Fiestas in Baños de Agua Santa
The Festivals of Banos
January- this is the celebration of the Holy Innocents. Some of the sector of the city organized masquerade balls, dressed as certain politicians or artist.
Febuary- from the middle to the end of the month, Banos celebrates the festival of sugar cane, taffy and joy. During the festival the people celebrate their abundance of water and the city organizes various cultural and artistic events. But the prominent part of the festival is the burning of the dried eucalyptus branches, the participation of the people and the fireworks. The festival began in the year 2005.
Abril- The celebration of Holy Week in which the faithful Catholics participate in various religious ceremonies organized by the Dominican priest. On Holy Friday, in the afternoon and evening, there is a procession in memory of the crucifixion of The Christ on Mount Calvary. During this time, the traditional food called fanesca is prepared. It consists of 12 different grains and dry, salted fish. There are numerous expositions and presentations of art, painting, music, poetry, theatre etc.
October- this month honors the Virgin of the Rosary of the Holy Waters. All the barrios of the city organize a parade and a Mass with processions, parties, fireworks and a dance in the night. This adoration to the Virgin is common in other parts of Ecuador.
November- The 2nd is the celebration of the memory of the deceased. The principal activities include: games like balls of iron, boliche (a gambling game like roulette) and perinola (spinning top but converted to a gambling game). There is a traditional drink prepared with mora berries (purple in color )and exotic fruits, it’s often served with rice bread that is cooked over fire wood.
December- The incor poration of the city of Banos is celebrated from, more or less, the 8 th to the 16 th. Included is a folkloric parade, election and crowning of the queen of Banos, dances, fireworks, soapbox derby race, cultural and sporting events. Also, for Christmas, one can see frequent small parades in honor of the birth of Christ Also, on Christmas Eve, the typical midnight Mass is celebrated. One of the typical foods during this time are bunuelos (rice bread cooked over firewood and filled with sugar cane syrup. New Year’s Eve is celebrated by the mock burning in effigy of representations of politicians, neighbors, artists etc. make of paper mache, wood etc. At midnight, they are burned and the people dance and party and wish one another Happy New Year!
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