MY COUNTRY

 The Mama Negra

It is a festival that takes place twice a year in Latacunga, the capital of the Ecuadorian province of Cotopaxi. Originally dedicated to the memory of the Virgin , it has become one of the most important cultural festivals at the national level, which is why since 2005 it is officially "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ecuador", attracting (mainly in November) thousands of persons. of national and international tourists.

It is believed that it had its origin in colonial times, and the most accepted theory is that when the Cotopaxi volcano was activated in 1742, the inhabitants of the city of Latacunga and its surroundings, led by Gabriela de Quiroz, requested the protection of Our Lady. la Merced, they named her "The Lawyer and Patron of the Volcano" and promised to throw her an annual party to show their gratitude. The festival, she held on December 9, probably two priests, "one white and one black"

This celebration has become over the years one of the most important festivities in the country. This is a celebration that consists of a parade of various colorful characters who perform a comparsa through the streets of Latacunga, where the Mama Negra is the main character, and represents the Virgin Mary, who goes through the streets riding with a dress very peculiar