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As a member of the "Ecuadorian Cultural Preserver," the purpose of this project is to help preserve Ecuador's culture because there are a lot of cultures around the world that are already extinct or are endangered currently. Making this website can help us spread the cultures of Ecuador attracting tourists and allowing them to come to Ecuador bringing some Ecuadorian cultures back into their hometown. In this project, I will be introducing the cultures in Ecuador such as the food, drinks, sports, traditions, and etc.

Ecuador has a rich and diverse culture due to the influence made by other countries shown in many hand-woven tapestries made by the locals. Ecuadorian culture is a mix of indigenous practices with European colonial influences. 72% of the population of Ecuador has a mixed background explaining the country's cultural diversity, unique customs, and traditions. Protecting Ecuador’s culture is important especially since Ecuador becomes more globalized each year, and their cultures are slowly fading.

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It's a grilled spread-out Guinea that is usually eaten with a side of corn or potato and served with chili and salsa. Cuy Asado is a really big part of Ecuador's culture because it has been a source of protein from Ecuador since the Inca period. It is also a traditional dish that is often prepared for feasts and celebrations. Cuy Asado also symbols wealth and prosperity in Ecuador's culture. It represents Ecuador's culture and it's easy to raise and accessible to many households.

https://eatneonpig.com/roasted-guinea-pig-cuy-in-ecuador-history-recipe-and-how-to-eat/

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Colada Morada is a thick purple smoothie made from berries and black Ecuadorian corn. This drink is usually associated with the Day of the Dead where it's served with sweet bread to share with their deceased loved ones. Spices and other fruits can be added to this drink since it's also a smoothie. Colada morada is significant to Ecuador's culture because it is a drink drunk not only with family but also on the Day of the Dead which is a national holiday in Ecuador. The drink has symbolic meanings and ingredients that cause the drink to be significant to Ecuador's culture.

https://www.laylita.com/recipes/colada-morada/

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This PPT explains what Colada Morada is, and how it is made, but at the same time it also explains what the bread is served with. There are also substitutions for the ingredients if ingredients are not found because some berries or spices can only be found in South-American countries.

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Mate de Coca is a special herbal tea/drink that a lot of regions in South America drink. This herbal drink is made by putting the Coca leaves in hot water making an infused drink. It can help treat high altitude sickness, and it can also be considered an energy drink. This drink is mainly legal in most of South America but maybe not in the rest of the world because it can be linked to cocaine which is also made from the same plant. Mate de Coca is significant in Ecuador's culture because it is a tradition passed down from the ancestors and the indigenous people. It's drunk for its medicine and healing purposes that people who live in high altitudes should drink, but it's also a drink that is used for communal or gathering purposes.

https://knowmadadventures.com/travelers-blog/gastronomy-mate/#:~:text=Mate%20is%20a%20tea%20infusion,region%2C%20is%20steeped%20in%20tradition.

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Chicha de Piña is a fizzy and sweet drink made from pineapples. It's made with brown sugar, rine, pineapples, water, and even more sugar. That combination is left for several days to be fermented. This is a traditional fermented drink, and it distinctively shows the cultural heritage of Ecuador, using ingredients that is from Ecuador. It's also a drink that is drunk in social gatherings and parties, but it also enhances the diversity of Ecuador's culture because a lot of families have their own different way of making it. It has a refreshing and sweet flavor that tourists will very likely love.

https://www.laylita.com/recipes/spiced-pineapple-drink-chicha/

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Ecua-Volley is one the variants of volleyball that is played with higher nets and only 3 players on each side. It originated and played in Ecuador. Ecua-volley is Ecuador's national sport and it can be played on various surfaces including the beach so it also includes Ecuador's beach culture. This sport can also be anywhere, therefore you can also play it with your friends on the street since it doesn't require many setups. In Ecuador, Ecua-volley has tournaments and events where it is played, and it also keeps the Ecuadorians fit and healthy. It's a culture that is mostly seen along the coastal regions of Ecuador.

https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/ecuador/articles/ecuavoley-what-to-know-about-ecuadors-national-sport#:~:text=You%20can%20only%20hold%20the,should%20be%20around%2060%20centimetres.

