Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Day of the Coat of Arms of Ecuador - October 31st


Ecuador’s Coat of Arms went through six processes, since the proclamation of the Independence of Guayaquil, October 9, 1820.

Until during the presidency General Eloy Alfaro, in 1900, the current version became the last and ultimate symbol to the homeland.

Since then, the shield has become one of the most important elements for Ecuadorian patriots.

There have been many versions about the creation of this item; some historians say that 12 processes occurred before the final creation.

On the website of the Vice President of Ecuador it is stated that there has been four different shields.

Contrasting what is said on the Ecuador’s President’s website, where five shields are acknowledged, before settling into the final version, in 1900, under the presidency the general Eloy Alfaro Delgado.

By Sageo         This vector image was created with Inkscape. (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 COAT OF ARMS OF 1820

When the Independence of Guayaquil, was proclaimed on October 9, 1820, the liberation movement adopted a shield as their symbol.

The shield consists of a five-pointed star on a blue background, inscribed in an oval and surrounded with two branches of laurel entwined by a red ribbon.

Later the caption: "By Guayaquil Independent" was added.

This was, rather, the shield of the Free Province of Guayaquil and not proper for Ecuador.

Nowadays it is the coat of arms of our Pacific Pearl, the city of Guayaquil.

 
By Shadowxfox [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

COAT OF ARMS OF 1822

When Ecuador joined to the Great Colombia on May 29, 1822 the Great Colombian shield was adopted.

This shield was created by Colombian law enacted in October 6, 1821 by the Congress of Cúcuta.

 
By Shadowxfox (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

COAT OF ARMS OF 1830

After the dissolution of Gran Colombia and when Ecuador was proclaimed a sovereign and independent, there was held the first Constituent Assembly in the city of Riobamba on September 27, 1830.

This Constituent Assembly decreed some changes to the coat of arms of Colombia to make it more proper for the new country of Ecuador.

For instance the use of a sun on top of this shield and a ribbon with a slogan that says: the Ecuador in Colombia.

 
By Shadowxfox (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

COAT OF ARMS OF 1835

In 1835, when the newly founded Republic finally came to understand its independence the slogan “the Ecuador in Colombia” became simply the "Republic of Ecuador".

Again the country adopted a new shield, without a specific decree.

But it was not until 1836, when a coinage for Ecuador was decreed in June 14, that the Coat of Arms of the Republic was described.

The signs of the zodiac represent the months of the revolution of 1820, from Leo (July-August) to Scorpio (October-November).

The shield had 7 5-pointed stars representing the 7 provinces that then made the Ecuador.

The hills: The two on the left of the shield (right, seen from front) represent the Guagua or Volcano Baby Pichincha, a condor in the top and the Rucu or Old Pichincha volcano.

The hill on the right of the shield (left, seen from the front) is a bluff, a tower on it, and on this the other condor faces the condor that is placed on the Guagua Pichincha.

This shield has the simple form of an oval shield and wore no ornaments around.

By Shadowxfox (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

COAT OF ARMS OF 1843

After Ecuador grew more accustomed to its independence it was time to show it in the symbols of Patria also.

The national convention meeting in Quito on June 18, 1843, under the chairmanship of Dr. Francisco de Marcos, decided to change the coat of arms of the Republic again.

But this still was not the definitive change.

 
By Sageo         This vector image was created with Inkscape. (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

COAT OF ARMS OF 1845

In the National Convention held in Cuenca, chaired by Dr. Pablo Merino Ortega, after the triumph of the March 6, 1845, there was ordered the change of coat by decree of November 6, 1845.

The shield was created from what is considered the design of the poet José Joaquín de Olmedo.

This consist of an oval shield containing inside, at the top, the sun with those portions of the ecliptic in which the corresponding signs are subject to the memorable months of March, April, May and June.

In the bottom, at the right side, volcano Chimborazo, a river flows from it and a steamship Guayas is sailing on the river.

At the mast of Guayas there is a caduceus as a symbol of navigation and commerce, the sources of prosperity of Ecuador.

The shield carries national flags and branches of laurel and palm, and a condor with wings, at the sides of the ship there are two banners with blue and white including seven stars.

