LIVING IN ECUADOR - CUENCA HALLOWEEN IN JANUARY!!!

If you read Bo's recent post, he wrote, "Today’s oblation is called the Dia De Los Innocentes parade. City officials expect about 1,000 to participate in the parade with another 25,000 watching along the route.  Like many of Cuenca’s festivals, the Day of the Innocents was originally a religious celebration that, over the years, took on the trappings of carnival. The event is intended as a remembrance of King Herod’s death sentence ordered for all Israeli new-born boys after the birth of Christ. The event is celebrated throughout Latin American. Cuenca's version is reportedly the largest in Ecuador and includes a competition for the best costumes and skits, many with satirical, political and social commentary themes. The event is notable for the army of boys and young men parading in women’s clothes although it also includes women dressed as men and a wide variety of devils, clowns and historic and fictional characters.  You won’t want to miss this one!  I'll see if I can get Linda to take some pictures and send them along in our next blog post.  Til then, be happy!!  Life is short and so are Ecuadorians!!"

Well, as Bo sort of promised, I'm posting photos of this most bizarre parade (fiesta)!  First of all, when we left our apartment and walked towards the route of this supposedly "religious theme" parade - we suddenly were walking alongside another religious parade.  I'm not sure what the theme of this parade was, but it was small and somber in music and costume compared to the one we would soon approach.  The smell of "Catholic" incense and the adorned floats and costumed people seemed to express some sort of Catholic religious theme for their reason to march down the streets of Cuenca.

We followed along the narrow sidewalks as latin music blared for the walking paraders, religious floats, adorned children mounted on horsed, and colorfully costumed dancers.  The smell of this Ecuadorian women's "Catholic" incense permeated throughout the streets.

Colorfully clad dancers capture the viewers' attention!

Beautifully adorned children on horseback enjoy their time to shine in this small religious fiesta.

Many parents march in the fiestas with their young ones adorned and in arm.

"El Gigante Gringo" marches on the cobbled streets alongside the paraders.  (Yes, he's standing on the sidewalk, but he's still a giant compared to these diminutive Cuencanos.)

We walked alongside this parade for awhile and soon found ourselves on the main street of spectators waiting for the 4 pm "Dia De Los Innocentes" event to begin.  Well, it never did, for a long long time!  I had more fun photographing the passersby who seemed to be walking towards the parade then I did the actual event.  Why?  The event never began until about two hours later and it was nothing like other parades we've experienced here.   People were pushing themselves into the streets where the parade was to pass, police were trying to cordon off the street-lined spectators so the parade could procession through an open area, and it was absolute chaos and disorganization.  It also began to rain at one point.  When the parade finally advanced to where we were, I had already had my fill of photography.  Yet, I continued to photograph in spite of the low light of the evening.  We finally had enough of this halloweenish event (it reflected nothing of what Bo wrote about, which is what the original theme of this bibilical parade (fiesta) was supposed to be), and we finally pushed our way through the thick and intense (and somewhat drunken) crowd and walked home to the quiet of our city sanctuary (quiet compared to the revelry of this insane and bizarre event).  This is one parade I didn't really feel happy about when I walked away!  I did, however, happen to capture some fun photography, though the pictures reflect nothing about the biblical theme and event that took place in the day of Christ Jesus.  Go figure!!!!!  Here are some of the photos I captured to give you an idea of what this "Dia De Los Innocentes (Day of the Innocents) has become to the people of Cuenca…..

Girlfriends pose for a moment to shine in their costumes!

Wall watchers had the best view.

Costumes reflected everything but a biblical theme of Herod and the slaughter of the innocent.

Even pets were adorned for this event!

There were many police patrolling the streets, and at one point the crowds were cordoned off to make room for the paraders.

it was absolute chaos and disorganization!  Thousands showed up for this bizarre "Halloweenish" event!

Many parade viewers sat along the curb and seemed to be having a wonderful time watching the costumed strollers as they indulged in their vendor foods.  (Many of the beautiful Ecuadorian women dress up to the hilt and wear amazingly pointed spiked heels.  How in the world can they walk on these death-trap cobbled sidewalks and streets is beyond me when I can barely keep my balance in my running shoes!!!)

Finally, after a sprinkle of rain and evening dusk falling upon the city, the "fiesta" was on it's way through the crowded sardine-lined streets.....

There were colorful clowns.....

Wild partying drinking men in in drag.......

Freakish funny-looking who-knows-what.........

Sponge-faced characters......

.....and hundreds of Halloweenishly attired individuals and couples!

I could go on and on posting the trilliion crazy photos I captured, but I'm sure you get the gist of this wild and weird event.  It was more like a Halloween Street Party and we saw nothing that resembled the true meaning of the Biblical title, "Dia De Los Innocentes."

I'm sure there will be another parade this weekend, or soon enough.  I wonder what the next one will be?  Stay tuned................

living In Ecuador - CUENCA'S ALL DAY PARADE!!!

