Memorial Day

Today is a national holiday in Ecuador. It is called "Día de los difuntos" or "Day of the Dead" and is equivalent to Memorial Day in the United States. Cemetaries are crowded with people visiting the graves of their loved ones who have died; the graves are decorated with flowers, cards, and food. One common food you might see at the gravesite is a "guagua de pan" or bread made in the shape of little children. This stems from an Indian tradition in which they leave bread to feed the souls of their dead loved ones. Some also say the bread is made in the shape of children in remembrance of the young male children who died as a result of King Herod's attempt to kill the baby Jesus. Another Indian tradition on this holiday is to make a thick drink known as "colada morada." The literal translation is "strained purple," meaning it is purple in color and made of fruits that are strained. Its' purple color comes from purple corn flour, blueberries, and blackberries. Other ingredients include strawberries, pineapple, a local fruit called "babaco," cinnamon, and brown sugar. Families gather together and often spend the day making and enjoying bread and colada morada. The purple is meant to symbolize the grief and sorrow of the mourners.