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In this video, you can see a rally of the volleyball being passed over the net after 3 hits each team, because Ecua-volley also follow the rules of Ecuador.

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Llapingachos are potato pancakes that are served with fresh salad. They are potato patty that are stuffed with cheese and grilled to a golden crisp degree. Llapingacho's key ingredient is potatoes and potatoes have a deep cultural root in food from Ecuador, it also symbols identity. There are a lot of ways to make Llapingachos, but Ecuador has their own special way of making it allowing it to be significant in their culture. It's a also a dish that is often chosen for traditional gathering meals, and goes as a side dish along with a main dish.

https://www.laylita.com/recipes/llapingachos-or-stuffed-potato-patties/

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Chaza is a South American sport played with a racquet. It's played inside a rectangular court with 4 players on each side and a line running through the middle. The game's goal is to deliver the ball to the other side of the court without it getting returned. Chaza is significant to Ecuador's culture because it is also a national sport of Ecuador itself. It has been played in Ecuador since the 15th century so it is a tradition passed down from a long time ago.

https://sportsfoundation.org/ecuador-national-sport/

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In this PPT, you can see what Llapingachos are, how they are made, and what are the sauces/toppings that usually go with it.

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Football is the number 1 most played sport in the world, with people kicking the ball trying to get it into the opponent team's goals. There are a lot of games, matches, and tournaments going around the world that attract a lot of fans. It's also the most played sport in Ecuador. Football is a very significant culture in Ecuador because Ecuadorians love football. Their passion and enthusiasm are a big part of it, they even have a national team that competes in the World Cup. They also have local football clubs and they are a big fan of street football. As a teenager in Ecuador, football is a huge part of their life. There are cultural events and celebrations for football, which cover a big portion of the media when the matches begin, and football is what helps Ecuador gain international recognition because they enter the World Cup.

The image above is the national football team of Ecuador.

https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer

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This is the biography of Enner Valencia, the best football player in Ecuador.

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Enner Valencia of Ecuador and West Ham (EXCLUSIVE)

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This is a biography of Antonio Valencia, a former footballer from Ecuador that is already retired. To not be confused, Antonio Valencia and Enner Valencia are not related.

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Encebollado de Pescado is a fish stew that is usually served with banana chips and lemon. It is a seafood stew that has a fish soup base with veggies and spices added. Encebollado de Pescado is a significant dish in Ecuador's culture because it is its national dish. It is also a dish that is associated with the coastal life of Ecuador. Its ingredients are deeply blended into Ecuador's culinary traditions. It's a famous meal and is often chosen as a course of celebrations and family gatherings. It can be made out of a lot of different types of fish around Ecuador.

https://www.laylita.com/recipes/encebollado-de-pescado-or-tuna-soup/

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Spanish is the language spoken by most countries in the South America. It's a language native to approximately 405 million people in the world. Spanish is the official language in Ecuador and it is the key to communication between the Ecuadorians. It is how literature and arts are presented in Ecuador and the education in Ecuador is also in Spanish. It's the language used in the media as well, therefore Spanish is an incredibly significant part of Ecuador's culture.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spanish-language

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KKichwa is the main language in the Inca Empire and is still a language widely spoken today. It's an indigenous language spoken by the Kichwa people living in South America. There are approximately 8-10 million speakers. Kichwa is the identity of many indigenous people in Ecuador. It is their indigenous language that they know, they use it to communicate in their communities and home. It is sometimes the language of their media and in some regions, education is in Kichwa too. Most people in Ecuador are bilingual with this as their second language and Spanish as their first.

https://www.mustgo.com/worldlanguages/quechua/

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This video explains and teaches the language Kichwa. It teaches how to pronounce it and what are the meanings of the basic words.

