Ecuador
Holidays and Festivals in Ecuador
Every city of Ecuador celebrates their own festivals either in honor of a saint (Most Ecuadorians are Catholics), or the city's festivities. There are plenty more celebrations throughout the country such as: "Virgen del Carmen", on the 16th of July. The "Fiesta de la Mama Negra" in Latacunga, which is held on the 23rd and 24th of September, among others.
Christmas in Ecuador
Christmas, or Navidad, in Ecuador is probably most celebrated holiday throughout the year. As a very religious country, Ecuador is also very family-oriented, but during Christmas family traditions are doubled, tripled, and quadrupled. Christmas is indeed family time, but there are, however, other incredibly sweet and heartwarming Christmas customs and traditions in Ecuador.
New year in Ecuador
New Year in Ecuador is as much about the Old Year as the new. Effigies are made of old clothes stuffed with newspaper and adorned with a mask. These are known as the "Año Viejos" or Old Years, and are burnt at midnight on New Year's Eve. The idea is to leave any negativity or problems behind in the old year and start afresh.