DAY THE DECEASED IN ECUADOR

Typical Food

The colada morada was traditionally used during the burial rites for the dead. It apparently started
out as a mixture of corn flour, potatoes, beans, peas, cabbage, achiote, that has evolved into the
fruit version popular today. Another tradition are the guaguas de pan. Guagua is the Quechua
word for baby, so this is translated "Bread Babies”. Now, every November 2, thousands of people
bring this purple drink to the graves of their dead loved ones.

Religious ceremonies

The native people had their own burial rites and ways of remembering their ancestors. These
customs were adopted by the Catholic church in an attempt to bring these indigenous people to
salvation. The Catholic calendar designates November 2nd as All Souls Day, when prayers are
offered for souls that are in purgatory.

Visits to the cemetery

On the Dia de los Difuntos, entire families go to the cemetery to visit their dead loved ones. They
sometimes bring a complete meal (usually the deceased's favorite) along with the guaguas de pan
and colada morada. This meal is shared with the dead, the graves are decorated and prayers are
offered.

Traditional games

The balls: The most common is to draw a circle on the ground and each turn, play the marble
trying to get the balls of the other competitors from the bomb. The trompo´s game requires a lot
of skill to make the spin "dance" for as long as possible, the tops were classically made of wood
but nowadays there are also plastic ones.