by Richard Lloyd Evans

Created on: May 16, 2010   Last Updated: May 17, 2010

Ecuador has an incredibly rich history and a complicated culture. Reaching from the Serranos who occupy the Spanish Colonial cities of the Andes Mountains, to the Nativo Indegentes of the Amazon Rain Forrest, to the Costeños along the Pacific Coast while embracing their independence from Spanish Colonial rule, Ecuador’s holidays provide a festive road map to the true Ecuador.

December 31-1 January – Año Viejo and Año Nuevo are Ecuador’s celebration of the New Year. Año Viejo, literally Old Year, is celebrated by families making or purchasing effigies made of paper mache or cloth and wood.

These are stuffed with straw and loads of fireworks, As the clock turns to the Año Nuevo (New Year) the effigies are dragged to the closest street intersection where they are all piled together.

They are lit to flames and explosions as the neighborhood stands and welcomes the New Year with cheers. The smoke from these fires gets so bad that most Ecuadorian airports close due to visibility problems.

February – Carnaval – like most Catholic Nations the celebration before Lent is marked by raucous parties, especially along the coastal cities. Watch out! It is traditional to spray passers by with water, either from hoses or water balloons!

March – April – Semana Santa – Held the week before Easter, Semana Santa is arguably the most important festival on the Ecuadorian Calendar. Palm Sunday kicks off a week of mostly religious observances. Generaly, only two days this week are spent at work, the rest are celebrations of “travel days.” Most families return home this week to spend time with their loved ones.

One important part is sharing Fanesca, especially for families in the Sierras. This is a soup made from fish stock and 12 different grains, and every family boasts that their version of the recipe is best.

May 1 – Dia del Trabajo – Ecuador’s version of Labor Day.

May 24 – Battle of Pachincha – This National Holiday celebrates the Battle of Pachincha, where revolutionary troops severely defeated Spanish troops and liberated Quito, the Ecuadorian capital.

July 25 – Foundation of Guayaquil – Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador and is the country’s economic center. The day also coincides with celebrations of the birthday of Ecuadorian – and South American – revolutionary hero Simon Bolivar. 

10 August – Premera

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