Today was Cuenca's all-day parade called "Pase Del Nino."  What an amazing and unique day it was for us!  With camera in hand and only a two block walk from our apartment to Calle Simon Bolivar, we were able to plant ourselves for hours and observe a most grand celebration by these partying religious Ecuadorian people.  This eight-hour plus procession had the most creative and colorfully decorated vehicles, horses, adults, children, pets, and floats.  there were bands, stilt-walkers, dancers, and latin music along the narrow cobbled streets.  Crowds lined the Bolivar, and vendors cried out with sweet and cold drinks, traditional foods, cotton candy, ice cream, and various wares for sale.  The theme was the Catholic infant Jesus being carried through the peoples' town.  It is written that over 50,000 people participate in the parade, and more then 200,000 observers watch from the sidewalks, balconies, and rooftops.  This is also a three-month-long celebration which extends to early March when Ecuadorians celebrate "Carnival."  A high alcohol content drink called Chicha was also being handed out, free, which is their traditional holiday beverage.  Bo and I didn't get to sample this drink, but I read that it is very bitter and not tasty at all.

My photography delight was seeing and capturing the families together walking the streets or riding in floats and vehicles with their adorned beautiful children.  Their satiny dark skin, shiny charcoal eyes, and thick long dark hair stood out in their colorful and bling-adorned costumes as they proudly flaunted their religious belief and dedication to this relgious celebration. 

We were able to walk back to our apartment to take several breaks from this festivity.  Never before have we experienced a day long parade with so much energy and festivity on the streets of a city.  There was such joy, laughter, music, song, and dance all day long, and it was a wonderful experience for us as newcomers to this unique and vibrant city.

At 3 pm, we were back at our apartment, and via Skype we were able to see and talk to our mom.  The care facility had her all dressed up in her Christmas outfit, and she looked wonderful and our conversation was sweet and precious.  At 87, Mom's dementia is slowly advancing, but she still knows her children.  I cried saying goodbye to her, knowing I can't just drive over to see her and spend Christmas Day with her this year.  However, I continue to rest in the fact that she is in a loving place with loving care, and I know they will make her Christmas special.

I hope our readers will enjoy some of the special photos I took of this day's festivities.  It won't be the same as watching the parade live, but at least it will give you a glimpse of how grandly Ecuadorians celebrate, and how serious they are about their creative costumes and parades and festivities.

 CUENCA'S BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN

 

MORE BEAUTIFUL PARADE PEOPLE.......

ECUADORIANS LOVE COLOR!!!

A CATHOLIC RELIGOUS THEME ADORNED ALL OF THE PASSING FLOATS......

ECUADORIAN WOMEN IN THEIR ELABORATE PARADE ATTIRE

MANY OF THE FLOATS, HORSES, VEHICLES, AND WALKING PARADERS CARRIED CHANCHO (ROASTED PIG), ROASTED CUY (GUINEA PIG), POLLO (CHICKEN), AND OTHER FOOD GIFTS.

 

CUENCA'S PARADE DANCERS

 IT WAS A DAY OF FESTIVITIES AND VIBRANT COLORS

IS THAT CHICHA HE'S SIPPING???

(Notice the detail of this adorned Horse - toys, candy, ribbons, etc.)

CUY (GUINEA PIG) AND DRINK

THE Calle SIMON BOLIVAR BALCONY WATCHERS

By evening, the streets were lined with "basura." 

CUENCA IS A CLEAN CITY, THANKS TO THE BLUE AND ORANGE MEN AND WOMEN!

WITH GRASS GROOM, THEY QUICKLY SWEPT UP THE GARBAGE AND FILLED WICKER BASKETS....

 .....as the water truck drove by and finished the clean-up task.

 The wicker garbage-filled baskets were dumped into the garbage truck......

 ......and in less than 5 minutes the streets along this corner were immaculately swept and washed down!

This evening, on the way home, we stopped and bought a postre (dessert) and took it to Sr. Diaz.  We wanted to wish him a "Feliz Navidad."  He was sitting at his shoeshine home eating a simple bowl of rice.  It was sweet seeing him light up as he took the dessert and shook our hands, thanking us with such gratitude.  A simple gesture meant so much to him (and to us)!

 Tonight and tomorrow, some will be celebrating Christmas with family and friends, and some will be all alone.  Some will be celebrating through their religious beliefs, and some will be celebrating with a special meal and gift exchange.  Some will remember with heart-felt gratitude Jesus Christ as their Risen Savior, and some will scoff at the name of Jesus.

Tonight and tomorrow, Bo and I are thousands of miles away from our family and friends, but we will be celebrating our Risen Lord and Savior together.  We have so much to be thankful for apart from the material world of stuff.  We have each other, our health, and a new City to explore and learn about.  We have new friends we've made here, and we'll meet new friends as we journey through this amazing country.  We wish everyone reading about our Journey a blessed Christmas and a fruitful and blessed New Year ahead.