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The Sound of the Kichwa language (Numbers, Greetings & The Parable)

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English is spoken in Ecuador as a language that allows the locals to communicate with tourists and visitors. But very few Ecuadorians speak English, and if you do, the salespeople might charge you more for things because you don't understand their language. English is the language that most tourists use to communicate with the locals in Ecuador, it is how Ecuador does business with other countries, and some education in Ecuador offer English as part of their curriculum. That's how English is significant to Ecuador's culture.

https://www.evaneos.com/ecuador/holidays/survival-vocabulary/#:~:text=Other%20than%20those%20involved%20in,Quechua%20as%20a%20second%20language.

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Pasillo is a very famous style of music in Columbia but it's also frequently played in Ecuador. Overall, it's a musical genre that is often heard in the Latin Americas, usually with a down-tempo and played with a guitar. Pasillo and Ecuador have a deep relationship, the lyrics represent Ecuador's past, and it is a famous dance form in Ecuador. Pasillos are considered the musical identity of Ecuador.

https://www.ecuador.com/blog/pasillo-the-rhythm-of-ecuador/

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Pasacalle is a type of music with a 3/4 beat that is usually associated with a dance. It has an upbeat rhythm and is energetic. It's also played/danced with a lot of emotion. Pasacalles are significant to Ecuador's culture because it has lyrical themes, are a type of dance, used in cultural celebrations, vary in different regions, and it has a role in Ecuadorian folklore.

The video above is people dancing to Pasacalle in a cultural celebration.

https://www.britannica.com/art/pasacalle

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Fraternidad Folklórica y Cultural San Gerónimo

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PASACALLE ECUATORIANO (Fraternidad Folklórica y Cultural San Gerónimo)

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Marimba Music is a type of music that is popular in Ecuador. It includes instruments such as a wood xylophone, bamboo tubes, and drums. It's also a well-known music in Costa Rica and Mexico. This genre of music is associated with the history of Ecuador because it is the music that the African slaves brought into Ecuador. It varies throughout the different regions of Ecuador, it is used in many cultural celebrations as well and is a dance accompaniment.

The video above is what marimba music in Ecuador sounds like in the coastal regions.

https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/marimba-music-traditional-chants-and-dances-from-the-colombia-south-pacific-region-and-esmeraldas-province-of-ecuador-01099#:~:text=The%20marimba%20music%20is%20played,irrespective%20of%20age%20or%20gender.

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Tigua masks represent and depict animals and traditions from the Ecuadorian Andes and Amazon. It’s a piece of artwork that is usually made in small family workshops, it’s a tradition-made art that is passed from generation to generation. Tigua masks are significant in Ecuador's culture because they symbolize the animals and spirits in their folklore stories and myths. The craftsmanship and origin are also shown on the masks. Those masks are used in traditional dances and performances, and it is another way Ecuador can make income from tourists. It is also a craft that is currently trying to be preserved.

https://news.mongabay.com/2019/01/the-man-who-made-ecuadors-wooden-tigua-masks-famous/

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People from Otavalo are people who are good at arts and crafts. The looms they make can be garments that they wear such as scarfs, shawls, ponchos, tapestries, etc. But the traditional machines are slowly being replaced by the modern machines, but this tradition is being maintained. The looms in Otavalo are woven, and that is an indigenous tradition that the indigenous people passed down. The materials used to make those looms are traditional, the sheep wool and the natural dyes are all from Ecuador. Sometimes the weavers can tell stories with the looms they make. It's also one way to gain income from tourists.

https://ecuadorstores.com/woven-looms-from-otavalo-ecuador/

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These handicrafts are made by weaving silver threads together to create jewelry such as rings, earrings, bracelets, brooches, etc. They specially design and make unique patterns on the jewelry.  The making of this jewelry is a tradition passed down, the techniques are also passed down from ancestors, and the motif is mostly inspired by the local things such as nature, and animals. There are a lot of types of jewelry and it is a really special type of art. These pieces of jewelry can be displayed at cultural events and festivals and can also be sold for money to consumers.

