luissantos

                                       A Great Traditional Festival
                                      in Ecuador. Day of the Dead

 Ecuador is famous for its colorful festivals and
every town in the country has their own traditional
celebrations and events throughout the year. One
of them is on November 2. It is the celebration of
the Day of the Dead, a memorial for loved ones who
have gone to “the beyond”. Families in urban and
rural areas still prepare the traditional colada morada,
which is made from black corn flour and fruits, and
guaguas, which is bread shaped and decorated in the
form of a small child. These preparations are shared
in the cemeteries as a tribute to the life and death
of those who stay and those who have departed.
In rural parts this ritual is still celebrated as part
of religious traditions of mestizo and indigenous
people. In urban areas, thousands of people gather
in cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves
of their loved ones. It is a nationwide holiday.
Businesses and schools are closed and vendors
line the streets that lead to the cemeteries, selling
flowers, candles, candy, and food.

Read again the text again and choose
the best answer.

1.     When does the Day of the Dead take place?
   b.     It takes place on November 2.

 2.     How is colada morada made?
   c.     It is made from black corn flour and fruits.

 3.     What is the Day of Dead?
   c.     It is a celebration for loved ones
           who have gone to “the beyond”.

 4.     What are guaguas?
   b.     It is bread shaped and decorated
           in the form of a small child.

 5.     What do Ecuadorians do in cemeteries
        on the Day of Dead?
   b.     Colada morada is shared in cemeteries.
            People go to clean and decorate the gra-
            ves of their loved ones.