Ecuador
Culture:
The first thing to realize about Ecuadorian culture is that it is not one single culture. Instead it is a whole range of cultures mingled together, representing every level of this very stratified community.
Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but Quichua - an Incan language - is spoken by the Indian population. Besides Spanish, ten native languages are spoken in Ecuador. English is the most spoken foreign language amongst tourism service providers and professionals.
The Afro-Ecuadorians that are present in Ecuador today are famous for their marimba music and many music and dance festivals. Long before the Spanish conquered Ecuador and even before the rise of Incan civilization, the diverse native cultures of the region had rich musical traditions. Music played an important role in the ancient Andean people’s lives and archaeologists have found some very old instruments, such as, drums, flutes, trumpets and other musical artifacts, in ancient tombs.
The Ecuadorians have a distinctive type of dress code. The men and especially the woman in each region of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands can be easily identified by their dress as it is displays specific cultural diversities that are characteristic of that particular region. A major aspect of Indian identity is present in Ecuador. People that are familiar with the native dress can often tell roughly where an Indian is from, based on what they wear.
Ecuador has some very tasty and very strange combinations in their cuisine. You can expect to find some lemon marinated shrimps, toasted corn on the cob and a huge variety of pastries filled with all types of different stuffing.
As with all other places in the world, Christmas is celebrated in Ecuador. If you want the best and most original Christmas celebration, you should go to Cuenca on the 24th of December where the Pase Del Nino is held.
Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but Quichua - an Incan language - is spoken by the Indian population. Besides Spanish, ten native languages are spoken in Ecuador. English is the most spoken foreign language amongst tourism service providers and professionals.
The Afro-Ecuadorians that are present in Ecuador today are famous for their marimba music and many music and dance festivals. Long before the Spanish conquered Ecuador and even before the rise of Incan civilization, the diverse native cultures of the region had rich musical traditions. Music played an important role in the ancient Andean people’s lives and archaeologists have found some very old instruments, such as, drums, flutes, trumpets and other musical artifacts, in ancient tombs.
The Ecuadorians have a distinctive type of dress code. The men and especially the woman in each region of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands can be easily identified by their dress as it is displays specific cultural diversities that are characteristic of that particular region. A major aspect of Indian identity is present in Ecuador. People that are familiar with the native dress can often tell roughly where an Indian is from, based on what they wear.
Ecuador has some very tasty and very strange combinations in their cuisine. You can expect to find some lemon marinated shrimps, toasted corn on the cob and a huge variety of pastries filled with all types of different stuffing.
As with all other places in the world, Christmas is celebrated in Ecuador. If you want the best and most original Christmas celebration, you should go to Cuenca on the 24th of December where the Pase Del Nino is held.
Art:
Much of the art in Ecuador is traditional and usually the skills involved are passed down from generation to generation. Most of the locals make no distinction between fine arts and crafts. Most of the art is therefore not only beautiful but has a practical use. Some of the items you will find in cities are commercialized and are poor quality but if you make your way down to some of the craft markets, such as the ones found in Otavalo or Salcedo, you will find some really good genuine han crafted goods at decent prices.
Much of the art in Ecuador is traditional and usually the skills involved are passed down from generation to generation. Most of the locals make no distinction between fine arts and crafts. Most of the art is therefore not only beautiful but has a practical use. Some of the items you will find in cities are commercialized and are poor quality but if you make your way down to some of the craft markets, such as the ones found in Otavalo or Salcedo, you will find some really good genuine han crafted goods at decent prices.
Education:
Education in Ecuador is a subject that has been debated and improved dramatically over the years. The greatest concern, however, is still the education of the children located in rural areas and authorities are working hard to promote a bilingual education system. There are many Spanish schools in Ecuador as this is the most predominant language. However in the interest of development, governments are enthusiastic to popularize the teaching of various languages.
Government started to seriously address the issues of education in Ecuador in the 1980’s. Literacy in the rural areas was at dangerously low numbers and the lack of public schools also posed a problem. Most parents were not able to pay the fees required at private institutions and only a few of the teachers that were available in the rural communities were accredited. The number of scholars that were enrolling into the educational programs was not acceptable and many rural communities are not Spanish speaking.