https://www.kuodatravel.com/chordeleg-ecuador-silver-town/

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This game is played by throwing brass coins into a table with a hole in the middle. It includes tossing 4 coins (toads) like darts from the same distance onto a table and hoping that it will go into the hole for 2 points, if it lands on top you get one point. This game is a really significant part of Ecuador's culture because of the materials it is made out of, and the fact that most people in Ecuador has played this game before as a child or even as an adult.

https://www.mastersofgames.com/rules/toad-hole-rules.htm

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It’s played by throwing an object and hopping according to the squares to get to where the object is thrown. Hopscotch is a game that is well-known in a lot of countries. It is a game that Ecuadorians played as a child and a game that also has educational purposes such as teaching children about numbers and counting, and it is also an exercise. It's a tradition that everyone is trying to keep.

https://www.parents.com/fun/activities/hopscotch/

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A top that is spun by pulling a string that’s wrapped around it. You must launch it in the direction where the point is on the ground so it can spin continuously. Trompo is a traditional toy and game that is played, it practices hand-eye coordination and it also has symbolic meanings: the balance and stability of life. This toy is also played since a long time ago and is a tradition being passed down.

https://kellyandgayla.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/trompo/

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Men in Ecuador usually wear Guayaberas which are loose-fitting shirts that are usually won inside of a jacket. It's usually distinguished by 4 pockets at the front with 2 embroidered patterns in front. This shirt has Ecuador's history because it is a mix of Spanish and Filipino clothing. Its symbol is Latin American style and charm, and it's worn as a traditional attire. It can be a customer however the man likes it, with the customed embroidery. Other regions also have other ways to wear it, and it can be considered modern fashion as well.

https://historymiami.org/wp-content/assets/guayabera.html#:~:text=to%20fashion%20phenomenon.-,What%20is%20a%20Guayabera%3F,of%20pleating%20and%2For%20embroidery.

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Women usually wear light dresses, which are dresses made out of really light materials allowing those dresses to flow if the women spun around or the wind is blowing. This type of dress is significant to Ecuador's culture because it is specially fitted and adjusted to Ecuador's climate. This dress is also really convenient because it can be considered both formal and informal attire. This dress can also reflect the characteristics of the women because they can pick the colors that they like reflecting their personality.

https://blog.compassion.com/interesting-facts-about-ecuador/

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The Panama Hat is a hat that is tightly woven together. These hats are mostly worn in tropical and coastal settings because it’s light and are specially designed to make sure the people wearing the hat are cool and they originated from Ecuador. It is highly adored by tourists and is recognized internationally. Therefore these hats are significant to Ecuador's culture.

https://www.genuinepanamahats.co.uk/blogs/articles/panama-hat-origin-history#:~:text=The%20origin%20of%20the%20famous,were%20observed%20weaving%20hats%20from

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This is a festival where people come together and dance to celebrate a new year on January 1st- January 6th. This tradition includes people dancing on the streets, and music, and there will be performances with traditional masked characters. This is significant in Ecuador's culture because it includes a lot of things I talked about above, such as masked characters, music, and dancing.

https://library.osu.edu/site/dancingwithdevils/diablada/#:~:text=The%20Diablada%20de%20P%C3%ADllaro%20is,performances%20by%20traditional%20masked%20characters.

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This is a news article about he Devil Dance of Pillaro

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AP Photos: The dance of devils in Ecuador

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PILLARO, Ecuador (AP) — Thousands of Ecuadoreans in elaborate devil masks and red costumes danced wildly in the streets of this Andean town in the “La Diablada de Pillaro,” or the Devils of Pillaro festival.

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The Yuca festival is a festival for the Ecuadorian Amazon where the tribe leaders and tribes come together to sing and dance to celebrate the ripening of fruits. This is significant to Ecuador's culture because indigenous tribe leaders come together and celebrate the agriculture of the country, and agriculture is a very important aspect of Ecuador's culture.

https://www.exoticca.com/us/america/south-america/ecuador/events

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This is a traditional festival celebrated by Ecuadorians where they spend a whole day doing activities around custard apple-related things. Dishes made out of custard apples are eaten and judges come to decide and find the best fruit. This is another agricultural celebration of Ecuador.

