: February 10, 2018
Colorful costumes, enormous parade floats, lively music, cheerful dancing; it must be Carnaval!
Carnaval is a special holiday that takes place 40 days before Easter each year in many countries with dominant Christin populations. People go all out with their celebration and Ecuador is no exception however Ecuador also incorporates the indigenous tradition of celebrating the second moon by throwing flowers, water and flour.
The festivity events begin with the Taita Carnaval (Father Carnival) being elected to preside over the festivities and head the parade of each city. The parades and parties fill the streets and feature elaborate costumes, music, dancing, food, and drinks. Children and teenagers drench everyone around them with water pistols, water balloons, buckets of water, even eggs and flour, all in good fun.
While celebrations occur all throughout the country, the largest celebration takes place in the city of Ambato where they also celebrate Flower and Fruit Festival, which includes the usual parades and music, as well as concerts, plays, a beauty pageant, and fireworks.Many people from the sierra also take advantage of the long weekend and travel to the coast for vacation. Cities like Puerto Lopez, Manta, Pedernales, and Salinas come alive with hundreds of visitors each day.
Carnaval a playful holiday for all and gives people one last chance to let lose before they begin the 40 day Lent fast.