Government started to seriously address the issues of education in Ecuador in the 1980’s. Literacy in the rural areas was at dangerously low numbers and the lack of public schools also posed a problem. Most parents were not able to pay the fees required at private institutions and only a few of the teachers that were available in the rural communities were accredited. The number of scholars that were enrolling into the educational programs was not acceptable and many rural communities are not Spanish speaking.
Language:
Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but Quichua, an Inca language, is spoken by the Indian population. Besides Spanish, ten native languages are spoken in Ecuador. English is the most spoken foreign language amongst tourist providers and professionals.
More people come to Ecuador daily in order to learn Spanish. It's more fun to travel if you know the language of the country. First of all, it's cheaper than studying in Spain and Ecuadorian Spanish is the least dialect-influenced Spanish in South America. And language schools in Ecuador have professional experience.
More people come to Ecuador daily in order to learn Spanish. It's more fun to travel if you know the language of the country. First of all, it's cheaper than studying in Spain and Ecuadorian Spanish is the least dialect-influenced Spanish in South America. And language schools in Ecuador have professional experience.
Sport:
When it comes to local sports, the most popular activity is generally soccer (football). Tourists are often welcome to join in on local games, but remember that many of the locals play the game often and display quite impressive skill. Soccer in Ecuador is something of a national pastime and local soccer heroes are celebrated with enthusiasm. In fact, the national soccer team has made waves all over the world, with Ecuador displaying some outstanding soccer talent that perhaps some parts of the world were completely unprepared to receive. In Ecuador, soccer is so popular that it is considered to be the national sport. Sometimes you will find locals playing more unusual games such as the “paddleball” which is played in Ibarra. These two, can be joined in on, but it is a good idea to watch for a while first and learn the rules of the game. Many of the locals along the coast also enjoy a good game of volleyball.
Folklore:
As with many countries, Ecuador is a country rich in culture, legends and folklore. Folklore in Ecuador takes on many forms and there is different folklore connected to individual areas, cities and even buildings. Some folklore in Ecuador has inspired festivals while others are dedicated to legends and cultural beliefs.
When traveling through Cuenca, you will be able to hear the stories of the Enchanted Stone, the Gargoyles, the Lamp of the Widow, the Chained Dog and the Witches. Some Ecuadorian Folklore was created to keep children from wrong doing, as is the case with the story of the Enchanted Stone. The Enchanted Stone, it is said, had great powers and closed the city off from a dark and mysterious part of the metropolis. Located in the Working District, it could grant wishes and was a wealth of information. Out of fear for the stone, no-one dared to talk to it. It also had the power to punish children who did not listen to their parents and of course this is the power that is emphasized the most in the story. The story was created to keep children away from this specific part of the city, as it was a place where young lovers were known to meet. It is said that Gargoyles cry like children when they come into contact with love affairs, while the story of the Lamp of the Widow originates in the El Vado District. It is said that the widow took the form of a haggard old woman as a disguise to travel to her lover unnoticed. Quito overflows with Ecuadorian Folklore and you can hear a different legend or story on almost each street corner. According to legend, the indigenous foundation of Quito revolves around the story of the King and a falling star that he and his people followed on the insistence of the gods. The star took them to the Pichincha Volcano, where they relocated and established the city of Quito. You will also hear the tale of the Cathedral Rooster and the insulting wealthy man that passed the cathedral every day on route to his favorite watering hole. And there are many other stories and legends just like these. Cantuna also has its own folklores. One of the most popular is the story of the building of the San Francisco Atrium. It is said that a man by the name of Cantuna was falling behind schedule on the building that he was being paid for. After many prayers and hours of work, Cantuna thought he would never finish. One day, Satan stopped by to offer Cantuna help in exchange for his soul. A deal was made on the condition that not one stone was to be out of place. The devil’s workers built the church, but in their haste forgot a stone and Cantuna was able to keep his soul.Each story and legend is part of the intricately woven fabric of folklore of Ecuador. These stories serve to enrich each city and town with culture and history. When traveling through Ecuador, be sure to ask the locals about their folklore and legends, as they are guaranteed to be fascinating and give you a little insight into the history and culture of the country.