The picture above is people with the best custard apples.

https://www.exoticca.com/us/america/south-america/ecuador/events

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Most people in Ecuador are catholic because it was the religion that was introduced to most of Latin America during the Spanish conquest. The difference between Catholicism and Christianity is that Catholicism believes in only 1 God while Christianity believes in the trinity.

https://www.ecuador.com/culture/religion/#:~:text=People%20in%20Ecuador%20are%20primarily,like%20the%20Evangelists%20and%20Adventists.

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This is a video of a biography of a catholic priest. *Video is in Spanish but there are English captions provided by YouTube

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In Latin- America, most evangelists call themselves protestants. They learned about this religion from the British Colonists who were protestants themselves. Evangelists are people that tries to convert other people to believing in Christian faith.

https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/it-happened-today/6/19

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These other forms of Christianity were brought one by one by different missionaries or different nations that conquered Ecuador, adding to the fact that Ecuador is rich in culture.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1067057/religious-affiliation-in-ecuador/

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This tradition is celebrated by the Inca Empire in honor of the god Inti, one of the most respected gods in the Inca Empire. In this tradition, people dance, wear costumes, have religious ceremonies, and enjoy traditional foods.

https://advantage-travel-ecuador.com/the-inti-raymi-a-traditional-festival-that-celebrated-across-the-andes/#:~:text=The%20primary%20activities%20that%20take,the%20enjoyment%20of%20traditional%20gastronomy.

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This photo gallery shows what the Inti Raymi festival looks like.

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This day is celebrated by most countries in South America. It’s similar to Halloween but the Mexican version. This holiday celebrates the dead and is also seen in the movie Coco. It is on November 2nd, and on that day, people visit tombs and give flowers to the dead. They also enjoy a big feast.

https://www.viator.com/blog/Celebrating-Day-of-the-Dead-in-Ecuador/l93898#:~:text=Ecuador's%20D%C3%ADa%20de%20los%20Difuntos,2%20sees%20the%20biggest%20celebrations.

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It is related to Ecuador because Ecuador celebrates it by drinking a special purple drink (smoothies) that is mentioned above.

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An ofrenda, or offering, at a Day of the Dead event at the White House in 2022. (Oliver Contreras/For The Washington Post)

Parents, great grandparents and a beloved dog, Indi.

These are among the loved ones Post readers told us they are remembering this year on Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, which is celebrated throughout Mexico and much of the Americas on Nov. 1 and 2.

The holiday is a special blend of disparate cultural customs and has been growing in popularity in recent years, said Mathew Sandoval, a scholar at Arizona State University who studies the holiday. Celebrations often incorporate indigenous pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican spirituality, European Catholicism and African ceremonial traditions, said Sandoval.

"For many people, myself included, Día de los Muertos is an opportunity for us to honor our ancestors, meaning people deep within our ancestry, not just those we know who have died," said Sandoval.

"They're the links that give me my sense of Latino pride, Chicano pride, my sense of self, my sense of identity, my sense of culture."

Día de los Muertos is not Mexican Halloween

How it's celebrated can vary greatly. In Mexico, an ofrenda, typically a display of pictures of the deceased and a special offering like candy on a fireplace mantel, is common. (In 2021, the White House created its first ofrenda.) In Guatemala, many celebrate by making kites that they fly to reach closer to those who have passed, Sandoval said.

Below, read some of the ways that Washington Post readers are celebrating Día de los Muertos. Responses were edited for clarity and consistency.

Kristina M. Best-Ramos, 32, Boston

"For work, I am a therapist and also facilitate a 'Creative Coping' therapy group where we do art and talk about subjects relating to art.

