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