When traveling through Cuenca, you will be able to hear the stories of the Enchanted Stone, the Gargoyles, the Lamp of the Widow, the Chained Dog and the Witches. Some Ecuadorian Folklore was created to keep children from wrong doing, as is the case with the story of the Enchanted Stone. The Enchanted Stone, it is said, had great powers and closed the city off from a dark and mysterious part of the metropolis. Located in the Working District, it could grant wishes and was a wealth of information. Out of fear for the stone, no-one dared to talk to it. It also had the power to punish children who did not listen to their parents and of course this is the power that is emphasized the most in the story. The story was created to keep children away from this specific part of the city, as it was a place where young lovers were known to meet. It is said that Gargoyles cry like children when they come into contact with love affairs, while the story of the Lamp of the Widow originates in the El Vado District. It is said that the widow took the form of a haggard old woman as a disguise to travel to her lover unnoticed. Quito overflows with Ecuadorian Folklore and you can hear a different legend or story on almost each street corner. According to legend, the indigenous foundation of Quito revolves around the story of the King and a falling star that he and his people followed on the insistence of the gods. The star took them to the Pichincha Volcano, where they relocated and established the city of Quito. You will also hear the tale of the Cathedral Rooster and the insulting wealthy man that passed the cathedral every day on route to his favorite watering hole. And there are many other stories and legends just like these. Cantuna also has its own folklores. One of the most popular is the story of the building of the San Francisco Atrium. It is said that a man by the name of Cantuna was falling behind schedule on the building that he was being paid for. After many prayers and hours of work, Cantuna thought he would never finish. One day, Satan stopped by to offer Cantuna help in exchange for his soul. A deal was made on the condition that not one stone was to be out of place. The devil’s workers built the church, but in their haste forgot a stone and Cantuna was able to keep his soul.Each story and legend is part of the intricately woven fabric of folklore of Ecuador. These stories serve to enrich each city and town with culture and history. When traveling through Ecuador, be sure to ask the locals about their folklore and legends, as they are guaranteed to be fascinating and give you a little insight into the history and culture of the country.
Food:
- Local dishes in the different regions of Ecuador are always worth a try. The traditional recipes are handed down through families with subtle variations in different towns. Don't miss these typical regional Ecuadorian dishes:
Typical Ecuadorian dishes in the highlands (sierra)
Traditional foods of the highland region of Ecuador are often based around - potatoes
- sweetcorn
- cheese
- avocadoes.
Typical highland Ecuadorian dishes include
- llapingachos, delicious little fried patties of mashed potato and cheese, often served with a fried egg, avocado, and beetroot and sometimes sausage or pork as well. Without the meat, llapingachos make a good meal for veggies, one of the easier to find options for vegetarian food in Ecuador.
- Locro is a filling potato and cheese soup.
Traditional foods of Ecuador's costa or coastal region
- Typical Ecuadorian dishes in the costa makes use of local ingredients such as plantain (savoury banana), yuca (a type of yam), coconut and rice. There are also a wide variety of subtropical and tropical fruits (papaya, pineapple, starfruit and many more) though these do not often appear on restaurant menus other than as fresh juices.
- Typical seafood dishes in Ecuador
Ecuador's seafood is, of course, at its best and freshest on the coast. Esmeraldas province, in the north, is rightly famous for its fantastic "encocados" - fish or prawns in a rich coconut sauce, usually served with rice and patacones.
- Encocados are difficult to find outside of Esmeraldas, but are of the finest traditional Ecuadorian dishes, so don't miss them if you are visiting the beach resorts of Atacames or Sua
- Traditional holiday foods
Certain public holidays and festivals in Ecuador also have special foods associated with them. For example on 2nd November, All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead, decorated bread babies (guaguas de pan) are eaten. Colada morada is drunk at this time, a purple drink made from a huge list of ingredients including black raspberries, blueberries, dark maize flour, pineapple and a range of different herbs and spices. If your visit coincides with any local festivals or holidays, ask around to be sure you don't miss the associated seasonal Ecuadorian dishes.
http://www.ecuador.com/culture
http://www.ecuadortravelsite.org/traditional_dishes_ecuador.html
By Guillermo Chang
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