The Festival of Fruits and Flowers

The Festival of Fruits and Flowers is one the biggest Carnival celebration in Ecuador. The event takes place in Ambato, a highland city in the middle of the country. Ambato is known for its markets and year-long fruit production. However, the festival occurs in February, which is the peak of the fruit season. The celebration sprawls over the span of an entire month, and includes such festivities as bullfights, concerts, barrio parties, beauty pageants, and parades. The beauty pageant is televised, and posters of the finalists are displayed throughout the city. The winner becomes the Queen of Ambato.The winning poster can be viewed on the website of the municipality, with the motto “Ambato, alegría para el mundo” This olla podrida of events highlights the diverse cultural identity of Ecuador. The floats used in the parades are decorated with fruits and flowers and loaves of bread.

Originally, the festival was a way for the community to overcome the aftermath of an earthquake in 1949, which destroyed much of the city. During the first of the festival, there are parades and people drink a lot of peach flavored wine. Carnival is also a religious holiday, so each year, an outside mass is given the Sunday before Lent. A mural of Jesus is set up as well, composed entirely of flowers, fruit, and bread, and the blessing is known as Bendición de Flores, Frutas y Pan.


Sources:
http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/05-01/ecuadors-festival-of-fruits-and-flowers-ambato-ecuador.html
http://ecuador-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/carnival_celebrations_in_ecuador
http://www.ecuador.com/blog/the-festival-of-fruit-and-flowers-in-ambato
http://www.ecuador.com/blog/the-festival-of-fruit-and-flowers-in-ambato

La Dia de Los Muertos

La Dia de Los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico on November 1st and 2nd and is a celebration of both life and death. On November 1st, the death of small children, los angelitos, is commemorated. The next day, November 2nd, is one the death of adults is remembered. This celebration represents a blend of cultures from both pre-Hispanic times in Mexico and the Roman Catholic traditions introduced into the society with the Spanish Conquest. The main symbol of the festival is the skull, which comes from the Aztec’s god of death.

During this celebration, people put out offerings (usually food) to attract the souls of the dead. Some families even make alters for the dead and place their offerings there along with pillows and blankets. Deceased loved ones are expected to visit the homes of their families during La Dia de Los Muertos, which is why people erect alters with food and other things to make the ghosts of their loved ones welcome. Other objects displayed on the altar for the spirits may include alcohol, cigarettes, and a washbasin and hand towel. People also decorate the graves of those they have lost.

Living adults drink a lot of alcohol for this celebration, particularly tequila, which may be used to toast the dead. Some of the delicacies of this celebration are el pan del muerto and Calabaza en Tacha.


Sources:
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/muertos.html
http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm
http://farstrider.net/Mexico/Muertos/index.htm
http://www.elmonterey.com/mexicanculture/festivals.aspx#diadelosmuertos