Lagoons and Lakes in Ecuador you Should Explore During your Trip, 5 Reasons to visit Ecuador | Why Ecuador Should Be On Your Destination Bucket List, Visiting Galapagos on a Budget: The Ultimate 10 Day Island-Hopping Itinerary for the 30+ Traveler, Diving Galapagos Islands | Bartolome Island, "https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294308-d13231011-Reviews-Nature_Galapagos_Ecuador-Quito_Pichincha_Province.html". Ecuadorian town Latacunga comes alive with Mama Negra Festivities that take place twice in a year once towards around September 23 to 24, and once around Latacungas Independence Day on November 11. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). Carnival best known from the festival in Rio de Janeiro with its eccentric clothes and dancing. Gulliver Expeditions is a tour operator that offers uniqueEcuadorand Peru tours. Carnival occurs right before Lent, so its peoples last opportunity to have some crazy fun before the somber religious season. The Coney Island Mermaid Parade brings thousands of guests to Surf Avenue for a day of elaborate costumes, festive food and drink, fine art, and all things aquatic. . Her tours are genuinely personalized and will make a special, custom-designed travel memory. Semana Santa is also a big event in Ecuador. It blends the celebration of Koya Raymi (the ritual of the moon and the sun as elements of fertility) with Catholic traditions. In many cities throughout Ecuador, youll find parades and festivals. Colorful, noisy markets populate the town square manned by the indigenous people of Ecuador just as it was long before the Spanish conquest. The locals of the region asked the Virgin of Mercy, the patron of Cotopaxi, to spare Latacunga. We offer both pre-planned packages as well as tailor-made tours that can include the Amazon rainforest, once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos cruisesand expeditions to Machu Picchu. Quito Independence Day*. It is a period of celebration and abundance before the fasting. Epiphanys Day - January 6th: Epiphanys Day is marked with Christmas carols, masses, music performances, traditional dances, processions, and even fireworks. chelsea players 1960s. Carnival (Ecuadorian Mardi Gras) in February or March. The indigenous groups of Kichwa Cayambi and Kichwa Otavalo honour the Andean agricultural cycle , with a special attention to corn, which is considered to be a symbol of fertility. Duration: 15 days. This wonderful celebration is performed in the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman every June during the celebrations and aims to pay tribute to the Sun God, the supreme symbol of reverence in the Inca culture. In Quito, a contest of highly detailed super-sized dolls is held on one of the capitals main streets, and they usually reflect the news and politics within the last year. One of the funniest customs is the tradition of the viudas or widows. Men dressed up as women, the viudas, danced in the streets, stopping cars and asking for money. Posadas is a nine-day celebration leading up to Christmas in which families reenact the journey of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay. Ecuador is a relatively big country, and as a result, it's no surprise that different regions of Ecuador have their own, individual styles of celebrating Day of the Dead in Ecuador. Wooden cart racing, cockfighting, mock bullfighting, and lake swimming are some of the other highlights of this cultural event in Ecuador. The energy and spirits of these performers are every bit infectious! celebrated in many locations, including Chillogallo (Quito), Lican, Gatazo Grande, Chimborazo, Montecristi (Manabi), Cuenca (Azuay), Calpi, Tisaleo, Ambato (Tungurahua) and many other cities. This weeklong festival takes place the first week of September in the Otavalo region. This list will be your guide telling you about all the tourist information you may seek, such as where the festival is celebrated and when is it scheduled for this year. Because of this, they thought the locals how to ride horses so that they could guide them through the difficult terrains, and thus the Chagra What is Carnival. It takes place every on June 21 when the sun passes through the Tropic of Cancer. Inti Raymi is also the feast of sun and light. This event brings together communities like Pesillo, Ayora, Juan Montalvo, Asczubi, Santa Rosa de Cusubamba, Otn, Cangahua, Guachal, Gonzlez Surez, Zuleta, Pisambilla, Olmedo, Paquistancia, La Remonta and more. The leader of each community wears the Aya Uma mask, which is composed of two faces to represent the dualities of this world: sun and moon, night and day, south and north, and past and future. The burning symbolizes the start of new experiences and better things to come. On June 24, they dance and celebrate until Friday of the same week, a peak moment in which around 600 visitors gather (each year more arrive). Imagine a very small but unique valley with more plants and bird species than Europe and North America