Ecuador Culture

The majority of Ecuadorians are mestizos, or of European and Amerindian lineage. Sixty-five percent of the people are Roman Catholics who infused their Christian beliefs with ancient indigenous traditions. Most Ecuadorians also speak Spanish, although many also use Amerindian languages such as Kichwa and Quechua.

Since Ecuador can be divided into four major geographical regions, a strong sense of regionalism pervades the people. An Ecuadorian's diet usually centers on lunch, the most important meal for the people. There is no single staple food among the locals as cuisines vary from region to region. Costeños (coastal people), for example, prefer beans, fish, and plantains over the meat, rice, and motes of the serranos (people from the mountains).

Ecuadorians, nonetheless, place a high regard on their families. Godparents are also far more important in Ecuador than in the West. They are expected to provide both moral and financial support to their godchildren.

Like the rest of Latin America, Ecuadorians are avid fútbol fans. Ecuador won the World Cup in 2002. Bullfighting, a legacy of the Spanish colonists, is held annually in a large festival in Quito. Mask festivals and carnivals are also celebrated in different regions.