantly Catholic, Good Friday is one of the biggest religious events in the country. The largest celebrations are held in Quito and Guayaquil. In Quito, Good Friday celebrations begin very early. Those involved in the procession congregate at...

Day of the Dead

When someone dies in Mestizo culture, they go to the church, sometimes celebrate mass in honor of the deceased, and visit the cemetery to clean and put flowers. In some Indigenous cultures in the Andes, death is celebrated differently. The house prepares the deceased...

The Sacredness of the Guinea Pig

The guinea pig is not universally sacred, but it is certainly held as very important for certain Indigenous communities. Guinea pigs are used in special celebrations and festivals. The majority are now bred in pens outside, but in the past, lived inside a family’s...