“UNIVERSIDAD TECNOLÓGICA

INDOAMÉRICA”

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
HOMEWORK

STUDENT: ORTEGA MARÍA ESTHER

teacher: PAOLA XIMENA GALEAS LEMA
LEVEL: SIXTH

AMBATO – ECUADOR
2021
 "LA MAMA NEGRA" (THE BLACK
MOTHER)
POPULAR ECUADORIAN FESTIVAL TYPICAL OF
LATACUNGA
HISTORY
The celebration of the festival of the
Mama Negra began in 1877 as a
celebration of gratitude to the kindness
of the Virgin of La Merced "Patroness
against the Fury of the Volcano",
miraculous saint who repeatedly saved
the people of Latacunga from the
devastating force of the Cotopaxi
volcano.
 MAIN CHARACTERS
The ABANDERADO: A kind of adorned military
man, in charge of entertaining the public by
coordinately waving a large checkered flag.

The CAPTAIN: This is the prioste mayor, the one

who spends the party, "elegantly" uniformed and
with sword in hand.

The ASHANGUERO: Role that is

represented by the strongest, because on
their backs they carry large baskets full
of fruits, bread, chickens, guinea pigs and
liquors to distribute to the guests while
the party lasts.
 MINOR CHARACTERS
THE HUACOS: At the head of the troupes, the
"huacos" or sorcerers take "volunteers" from
the public (generally women) and apply
cleanings to them, the character of the
"huaco" invokes the pre-colonial indigenous
festival of the "Citua", a purification rite to
keep away the epidemics that come with the
September rains.
THE CAMISONAS: Wives of the soldiers, they
are known by that name for wearing a long
shirt full of ornaments and for being women
without feminine skills.

THE CHAMPUSEROS: Characters

characterized for handing out the
"champús"; a corn wash given to
the attendees of the event.
 INTANGIBLE CULTURAL
HERITAGE OF ECUADOR

The Mama Negra is a traditional celebration

characterized for being a symbiosis of the
indigenous, Spanish and African culture;
magical ceremony destined to capture the life,
customs and traditions of the indigenous
people of Ecuador, showing to the whole world
through its varied comparsas the cultural
wealth of our homeland.
 DATES OF THE MAMA NEGRA
FESTIVITIES

The celebration of the Mama Negra is

celebrated in the city of Latacunga twice a
year:
SEPTEMBER: This celebration is organized by
the market vendors of the Merced market in
honor and in gratitude to their patroness for
the blessings given to them.

FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER: Celebration

organized by the inhabitants of Latacunga with
the purpose of celebrating their patron saint
and their Independence.