This year, to prepare for Día de los Muertos, our group made our own altars. We used the traditional 'garb' that most altars include: the bright designs, butterflies, candles, marigolds, stones, etc. We used boxes as the actual altar as a cost-effective and easy way for clients to transport them home.

Even though many of the clients did not identify as Latinx themselves, myself and my co-facilitator do and we wanted to make sure we could educate others on this. This was especially important because many/almost all of our clients have significant grief and recovery/grief often come up in group.

We learned the history of altars, we spoke about loss and celebrated those we included in our altar. It was wonderful, and life changing to hear everyone's stories."

A Day of the Dead altar in D.C. will honor a traitor, and be stunning

Natalie Moreno, 36, Seattle

"For the first time, I have made an ofrenda with my roommates to honor our families. We decorated it with picados, copal, candles, cempasúchiles, and photos."

Brenda Coronel Steele, 34, Dallas

"I set up an ofrenda in my home honoring loved ones that have passed on. We share funny stories about our friends and family, and remember their favorite foods, favorite things to do, and their passions.

We honor all of our loved ones, but we have an unconditional love for our dog Indi. She's been gone for two years now but the grief has been especially difficult to manage. We are finally able to be joyful in celebrating her spirit and welcome her with so many treats."

Where to celebrate Día de los Muertos in the D.C. area

Andrea Melear, 19, Minneapolis

"We are honoring my great grandparents and step-grandparents.

We always put up an altar with pictures of all our family members including pets. We fill it with cempasúchiles and candles, and all the foods they loved. We prepare sopa de fideos [a noodle soup] and a bottle of coke for my great grandfather every year."

Day of the Dead calls for pan de muerto. Watch how one bakery makes it.

Maria Gabriela Ayala, 33, Chicago

"Indigenous people from the highlands in Ecuador honored their ancestors by drinking 'colada morada,' a fruity purple maize beverage that represents the journey from life to death.

During October and up to early November, we celebrate by drinking colada morada accompanied by 'guaguas de pan' or baby-shaped bread that we decorate with our friends and family. It's one of my favorite times of the year, and since moving to the U.S., I always try to have it.

I decorated [these guaguas] with my mom when she visited last year. She made the bread from scratch and filled it with jam or chocolate and I decorated them with a Halloween theme. Many years ago, I decorated them with a Mexican Day of the Dead theme."

Lilia Figueroa, 35, Milwaukee

"This year I'm honoring my father and grandmother.

I helped build an altar at work with other co-workers. It was a way to be able to connect with each other regardless of our racial or cultural differences we all have experienced loss.

Andrew Lorusso, 28, Somerville, Mass.

"I honor my grandfather and grandmother, aunts, and uncles, whom I have lost throughout the years. I make sure to add new faces every year, but everyone meant something to me.

I celebrate by creating a small ofrenda in my apartment - it's not very big.

On the table I have small decorations that me and my partner create. We create a new decoration once a year. I place the marigolds I grew in my balcony garden during the summer throughout the table. And I make sure to create at least one dish, usually sopita and a main dish. Then I add drinks all enjoyed, and fruits are scattered throughout. On the day, I make sure to sprinkle marigold petals leading from the door to my ofrenda."

Sophia Rodriguez-Bell, 20, Berkeley, Calif.

"My grandma. She passed in September 2022, so this is our second year celebrating her.

I'm fourth- or fifth-generation Chicana, and the first mixed (i.e., half white) person in my part of the family.

We never celebrated Día de los Muertos until my grandma passed. I remember reading a children's book as a kid about the holiday, but it was never something we celebrated.

After my grandma passed, the holiday felt more real, more important.

I do wonder if my celebration is more performative than genuine. Am I properly celebrating? Really, genuinely? Or am I trying to be more Chicana than I am?

My grandpa has a little ofrenda set up for grandma. He buys her flowers every week and leaves her the candy bars she loves. Now that we're coming up on Día de Muertos, he will bring her cempasúchil.