 
This file is from the Open Clip Art Library

COAT OF ARMS OF 1900

The President General Eloy Alfaro and the National Congress of 1900 definitively established the National Symbols.

The current and final coat of arms was adopted on October 31, 1900.

It declares the use of the coat of arms drawn by Olmedo with the following modification.

The Colombian tricolor, that is also Ecuador’s flag, is used instead of bicolor flags.


On February 21, 2003 Congress passed a resolution on the final design of the coat of arms for Ecuador making the actual coat the official one for the Republic.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Is it the Soup time yet?

Is it the soup time yet?

Here is a round-up of some delicious soups that I have made here in the blog.

Hope you will enjoy them!




Locro de Papa or Traditional Potato Soup

In the northern Ecuador, that was my home when I first came here, the foods of preference are potatoes, papa, and kuy, the guinea-pig, both indigenous to Andes.

Potato can be found in almost every traditional dish in the area.

And the dozens of different kinds of potatoes make the food extremely varied with other natural and local ingredients.

One of the dishes I especially fell in love during the years I lived in Ibarra is locro de papa, a potato soup with fresh cheese.

I hope you will enjoy this delicious soup as much as I have.

You can find the recipe HERE.


Fanesca is a very traditional soup or chowder from Ecuador.

It is typically prepared and served only in the week before Easter (Holy Week) and eaten by households and communities during the Holy Week.

The making and eating of fanesca is considered a social or family activity where everyone from the extended family participate in some form.

The components of fanesca and its method of preparation vary regionally, or even from one family to another.

Although traditionalists serve this dish only on the Easter time, when the local Andean products needed for it, are fresh, it can be made on other times also.

Whenever you decide to try fanesca, I can assure you it will be an experience worth to repeat.

If you want to try your hand in the traditional Ecuadorian fanesca, you can find the recipe HERE.


Ecuadorian Pumpkin Soup - sopa de zapallo ecuatoriana

This is a recipe for a traditional Ecuadorian pumpkin soup.

It is often made for the Lenten and Passover time without the meat.

In this version I used pork meat that gives it an even more delicious taste.

In my opinion it goes perfectly also for the fall and is an excellent opportunity to use all those pumpkins you have around.

You can find the recipe HERE.


Pumpkin Vegetable Soup

Another perfect soup for the season is the Pumpkin Vegetable Soup.

This easy and tasty soup is very simple to make.

Its great taste gets even better in the freezer.

And it is guaranteed to make even the children smile and eat happily.

If not for another reason than for the popcorn that is sprinkled on the top.

The recipe can be found HERE.


Do you have a favorite soup?

Friday, October 24, 2014

The Queen With The Frozen Heart - is on a break


The Queen With The Frozen Heart will be on break until November 7th.

I am taking a break from blogging for the next two weeks because of different circumstances.

I will be here occationally but due to lack of time, I will not be able to write, publish and promote The Queen With The Frozen Heart.

Because of this the story will be on break and will return running the week after Halloween.

There will be some posts that I have programmed and I wish you will visit and read them.

And also take this time to read the story from the beginning and see how it has evolved and what has happened to everyone during the time the story has been running.

Of course I expect to see you all here for the new story on Friday November 7th!

Until then, May God bless you all and keep you!

I miss you!


To read the first part of the story, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 1  

To read the second part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 2 

To read the third part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 3

To read the fourth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 4

To read the fifth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 5.

To read the fourteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 14

To read the sixth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 6

To read the seventh part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 7

 To read the eight part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 8

To read the ninth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 9

To read the tenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 10

To read the eleventh part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 11

To read the twelth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 12

To read the thirteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 13

To read the fifteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 15

To read the sixteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 16

To read the seventeenth part, go to the The Queen With The Frozen Heart 17

To read the eighteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 18

To read the nineteenth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 19

To read the twentieth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart 20



To read the twenty third part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart - At The Mouth Of The Cave

To read the twenty fourth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart - The Visiting Star

To read the twenty fifth part, go to The Queen With The Frozen Heart - Time To Leave The Home

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Kichwas - Indigenous People of Ecuador


SHORT HISTORY OF KICHWA PEOPLE

The valleys and moors of the Interandean Alley are inhabited by indigenous peoples who originally had their own language.