put together; where trees compete in tallness for the sunlight and the forests are filled with butterflies. Nowadays, on Good Friday is possible to see hundreds of cucuruchos walking the streets of the historical center. No matter the color of ones skin or relationship to the community, everyone is welcome to share in this moment. It celebrates the June solstice, which for the Incas marked the beginning of winter (in the southern hemisphere) and Virgen de la Caridad - February 2nd: Dances, fireworks, cow capture, and ball games are played at the Festival to the Virgin in Carchi. People like the Shuar and Ashuar in the central and southern jungles, the Cofanes, Sionas and Secoyas in the north and the Huaorani at One of them is the energetic renewal that consists of submerging or entering waterfalls, rivers or springs bordering each community and through torrential or calm water, which descends from the moors or slopes of the snowy mountains, the objective is to purify spiritually , thank the greatness of nature and reaffirm the commitment to Pacha Mama. election of the citys beauty queen. What Mama Negra represents differs based on who you ask. Aya Uma is a relevant character throughout the festivities. They dress in purple robes and don the veils in reverence for the woman who used her veil to wipe Jesus face. Starting in 1998, the festival was created to celebrate the culture and tradition of local winemakers in . Head on to Quitos historic city centre, which is the hub of all the activities during the festival. Head to Guaranda and Ambato cities for the best carnival experience. New Years Eve is a great time to visit Ecuador, as you can experience the unique Ecuadorian traditions of this holiday and then start your New Year off with a bang, traveling to places like the Amazon rainforest and the Galapagos. What festival is celebrated in June in Ecuador? Contact us today to start planning your trip! Festa Junina is celebrated in many ways, such as costumes, dance, food, and drink. Photo credit: deperu.com Inti Raymi: This "Festival of the Sun" is held in June to celebrate the winter solstice Yamor Ecuadorian festival. So, if you are planning a visit to Ecuador anytime soon, heres our list of the best Ecuador Festivals and traditional customs. The exact date differs from year to year - usually, it takes place in February or early March. Inti Raymi is the ancient Inca celebration of the Sun that is celebrated from June 18 to 24, the day when the sun in Ecuador is at its highest point of the year. Search Vrbo for the best Holiday Homes & Rentals, 10 Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Ecuador - Updated 2023, 7 Best Beach Resorts In Ecuador - Updated 2023, 12 Best Airbnb Vacation Rentals In Cuenca, Ecuador - Updated 2023, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador: Not Just The Gateway To Poor Man's Galapagos, Traditional Foods In Ecuador (You Have To Try! While weve listed the most popular festivals in Ecuador, smaller ones take place in several parts of the country every week. of indigenous and Christian traditions. Also called Fiesta del Sol, it is a traditional festival. If you want to take part in this exquisite cultural experience, we recommend arriving early as massive crows line the demonstration route. Residents prayed to the Virgin of Mercy to save Latacunga, which is directly in Cotopaxis fiery path. The three main characters are the devil, guaricha and capariche. They present a brilliant insight into the countrys history, culture, and warmth that youll surely enjoy. Travel down the Amazon river where ethnic groups live in perfect harmony with the regions environmental diversity. They symbolize the experiences and events of the past year. The beauty of the ceremony lays o its origin which comes from the colonial era and evokes the indigenous and mestizo rebellion against the Catholic religion. The Spanish conquistadores considered Inti Raymi to be a heathen celebration. the celebrations can take up to 5 days. The cultural programs change every year and are coordinated by the municipality and local artists. Musicians, dancers, and bands are all a part of this grand theatrical celebration, which concludes with an appearance of Mama Negra on horseback. It is celebrated by the Kichwa peoples of Ecuador. Locals create life-sized Ao Viejo figures (Old Year effigy dolls) and burn them down. Led by celebrity guests named as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, the parade starts as Surf Avenue and West 21st Street in Coney Island and concludes at Steeplechase Plaza. This is one of the most important folkloric traditions of Ecuador and has been declared an Intangible Cultural Treasure of Ecuador. The word Yamor refers to a traditional beverage, which is brewed using seven varieties of corn and is unique to this area. the Andes by Alexander Vol Humboldt. Although this independence This battle took place on the foothills of the Pichincha Volcano, where the city of Quito is located. declared its