Fiestas de Quito

Our school "mom" frequently sends out interesting cultural information that might be relevant to teachers on top of doing her job. The week before Fiestas de Quito, she sent out a brief write up on what Quito Days are and how they are celebrated. I'll let her much more experienced and knowledgeable words lead the way here:

"The Fiestas de Quito was first celebrated on December 6^th, 1534, for the IV Century of the City’s Foundation.  This celebration has continued through the years. 

Every year, on the 6^th of December, Quiteños celebrate the anniversary of the foundation of the city.  The air in Quito takes on a more festive spirit throughout the first week of December as Quiteños, watch parades, and attend street dances, cultural events, food preparation, parties in hotels and restaurants, and ride around Quito on Chivas (open-air party buses complete with live music and drinks).  

The bullfighting “Feria de Toros Jesus del Gran Poder “of the Fiestas de Quito is one of the major attractions.  Presently these are held in Latacunga in lieu of on the full fight in Quito on Av. Amazonas.   The Quito bullfights always seem to draw the most outstanding personalities of the bullfighting cult from home and abroad. These include: bullfighters, current stars and revered veterans, knowledgeable journalists, proud “ganaderos”or bull breeders, aficionados, musicians, artists and other important social and political figures.  .

Another of the massively attended activities has been the Great Parade of the National Unity on the Parque Bicentenario (former airport), with allegorical cars, musical groups, acrobats and town bands. The musical contests always attract a large audience. Thousands of national and foreign tourists come to the city as though attracted by a magnet.

For several days, generally a week, Quito is filled with party air, and in spite of financial crises and difficulties, everyone is happy and ready to party, and even the weather cooperates with the holidays, because although Saint Peter keeps the “keys to the sky”, rains generally stop and the sun shines brightly."

Naturally, it's a pretty big deal here. We even got off from school on 12/5! All week, a lot of people were buzzing with anticipation of the event. We had our Spanish classes put on an assembly. Actually, three assemblies. There was one for the elementary school kids, which I heard included baby flamenco dancing and a "bullfight" complete with a child dressing as a bull. There was a middle school assembly which featured a few of my students pretending to be partying on a Chiva while holding up a cardboard bus. There was also a high school assembly, which I cannot speak much about since I wasn't there nor did I hear anything about it.

There were parties in the park, parades, and festivities all over the city. I think to liken it to the fourth of July would actually be underselling it. Latin Americans love to party. They love to party publicly. Most fourth of July celebrations I have ever attended featured BBQs in someone's back yard, maybe a trip to the beach, and then fireworks at the end of the night. Here, it's kind of that but all over the city. The fourth also lasts a day, while the celebration of December 6th lasts about a week. 

Don't worry, I would never say I favor Quito Days over Independence Day, it's not my holiday. I'm just highlighting what is certainly quite an elaborate and omnipresent party. 

Shannon and I actually didn't participate in most of the festivities but we enjoyed the day off and hearing about the spectacle nonetheless.