The Fiestas of the Ecuadorian Andes

High up in the Ecuadorian Andes, one can find fiestas that date back hundreds of years, some before the Spanish conquest.   These religious events consist of a fascinating mix of Catholicism, brought by the Spaniards, and Pre-Colombian rituals, which have survived from the beliefs of the Incas and other indigenous groups that populated the mountainous region.  The fiestas bring the community together, are a source of great pride, and are a chance to express feeling from the difficult past the people have experienced.