Sullivan Adventures: Blog: Halloween Edition

Ecuador does not officially celebrate Halloween but Jenny had been looking forward to the holiday for months. When the day finally arrived, we prepared for school like any other day...we ate breakfast, packed our school bags and ran to catch the bus. While on the bus we passed a girl waiting at a bus stop wearing a fluffy pink skirt, sparkly wings and a tiara. We looked at each other and rolled our eyes. Jen asked, "What was she wearing?!?!" and Jay said, "I have no idea. Is she a stripper?!?" It wasn´t until we arrived at school and some of the kids were in costume that we remembered it was Halloween. Only a few months away from home and it´s so easy to forget! Then we heard on the news that President Correa outlawed Halloween celebrations. In defiance we bought a zapallo (large squash...no pumpkins in Ecuador) on the way home with the intention of carving it but we fell asleep early. The zapallo didn´t get carved until we returned from our trip Sunday morning.

In this picture, the model for the jack-o-lantern poses with his life-like replica.

Instead of Halloween, Ecuador celebrates a holiday called the Day of the Dead. Officially it is a time to honor those who have passed. They visit cemeteries, clean the gravesites, light candles and eat meals at the tomb. They also eat a special meal that includes Guaguas de Pan and Colado Morado. Guaguas de Pan are mini bread pastries shaped like babies, sometimes filled with sweet cream and decorated with frosting. Colado Morado is a warm cordial like drink made of several fruit juices and chunks that you drink with your baby bread. Jenny liked to pretend that her guagua was a voodoo bread representing her most spoiled and unruly student, Belen. She took a bite out of her head with great satisfaction.