With the coming of the Incas they were forced to learn another language, Kichwa.

Kichwa became even more widespread with the coming of the Spaniards as they used it for evangelization and trade.

The Kichwa people are located in Amazon basin of eastern Ecuador and in almost the entire region of the Sierra.

The Kichwa nation consists of several indigenous groups who have their own characteristics.

They are identified within the same geographical area, with a dialect, type of clothing, food, festivities and other aspects that make them different from each other.

But despite all of these differences, Kichwas are considered a single nationality.

In recent years there is an awakening of self-identification and reaffirmation of their identity, history, customs and geography. 




“We are like the straw from the fells of the Andes, while you pull it out, it grows again. And with the straw from the fells we shall cover the world… It is natural like the strands in a poncho that you can easily break. Naturally united like a woven poncho that no one can break”.
Dolores Cacuango Quilo

One of the most remarkable experiences for me in Ecuador has been the indigenous people's struggle for their rights.

When I first came to Ecuador it was exciting, dangerous, interesting, exactly what I imagined traveling through the world would be.

Then I started to see then injustice, the unfairness of the social system.

The five centuries of discrimination and struggle.

Read more HERE.



Ecuadorian indigenous nations struggle to maintain their own cultures and languages in the pressure by the outside mainstream Ecuadorian and Latin, or hispanic as it is called in Ecuador, culture.

CONAIE was created to bring the different nationalities together and use it to generate political pressure in questions of importance to indigenous people.

The design of the resting place for the sacred fire is ancient and meaningful.

Read more HERE.



The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Spanish: La Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador) or more commonly, CONAIE, is Ecuador's largest indigenous organization.

Formed in 1986, CONAIE has pursued social change on behalf of the region's significant native population using a wide range tactics including direct action.

CONAIE is most well known for its organization of popular uprisings ("levantamientos populares") that often include blockading of commercial arteries and the takeover of government buildings.

Read more HERE.



Kichwa culture is oral.

The stories and histories are told, not written down.

Teaching is done by telling and showing, moving around and practicing.

Not by copying or reading and writing.

People can sit down and be quiet.

It's a skill you need to be able to concentrate on what people are telling you.

Read more HERE.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Ecuadorian Sweets and Deserts

Even though majority of the times Ecuadorians eat a piece of fruit after the food.

There are also traditional and very delicious sweets and desserts.

Here are a few of them.

Hope you will enjoy them as much as I have.




Quimbolitos are a type of steamed puddings.

They are also called sweet tamales because they resemble tamales very closely.

Quimbolitos are sold on the streets and in restaurants and are immensely popular among Ecuadorians.

And they are one of my favorite desserts here in Ecuador.

Not hard to make and fun to eat, I recommend them to everyone.

Read more HERE.


Do you know what a taxo is?

This delicious fruit is also called banana passionfruit because of its yellow color and banana like appearance.

It makes excellent smoothies and ice-cream, and has many health benefits.

If you did not know taxo yet, I recommend you try it out.

You can find instruction on how to make a taxo smoothie or homemade ice-cream HERE.


Espumilla is a pink and ivory colored guaba fruit foam that is sold on the streets.

It is very popular and luckily easy to make it home.

You just need some guabas, eggs and sugar.

And voilá, you have your own batch of delicious espumilla.

Read more HERE.


Melcocha can be found all around the Ecuador where ever there are roads and travelers to buy the products.

It is an Ecuadorian artisan taffy and extremely delicious.

The traditional recipe is made only with sugar and butter but you can add different fruit juices to it to give it flavor.

My personal favorite is mandarin flavored melcocha.

Want to know how to make Melcocha?

Read it HERE.


Tomate de Arbol or tree tomato is a popular Ecuadorian fruit.

It is tangy with a little sweetness, is a great source of Vitamin A, B6 and C and also contains Vitamin E and Thiamine.

In Ecuador it is used in juice, smoothies, desserts, and hot salsa.

I especially enjoy tree tomatoes smoothies because of their great taste and because they are so good for my health.

Would you like to make a smoothie for yourself?

Find the recipe HERE.