independence from the Spanish Crown on the 3rd of November of 18290. celebrations of Ecuador and dates from the Incan and Caari cultures. Carnival in Ecuador This festival is celebrated mainly in Catholic countries. Holy Week is around the corner (Easter is April 12, 2020), so we want to not only highlight the festivities surrounding Holy Week but other major festivals in Ecuador throughout the year. devils to bulls also known as Toros de pueblo along with a unique atmosphere and captivating decor which provides a systematic illustration of traditions, rituals, and customs by those celebrating these Bordeaux Wine Festival or Bordeaux Fte le Vin, is an annual event that takes place in Bordeaux, France every summer from mid to late June. This "Day of the East" celebration includes fairs in Puyo, Macas, Zamora, and In the town of Pillaro, in the Tungurahua province, the indigenous community celebrates the Corpus Christi with an amalgam Cotopaxi, with an altitude of 5897 meters (19347 ft) is one of the highest active volcanoes of the world. Lollapalooza Chile - one of three Lollapalooza South America music festivals (source: Facebook) Where: Hipdromo de San Isidro, Argentina / Autdromo de Interlagos, Brazil / Parque Cerrillos, Chile. In Ecuador, in particular, the Inti Raymi is celebrated between the 18th and 24th of June. surrounding communities gather this day to don very elaborated costumes with important indigenous elements and then dance in celebration in the towns central plaza. The Inti Raymi means "Sun Festival" in Quechua, this is one of the most important celebrations of the imperial Cusco and one of the most thrilling festivals in the entire country. Celebrated in the central sierra, particularly Salasaca and Pujil with danzates (masked dancers), wonderful costumes and, in the latter town, 5-10m poles people climb to get prizes at the top. The town and the region belong to the protected Mindo-Nambillo forest, a unique ecosystem known as cloud forest, located between the highlands and the coastal region and surrounded by mist Rather, the festival is celebrated in towns and cities throughout Peru, each putting their own unique spin on things. Fashion Supplies For Pets what festival in ecuador is celebrated in june? The donations are then used to finance the new years party, organized by the different neighborhoods. However, some countries do have specific names for Santa Claus. ), Top 9 Airbnb Vacation Rentals In Dol-de-Bretagne, France - Updated 2023, Top 10 Hotels With Gyms In Manchester, England - Updated 2023, 10 Best Halal Restaurants In Brooklyn, New York City, Top 9 Stayz Accommodations In Maleny, Australia. Your email address will not be published. Source: Photo by user Celso Abreu used under CC BY 2.0. Another common New Years Eve tradition in Ecuador is to wear red and yellow undergarmentsyellow for luck and prosperity and red for love in the coming New Year. The festivals origin is Inca. Corn is revered here, as it is a staple food in the area. A pre-Conquest festival celebrated on the solstice at important ancient sites such as Cochasqu. with the townspeople and with other characters of the parade. (You can unsubscribe anytime), By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Gulliver Expeditions, Mariscal Foch y Reina Victoria, Quito, 170143, https://www.gulliver.com.ec. Aya Uma is a relevant character throughout the festivities. Extravagant fireworks displays at night add a notch of awesome to this brilliant Ecuadorian holiday tradition. Ecuadorians enjoy a day off and participate in typical parades and festivals to honor the laborers of the country. region. It is a celebration of the intercultural peoples of Otavalo. The Cucurucho tradition began in the colonial times, where repentant and devoted Christians would wear the pointy hats (called cucurucho) and wait outside of the churches, enduring the elements and the Kingdom. La Mama Negra. The Paseo del Chagra takes place in the town of Machachi, in the Cotopaxi province, and consists of parades with horses, bulls, Andean music bands, dances and a Celebratory foods and drinking are always part of Ecuadorian holidays. Inti Raymi is a celebration and gratitude to the sun. Saga Dawa. This magical place does exist, and its Ecuador Festivals are probably of the most colorful and culture filled traditions of South America when it comes to holidays and festivities. A colorful and joyful event, symbolizing new beginnings. October 12 commemorates a special moment in American history the day explorer Christopher Columbus discovered America in the 15th century. Cuarenta, a typically Ecuadorian card game, is also enjoyed by many during this time. Enjoy the most important religious holiday in Ecuador with Gulliver Expeditions. No group would be complete without their own special music, song and dance, often accompanied by guitars, flutes,rondadores, a pan-pipe typical of the Ecuadorian Andes. 