Ecuador is around 94% Catholic.
In the Catholic tradition in Ecuador, Mary, Joseph and their journey to Bethlehem are honored.
The Novena is also a special family and community event. This helps people feel united and connected.
The tradition mixes religion and culture. It comes from Spanish Catholic beliefs and Indigenous traditions. People pray, sing, decorate the pesebre (nativity scene) and enjoy special foods, music and treats.
The prayers used in the Novena de Aguinaldos (Christmas Novena) were written long ago in the 1700s by an Ecuadorian priest named Fray Fernando Larrea, making this tradition very important to Ecuador’s history and culture.
