Although the Day of the Dead or Dia de los Difuntos happened back in November, you're all aware that my 2009 blogging skills were a bit impaired. So, you're getting the post now!
At the beginning of November, Ecuadorians celebrate this holiday by heading to the cemeteries (which resemble apartment buildings for dead folks), cleaning the graves, decorating them with flowers and candles, and just spending the day close to their loved ones and "catching up" with the dead. Everyone also eats guagas de pan or bread babies, and colada morada or a thick, warm, dark purple drink. The guaguas represent the body of the deceased, while the coloda morada, which is made from blueberries, blackberries, pineapple, corn and a bunch of spices like cinnamon, cloves and lemon verbena, symbolizes the blood of the dead and the living. Some people also leave food at the grave sites, which goes back to an Incan tradition in which people would share food and anecdotes with the dead.
Enjoy the photos below.
At the beginning of November, Ecuadorians celebrate this holiday by heading to the cemeteries (which resemble apartment buildings for dead folks), cleaning the graves, decorating them with flowers and candles, and just spending the day close to their loved ones and "catching up" with the dead. Everyone also eats guagas de pan or bread babies, and colada morada or a thick, warm, dark purple drink. The guaguas represent the body of the deceased, while the coloda morada, which is made from blueberries, blackberries, pineapple, corn and a bunch of spices like cinnamon, cloves and lemon verbena, symbolizes the blood of the dead and the living. Some people also leave food at the grave sites, which goes back to an Incan tradition in which people would share food and anecdotes with the dead.
Enjoy the photos below.
"Here, vanity ends and equality begins"
Typical Ecuadorian cemetery
Decorating the graves
Baking guaguas
2 comments:
Wow - how spiritual to be part of that. The pictures are spectacular although I'm sure they do no justice. Using black and white photos really capture the mood.
Interesting cemetery. I've never seen something like that... Día de los Muertos used be a pretty big deal in Costa Rica. Not anymore, since my parents generation I think.
Post a Comment