2632636, Ecuador Travel Mama Negra is a unique multicultural experience that you wont forget. Dear Angie, thank you so much for your warm words, I really appreciate your passion for the Latin America Culture, and in special for sharing your heart with us, its wonderful when the traditions and the ancestrality arrives to the other side of the continent with the happyness of the Inti Raymi celebration, We are together on the learning way, and of course Ecuador offers a huge cultural treasure to be discovered! This time is also called Inti Guatana which means to harness the sun. Inti Raymi is also a great opportunity to try some traditional food and beverages such as chicha de jora (corn beer). Photo credit: Chimu Advventures Corpus Christi, all Ecuador Towards the end of May into mid June, the religious holiday of Corpus Christi is celebrated in communities throughout the Ecuadorian Sierra. June - Inti Raymi Harrogate International Festivals. One important element of this celebration There are no holidays in Ecuador today. Latacunga celebrates La Mama Negra or Black mother. ending year and is usual that the dolls represent a personality of the country (a president or another known personality). You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email. be surprised by the gigantic masterpieces, that will be burnt at midnight. request a donation from passing cars. Another Inti Raymi-style celebration occurs in Tabacundo on the night of June 28, the Feast Day of San Pedro (St. Peter). When the Spaniards introduced horses to South America, they discovered that the Andes where a very difficult terrain Inti Raymi consists of a lot of dancing. Clad in wool chaps, communities, especially those around Otavalo, spend most of the festival dancing, drinking, and eating. You can also explore quaint little villages or luxuriate along shimmery beaches. But, Inti Raymi is the biggest festival in the country in. In Ecuador, the festival incorporates an older indigenous tradition of celebrating the second moon by throwing flowers, water and flour. The city shuts down for two days to celebrate Simn Bolvar's birthday and the foundation of Ecuador's most populous coastal city. The celebration is strikingly beautiful, as traditions combine Spanish, African, and indigenous influences. Oriente/Amazon: This is a good month for exploring Parque Nacional Yasuni or the Cuyabeno Reserve by boat, as water levels are high. Payment Center The Cotopaxi National Park has many other attractions as the Rumiahui volcano, the Limpiopungo Lagoon or the Pucar de Salitre, an old Incan military outpost. During the festivities, there are ample opportunities to try Yamor as well as other traditional food and drink. Some truly passionate people even stomp on the burning pile for effect. A largely popular religious festival, Corpus Christi is a time when Catholics celebrate and honour the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This day is celebrated on the Friday before Easter Sunday. If you haven't tried Ecuador's famous sugarcane liquor, called trago or aguardiente, you'll find plenty of it at a festival. In the days leading up to the holiday, the streets are full of vendors selling dolls. is the most important date for Guayaquil, which commemorates the date with parades and dance troupes through the city. different independence processes in other countries of the region. Historically considered the devils mask by the Spanish, the indigenous population considers Aya Uma to be a mythological spirit that ought to be highly respected. Semana Santa (Holly Week) in Quito City in April. Glastonbury Music Festival, June 26 - 30. Spy on the birds and animals in their natural habitat such as toucans, parrots, caimans and thousands of other species. Men dressed as women personify the viudas,mourning for the Ao Viejo Puppet. Cirio de Nazare. This is one of the most amusing celebrations in Ecuador and it takes place at the end of the year. Some families make their own, and they can be purchased as well. hunters, which are other riders from the community. From this area, you are in close proximity to the volcanic lagoon/crater of Cuicocha. Transforming intangible thoughts/wishes into words for a tangible living. Locals don traditional outfits and put up lively song-and-dance performances, processions, and food fairs that mainly sell traditional foods and beverages. In many communities, the dancing goes well into the night. Her trips always include interactions with locals and tasting traditional foods. It usually takes place six weeks prior to Easter Sunday and falls around any time between February to March. These religious processions are based in the biblical events of the Calvary of Christ and are carried out by voluntary devotees, who see this as a form of repentance and penance and as a strong demonstration of their faith. The carnival festival is celebrated with the mentioned games using water and traditional dances in Tungurahua. 15: Corpus Christi. A deeply theatrical tradition, Holly Week in Ecuador gathers iconic characters in a procession recreating Christs journey to the cross. 