Day of the Dead party

At 5pm, we were all invited to a Day of the Dead party hosted by the family who own the hostel. The Day of the Dead has pre-Columbian origins. Indigenous communities held ceremonies and rituals to honour the memory of their ancestors. With the arrival of the Spanish, these indigenous traditions merged with Catholic customs, creating a unique celebration that combines both worldviews.

In Ecuador, families gather at cemeteries to pay their respects. They clean and decorate the graves of loved ones with flowers and candles. The atmosphere is one of reflection, but also of celebration, as families reminisce about their loved ones, sharing stories and memories.

Music often fills the air, with traditional bands playing folk tunes, creating an atmosphere that is both solemn and festive.

Central to the celebration is the preparation and consumption of 'Colada Morada', a thick, fruity drink made from black corn flour and a variety of fruits like blackberries, strawberries, and pineapple, spiced with cinnamon and cloves, and sweetened with panela (unrefined whole cane sugar). The rich purple colour of the drink is significant as it represents the mixing of the 'blood' of the various fruits, reminiscent of the unity and collective mourning of the community. Furthermore, some believe that the ingredients used have ancestral significance, as many of them were present in the indigenous diet long before the Spanish arrived. Consuming Colada Morada is akin to partaking in a shared history and memory, a collective act of remembrance.

To eat, Ecuadorians have 'Guaguas de Pan', sweet bread figures, often shaped like children or animals. 'Guagua' means child in the indigenous Kichwa language. These bread figures are decorated with coloured icing and sometimes filled with sweet fillings. The guagua de pan is a symbolic representation of the souls of departed children. The act of crafting these bread figurines is not only a culinary tradition but a form of remembrance. The consumption of the bread symbolizes the internalisation of the memories of the departed, ensuring they remain a part of the living. It also embodies the idea that death is a part of life, and through these rituals, the cycle of life and death is acknowledged and honoured.

Both of these delicacies are enjoyed together and are a treat that Ecuadorians look forward to every year.

We were served both and were entertained with traditional singing, dancing, and the playing of a wooden panpipe. The family had made a fire, so we were all toasty warm. We stayed on after the celebrations were over, chatting together in the dark during another scheduled power outage. It was a memorable evening.Read more