Christmas in Christmas in EcuadorEcuadorByByJessie WarnerJessie WarnerAndAndMarisa ReppMarisa Repp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWuKimtUEas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWuKimtUEas

Dia de NavidadDia de Navidad

Ecuador celebrates Ecuador celebrates Christmas and the Christmas and the birth of Jesus.birth of Jesus.

Christmas in Christmas in Ecuador is a Ecuador is a religious celebration religious celebration gathering together gathering together the whole family.the whole family.

They celebrate it on They celebrate it on December 24December 24thth to to the 25the 25thth..

Christmas TraditionsChristmas Traditions

Ecuadorians hold public Ecuadorians hold public gatherings of prayer, gatherings of prayer, hymns, and religious hymns, and religious poetry on Christmas Eve.poetry on Christmas Eve.

They have a Christmas They have a Christmas dinner which traditionally dinner which traditionally includes stuffed turkey includes stuffed turkey or chicken, grapes and or chicken, grapes and raisins, salads, and wine.raisins, salads, and wine.

After the Christmas After the Christmas celebrations, celebrations, Ecuadorians make dolls Ecuadorians make dolls stuffed with hay and stuffed with hay and fireworks. Then they fireworks. Then they ignite them.ignite them.

Christmas PageantsChristmas Pageants

In different cities, they hold Christmas pageants.In different cities, they hold Christmas pageants. The biggest pageant is called Pase del Niño Viajero The biggest pageant is called Pase del Niño Viajero

held in Cuenca. Which celebrates Jesus‘s birth.held in Cuenca. Which celebrates Jesus‘s birth. It is believed it was started in the 1960’s when a It is believed it was started in the 1960’s when a

Christ Child statue (NiChrist Child statue (Niñño Viajero) was brought back o Viajero) was brought back from Rome.from Rome.

It is always celebrated on December 24th and It is always celebrated on December 24th and 25th.25th.

The parade in the pageant represents Mary and The parade in the pageant represents Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem.Joseph traveling to Bethlehem.

They also have the Three Wiseman, shepherds, They also have the Three Wiseman, shepherds, and Angels.and Angels.

Christmas EveChristmas Eve

Once Ecuadorian Once Ecuadorian children are asleep, children are asleep, their parents leave their their parents leave their presents at the foot of presents at the foot of the bed.the bed.

At midnight Ecuadorians At midnight Ecuadorians gather for the Misa del gather for the Misa del Gallo or “Rooster’s Gallo or “Rooster’s Mass”, which is a huge Mass”, which is a huge celebration. Its name celebration. Its name comes from the idea comes from the idea that a rooster was one that a rooster was one of the first things to of the first things to witness Jesus’s birth.witness Jesus’s birth.

SourcesSources

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3629/336http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3629/3369793439_d658f995c9.jpg9793439_d658f995c9.jpg

http://www.vivaloja.com/index.php?http://www.vivaloja.com/index.php?option=com_joomgallery&func=wateroption=com_joomgallery&func=watermark&catid=10&id=346&Itemid=774 mark&catid=10&id=346&Itemid=774

http://goodiesfirst.typepad.com/http://goodiesfirst.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/25/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/25/christmas_eve_dinner.jpgchristmas_eve_dinner.jpg

http://gosouthamerica.about.com/ad/http://gosouthamerica.about.com/ad/christmas/a/QuitoQuenca_2.htm christmas/a/QuitoQuenca_2.htm