Ecuador Background (Historia)
Ecuador is a country with a wealth of natural, cultural and archeological richness. It is located in the Northeast part of South America and borders Colombia in the North, Peru in the South and East, and the Pacific Ocean to the West. It gained its independence from Spain in 1822 and became a part of the Gran Colombia together with the countries we now know as Colombia, Venezuela and Panamá. The Gran Colombia split in 1830 and Ecuador became an independent nation.
Ecuador straddles its namesake, the equator, and has a total area of 256,370 square kilometers (98,985 mi²). The country's capital city is Quito and its largest city is Guayaquil.
Official Language: Spanish
Co-offical - Quichua, Shuar
Nationality:
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
Population: 13,755,680 (July 2007 est.)
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Monetary Unit: United States Dollar
Area:
total: 283,560 sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries:
total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Regions of Ecuador:
24 Provinces:
1. Azuay
2. Bolivar
3. Canar
4. Carchi
5. Chimborazo
6. Cotopaxi
7. El Oro
8. Esmeraldas
9. Galapagos
10. Guayas
11. Imbabura
12. Loja
13. Los Rios
14. Manabi
15. Morona-Santiago
16. Napo
17. Orellana
18. Pastaza
19. Pichincha
20. Santa Elena
21. Sto. Domingo de los Tsachillas
22. Sucumbios
23. Tungurahua
24. Zamora-Chinchipe
Four Regions:
- Coastal Region
- Mountanous Region
- Amazon Region
- Insular Region
Capital: Quito
Geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
Time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Main Cities: Guayaquil and Cuenca
National Holidays (Feriadas)
2009 Civic or Religious Festival and Holiday Date (Feriado)
NEW YEAR (ANO NUEVO) - January 1st
Ecuador has a very unique New Year tradition. On December 31st Ecuadorians celebrate New Year's eve with the "años viejos"("old years") by making dummies constructed of paper, sawdust, wood, and firecrackers. These dummies are then burned to symbolize the passing of the old year and the coming of the new one.
CARNIVAL - February 21st - 24th
Carnival is celebrated in February or March (the week before Lent) and ends on Ash Wednesday. Ecuadorians celebrate Carnival by throwing balloons filled with water, bags filled with flour, using water guns, or anything (even eggs) that may make others messy or wet.
GOOD FRIDAY (VIERNES SANTO) - April 10th
LABOR DAY (DIA DEL TRABAJO) - May 1st
BATTLE OF PICHINCHA (BATALLA DEL PICHINCHA) - May 24th
NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY - August 10th
GYAUAQUIL INDEPENDENCE DAY - October 9th
ALL SAINTS' DAY - November 1st
DAY OF THE DEAD (DIA DE LOS DIFUNTOS) - November 2nd
The most important dates in the indigenous calendar are the 1st and 2nd of November. All Saints' Day (Todos los Santos) and Day of the Dead (Dia de los Difuntos, o muertos). The ancient belief is that the soul visits its relatives within these days and should have plenty of food so it can continue further on its journey to the after life. The ritual involves the construction of a tomb that is adorned with a black cloth, bread dolls, and the soul's favorite food and drink. The ritual is observed for up to three years. It is not continued afterwards. The celebration itself is a mixture of ethnic cultures and Catholic customs.
CUENCA INDEPENDENCE DAY - November 3rd
CHRISTMAS (NAVIDAD) - December 25th
Christmas (Navidad), is celebrated in Ecuador in a very similar manner to other countries around the world. However, Ecuador's unique Christmas tradition is the parade of the "Pase del Niño" which is held annually on the 24th of December.
