Carnaval

Carnaval

In Ecuador, celebrations have a history that begins before the arrival of Catholicism. It is known that the Huarangas Indians (from the Chimbos nation) used to celebrate the second moon of the year with a festival at which they threw flour, flowers and perfumed water. This once pagan tradition has since merged with the Catholic celebration of the world famous event, that we know today as Carnaval. Perhaps when you think of this popular festival, you mind instantly wonders off to Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where parties are extreme and feel never ending. Yet, Carnaval is celebrated all over the world, not just in South America as many believe.

Carnaval is held the weekend before Ash Wednesday (a changing date in February) and here in Ecuador, it is another perfectly good excuse to have a party. Although the most famous Carnaval festivities take place in the town of Ambato, in very central heart of Ecuador, most locals rush of to the coast for some beachy fun. Actually, I went to neither of those locations and instead stayed in Quito.

I had a few days off work and so a trip away was a must, but first I thought it best to have a fiesta with my Quiteño amigos!!! In Ecuador each part of the country celebrates this festival in slightly different manners but one thing that appears consistent, perhaps the unifying symbol of an Ecuadorian Carnaval, is the water fight. It doesn't matter who you are, how old, or what physical state your in - if your on the streets of Ecuador during Carnaval then your going to get wet. It's all in the name of fun and no-one is excused. It's best to just join in with the mayhem.

Water bombs, buckets and sprays full of watery-foam are generally used to soak and some of the foams are coloured and scented. Along with the watery fun, there are street parties, concerts in parks with traditional Ecuadorian music and dancing and just everyone out, haveing a good time. I went to one of Quito's largest parks (Carolina) with some friends, where we sat in the sun, drunk a beer and listened to the parade before us. One dance was a group of Ecuadorians dressed in animal costumes, waving their arms about for 25 mins to some very relaxing music. I have no idea what it was all about but by the end of it we were all convinced that the beer we were drinking must have been drugged with acid. I spent that weekend very wet but equally very happy.

With Carnaval still in full swing and with some further time off from work, a trip out of the city was certainly required. So with one known friend and some people I had never met before, I headed north, towards the Colombian Border..................