Religion is deeply rooted in the everyday lives of individuals in Ecuador. The same goes for the traditional Mama Negra Celebration!
I had the opportunity to take part in the Mama Negra Festival. This celebration occurs every November in the small town of Latacunga, which is about 55 miles south of Quito. People from Latacunga and all over Ecuador celebrate La Mama Negra with an annual festival. The festival includes dancers, marching bands, and participants dressed as kings and angels. The main attraction is La Mama Negra, who comes riding on a white horse.
La Mama Negra (the black mother) is the patron saint of the province of Cotopaxi, where the town of Latacunga is found. It is said that locals prayed to this saint to help save them from the eruptions of the volcano Cotopaxi.
Since religion is closely linked to people's everyday lives in Ecuador, it is important for them to pay tribute to La Mama Negra for the blessing she once bestowed.
