Events calendar Ecuador

If there is one event not to be missed in Pujilí, it is the Corpus Christi celebrations. People come from all over the country, but also from Peru and Bolivia, to thank the fertile land. Numerous dances and processions, each more beautiful, luminous and colorful than the last, follow one another. At the heart of these festivals, a main character: the Danzante. Since 2014, it has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Danzante, whose appearance is similar to that of the Andean condor, dances for joy following the corn harvest.

It is on December 6th that Quito celebrates its foundation in 1534, by the Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Benalcázar (or Belalcázar). At the time, the Inca Empire was in the grip of a cruel power struggle between Atahualpa and his brother Huascar. The first defended his hegemony from Quito while the second was based in Cuzco (in present-day Peru). Huascar, humiliated in battle, accepted death and Atahualpa, victorious, agreed to meet with the Spaniards who murdered him. Benalcazar who arrived from the south in search of Atahualpa's treasure took over the city.

Commemoration of the birth of the so-called Libertador (born in 1783in Caracas, Venezuela, and died on 17 December 1830 in Santa Marta, Colombia). Anti-imperialist and nationalist, he is an emblematic figure of the emancipation of the Spanish colonies in South America and participated in the independence of Ecuador. The commemoration of his birth gives rise to various festivities throughout the country. It is a national holiday, accompanied by military and school parades, especially in Guayaquil, which celebrates its foundation the next day.

Since 1944, every year on February 12, the peoples of Amazonia (Oriente) celebrate the discovery of the Amazon by Captain Francisco de Orellana during an expedition in search of treasures and species unknown at the time. He named this new river Amazonas, believing it to be in the path of the legendary, beautiful and valiant women warriors of Greek mythology. Throughout the region, traditional dances are performed and chicha, a popular alcoholic beverage, is drunk on this occasion.

The first edition was held in 2016. On the occasion of the Festival of Light, the city is transformed for a few days at night. The most famous buildings of the capital are adorned with colors and lights (there were about twenty installations in 2018). A sublime show to which the city of Lyon has brought all its expertise through an international partnership. It is a very beautiful show that tends to become part of the annual celebrations, especially since it takes place at the same time as Independence Day.