5 TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF CUENCA (ECUADOR) - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Some of the most popular traditions and customs of Cuenca are closely related to the history of this city, since the culture of this community has been and continues to be transmitted from generation to generation.

Cuenca is the capital of the Azuay province, which is located in the south-central zone of the Republic of Ecuador, and which was founded thanks to the request of the Spanish viceroy of Peru, Don Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza.

You may also be interested in the most popular festivals in Ecuador.

5 most popular traditions and customs of Cuenca

Traditions and customs are born and exist because they are part of the present and past life of a community, since they are created based on characteristic features of the community or with the objective of meeting a cultural need.

1- Chola cuencana

The Cuencan chola is a traditional Cuenca woman. To be a Cuencan chola, the person must dress in traditional Cuenca costumes, which are the result of an indigenous mix.

The typical Cuenca costume is made up of a wide skirt that reaches the knees, known as a pollera; skirts are usually in strong colors like red or purple. They also wear a normally white blouse and a toquilla straw hat.

2- Thursday of comadres and compadres

Comadres y compadres Thursdays is a celebration that is traditionally held in Cuenca every year on the Thursday before Carnival.

The purpose of this celebration is to make people enjoy some time with family or friends, since comadres and compadres Thursdays is a game in which everyone ends up drenched.

In this game there are different containers filled with colorful water because, apart from the water, they also add cornstarch, streamers, slip of paper and rose petals.

The different containers of water are distributed among everyone who is going to participate in the game. The goal is to wet other participants.

3- Cuenca night

Cuenca night is a celebration that takes place any day of the year and on various occasions. This tradition consists of a great colorful celebration that reflects many characteristic features of Cuenca's culture.

It is based on colorful decorations, accompanied by typical food and drinks of the area and, in addition, they prepare dances to present them during the celebration.

4- Day of the dead

It is a custom of the Cuenca people to prepare a specific meal and drink every November 2.

This tradition is not only carried out at home, but it is also a day when merchants offer these products to the public. The drink they prepare is the "purple colada" that they accompany with the "guaguas de pan".

5- Easter

This celebration is part of the liturgical calendar and is highly respected by the people of Cuenca. During Holy Week there are processions and masses that commemorate the path that Christ traveled when he was arrested and crucified.

During Holy Week, the people of Cuenca attend religious activities and on Holy Thursday they visit the seven churches.

References

1. Ecuador basin. (sf). Retrieved on December 18, 2017, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.
2. Coat of arms of Cuenca (Ecuador). (sf). Retrieved on December 18, 2017, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.
3. Five Great Traditional Festivals in Ecuador. (November 14, 2013). Retrieved on December 19, 2017, from International Living: internationalliving.com.
4. Holy Week. (sf). Retrieved on December 19, 2017, from Lonely planet: lonelyplanet.com.
5. Ecuador Day of the Dead. (sf). Retrieved on December 19, 2017, from Life in Ecuador: life-in-ecuador.com