1. People from all the region come to show their fate and devotion with a pilgrimage that departs from Quito to arrive at El Quinche, in a walk of approximately This day is a national holiday in Ecuador and is celebrated with colorful Paredes in the historic center of Cuenca. The idea is to express as much craziness as possible before the reflective period of Lent, called Cuaresma in Ecuador. It starts in the morning and ends around 3 pm, the hour it is believed that Jesus died. In the most important event of the week, locals recreate a dramatic procession of Jesus steps to his crucifixion. Using the houses of the Priostes (in English, hosts), the community prepares the Rama de Gallo, with the most colorful and unique embroidered costumes, with fine instruments and special songs. Festivals in Quito An eclectic mix of events marks Fiestas de Quito which runs from November 28 to December 6. Notable elements include Nativity reenactments, bullfights, traditional dancing and carnivals in the Old Town. - Guaranda June Solstice: Season: Jul 24: Monday: Simn Bolvar's Birthday Memorial: Observance: Aug 10: Thursday: Independence Day: National holiday: Aug . Our indigenous ancestry and traditions do not die. In Cuenca the celebration of Santos Inocentes brings up special interest from the people who celebrate it. The burning of el Ao Viejo (New Years Eve) on December 31st. This beverage runs freely during the festivities. Two dates are of utmost importance. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); About Us While living in Manta, Ecuador, we were able to attend various festiv. Dont forget to try the traditional chicha de yamor (fermented corn drink). One key moment of these festivals is the performance by the Banda de Pueblo. Enjoy any of Ecuadors festivals with Gulliver. One of the most famous carnivals is celebrated in the city of Guaranda, located in the center of the inter-Andean region of Ecuador. A colorful and joyful event, symbolizing new beginnings. In Ecuador, towns and villages across the country regularly celebrate local festivals and saint days nearly every week of the year. The carnival that commences the celebrations is the Carnival of the Father, locally known as Taita Carnival. Several Saints Days are celebrated in and around the time of Inti Raymi. The people of Pillaro and the Ecuador is a diversified rich cultural country. Bordeaux Wine Festival - Bordeaux, France. Make sure you arrive on time, as it gets quite crowded. It is the moment when family members, communities, and guests delight in a buffet-style feast of local produce. The festival usually takes place for a week, from June 21 onwards, during the summer solstice. devils, folk dances and parades throughout the city. The holy week - March 19th to -21st: This Catholic holiday commemorates the biblical events of Calvary of Christ. Many Ecuadorians enjoy it with family as its creation and consumption is a social family activity. Ecuadorians celebrate this day with military parades, as well as parades . Have you ever considered attending at local festivals and celebrations when traveling? This is an annual festival I love that you have started writing for us because it means that I will never stop learning about all that Ecuador has to offer! Witness one of the biggest Catholic events on the planet at Cirio de Nazare in Brazil. Celebrated on June 21, this day the sun is closer to the earth, making the day shorter and the night longer. their faces, leaving two holes for the eyes for the person to see. This date is celebrated with a military parade and other events, in the city of Quito. Although Semana Santa is celebrated across the country, religious parades in the capital city Quito, especially on Good Friday, are quite something in themselves. I cant wait to read your next article. Despite a religious history, Festa Junina is celebrated mainly through . The Inti Raymi celebrations take place during the months of June and July, however the major party id held on June 2st . 6 Reasons Why You Should Take your Beginner Diving course in Galapagos? In bodies of water such as Cuicocha lagoon and Peguche waterfall, communities park take in ritual cleansings to dispose of negative energy, renew positive energy, and reinforce their bond with mother nature. looks of passersby. Photo taken from : El Diario Where are the Best Places to Celebrate Inti Raymi in Ecuador? However, since this festival is enjoyed during a dry period with cool temperatures, it is an ideal time for harvesting corn, barley, wheat, and other delicacies that Pacha Mama bestows upon us. Families jump over their burning dolls, symbolizing self-purification for the New Year. the Yasuni National Park bestow upon the Amazon its special human character and identity. This festival sees men dressed up as For the festivities, crops like corn, beans, and potatoes are shared and a traditional corn-based beverage called chicha is distributed.
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