Christmas in Ecuador

For many people in Ecuador the Christmas starts on December 16th with the Novenas. These are the nine nights leading up to Christmas. There are nine to represents the nine months that Mary pregnant. Families and friends get together to sing villancicos (Christmas Carols) and to pray for sick people they know. People normally go to a different house each night for the Novena. The Novenas are similar to the Posadas in Mexico.

Most houses in Ecuador will be decorated with a Nativity Scene called a pesebre. It's traditional that the figure of the baby Jesus isn't put into the scene until the night of Christmas Eve. As well as animals like sheep and cows, you might also get llamas in the pesebre!

Towns and cities will also have large pesebre or Naciemiento on display running up to Christmas.

A special Christmas parade called 'El Pase del Niño Viajero' (The Passage Of The Travelling Child) takes place in many towns and cities from mid December and Christmas Eve. In the procession a figure of the baby Jesus is carried through the streets with lots of music, singing and dancing. There are often other floats and people dressed up for the celebrations.

The processions started in the early 1960s after a figure of the baby Jesus was taken to Rome, in Italy, to be blessed by the Pope. The parades are popular throughout Ecuador, but especially in the Andes. The biggest El Pase del Niño Viajero takes place on Christmas Eve in the city of Cuenca and lasts for about eight hours! It ends with the El Niño (the baby Jesus) being carried into the Cathedral de la Inmaculada.

A popular activity at Christmas in Ecuador is 'Amigo Secreto' (Secret Friend) which is like Secret Santa. Often multiple gifts are sent in secret, in the days before Christmas, with the gift giver being revealed on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve is known as Noche Buena (the good night) and is when the main Christmas meal 'Cena de Nochebuena' is eaten and presents are exchanged. The gift bringer in Ecuador is 'Papa Noel' (Father Christmas/Santa Claus). Getting new shoes is a common gift in Ecuador.

The Christmas meal can consist of roast turkey, chicken or ham with side dishes like race, potatoes and vegetables. 'Arroz Navideño' (Christmas rice) is yellow rice mixed with different things like small pieces of ham, almonds and raisins, olives, peanuts, cheese and sweetcorn. Different families will have their own recipes for Arroz Navideño made how they like it! A very popular Christmas drink is Rompope, which is like eggnog. Ecuadorian Christmas cake is 'Pan de Pascua' which is like panettone.

Many Ecuadorians will go to Church for the Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass). It can be at Midnight or in the early evening. So you might have the Cena de Nochebuena and exchange presents either before or after going to church!

In Ecuador most people speak Spanish (Español), so Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Feliz Navidad'. In the Quechua it's 'Paqariku Atawsami'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.