What are the major holidays in Ecuador?

1. New Year's Day (January 1st): This holiday is celebrated throughout the country with parades, fireworks, and parties.

2. Carnival (February/March): Carnival is a four-day celebration that takes place before the start of Lent. It includes colorful parades, dancing, music, and water fights.

3. Good Friday (April/May): This religious holiday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is observed with solemn processions and religious services.

4. Independence Day (August 10th): This national holiday celebrates Ecuador's independence from Spain in 1809. It is marked with parades, concerts, and fireworks displays.

5. Day of the Dead (November 1st - 2nd): This holiday honors the deceased with visits to cemeteries, where families decorate the graves of their loved ones and offer prayers and offerings.

6. Quito Independence Day (December 6th): This holiday commemorates the founding of Quito in 1534. It is celebrated with parades, music, and cultural events in Quito, the capital city.

7. Christmas (December 25th): Christmas is a religious holiday that is widely celebrated in Ecuador with nativity scenes, church services, gift exchanges, and family gatherings.

8. New Year's Eve (December 31st): This holiday marks the end of the year and is celebrated with parties, fireworks, and traditions such as burning "año viejo" (Old Year) effigies.

These holidays hold cultural and religious significance in Ecuador and are often accompanied by traditional customs, regional variations, and local celebrations.