I'm studying abroad this year, so I know she won't be able to find me. I'll use an electronic candle and put it in the window, and I'll drink a lot of Mexican hot chocolate. (Sadly I can't source any pan de muerto here!)

Still, I'm happy. I want her to come home to my grandpa. I want them to have another dinner together.

José Antonio Rico, 52, Chicago

"I have an altar that we maintain with flowers, copal and water year around.

During Día de los Muertos, we clean up the altar, add pictures of those that transitioned and add more food, mezcal and flowers.

In Chicago, we have huge public celebrations, exhibits, parades and public altars with music and food. Our traditions are strong here thanks to the culture workers and regular migration of people.

I keep my ancestors near me by sharing a story or lesson from one of the ancestors in the altar and toast them with a mezcal.

We have not celebrated lately because my parents are immunocompromised, so we join the public celebrations.

This year we are going to honor a teacher named Rigo Padilla-Pérez, who recently passed from cancer. Rigo was a leader in fighting for immigrant rights, especially for students, and helped organized a Dreamer scholarship at his school, Solorio Academy High School in Chicago. He will continue to be an inspiration to so many for his commitment to immigrant rights and human dignity."

Esperanza Sanchez, 33, Los Angeles

This was my first time traveling down to Mexico to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. It's been such a wonderful week. My dad is from Uruapan in Michoacán; that's where he grew up and was born.

It's very special because not only are we going to visit family, but we also plan on visiting relatives in the cemeteries as well.

I have an aunt, also named Esperanza, who is basically the matriarch of the whole family and has oral and visual accounts of our whole family's history through photographs and documents. As a historian, I've spoken with her for many years about cataloging these memories. So I actually brought my camera and scanner to scan all the photographs, all the documents and really put all of that collective history together.

It made sense for me to do this during Dia de los Muertos because that's usually when she takes out all the photographs and documents onto the altars, in addition to the favorite foods and flavors of our loved ones. She even does this sometimes if she has clothing from them, whether it's a dress my grandmother used to wear or my grandfather's suit that he wore when he traveled around.

We're really able to see these celebrations from the point of view of Mexican people who are celebrating, especially our small little town that is always very excited to celebrate its history, from colonial time periods to indigenous perspectives as well.

Santiago Gonzales Abreu, 53, Houston

I have the fortune of being able to go to Mexico to celebrate the life of my father; he passed away a few weeks ago. My dad suffered from Parkinson for almost 20 years, so this is sort of a celebration of his life now that he's in a better place.

We will always keep those memories. We traveled to Puerto Vallarta and spread his ashes - his last dying wish. My entire family is creating a sort of ritual, putting pictures, flowers and the food he likes sort of as a little ofrenda. We'll release that to the sea along with his ashes.

I also know this fortune of being able to travel back isn't something everyone has. When you move to a new country for new opportunities, there's a lot you leave behind. In leaving Mexico City, I will say that we left behind a lot of our traditions, which are very colorful, full flavors, food and music that are very difficult to replace.

Camila Chicaiza, 22, Ann Arbor, Mich.

"We do bread in the shape of a baby (head and body) and decorate it with frosting. We eat this with colada morada.

I have never really read anything about Ecuador being featured for its Día de los Muertos tradition."

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Perspective | How people celebrate the Day of the Dead with ofrendas, honoring loved ones

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Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated throughout Mexico and much of the Americas on Nov. 1 and 2.

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This is a tradition introduced by the Spanish people during the Spanish Conquest, and it’s a Catholic celebration that goes on for 60 days celebrating the resurrection of Christ. It's celebrated on May 30, and people dance, have parades, etc. This tradition is really similar to parties.

https://notyouraverageamerican.com/corpus-christi-ecuador/#:~:text=A%20parade%20or%20procession%20that,own%20version%20of%20Corpus%20Christi.

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This video shows the special music and it's past in Ecuador. It is an official video from the UNESCO.

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This audio is an interview for people that work in Ecuador making handicrafts with techniques passed down from ancestors. 

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This photo gallery goes into more detail about panama hats