Latacunga city
 The capital of the province of Cotopaxi is known it by its racially
mixed celebration of "Mama Negra". Nevertheless, Latacunga must more
offer.
When walking by his narrow and paved with stones streets, it is
understood that possible Inca was founded on an inn and one of the
meaning of its name is "Llacta cunani", that in Castilian means "I
give home them". Latacunga was part of libertaria history, because it
supported develops guayaquileña of the 9 of October of 1820. It was a
rest area of proceres that went from Quito to Guayaquil.
Another attractiveness is the churches of Salto, the Cathedral and San
Francisco who shows the beauty of the religious art. In the park still
it is possible to listen to sparrows, to admire picaflores or to chat
with his inhabitants who little by little get used to receiving more
tourists. For those who please of the exercise, the Park Nautical in
the Lagoon is a good place to take a walk in boats to pedals.
It is made in two occasions: The first in September organized by the "vivanderas" of the markets "La Merced" and "El Salto", in honor to the Virgin of
"La Merced" that appeased the fury of Cotopaxi volcano in its eruption
of 1742, reason for which the latacungueños proclaimed "Lawyer and
patron to it of the volcano". Second it is the celebration with which
the inhabitants of the city of Latacunga celebrate year after year the
anniversary of their independence. It is a parade of popular,
military, civilian, ecclesiastical and mythical personages who give
luster to the courtship. Between the attractiveness of the celebration
they are:
 "Angel de la Estrella": All dress of target with wings and crowns,
takes in its hand a sceptre in which shines "Angel de la Estrella"...
a star; it is riding in an adorned white horse with care, at certain
moment of the ceremonial one it recites loas of praise to the virgin
of "Mercedes" and "El Capitán". This angel in which he talks about the
offer that the Virgin does evokes within the Catholic religion to the
"Arcángel San Gabriel" the moment of Announcement, meanwhile which one
becomes permanent guardian of the Greater Prioste or Captain whose
being must be safeguard at all costs to obtain success in the
celebration; doubtlessly it is Spanish influence.
"La Mama Negra": It is the center of attention of comparsa riding with
donaire and masters, their typical attire of the "La Mama Negra"...
town, says to the huge hermosura of the policromos follones,
embroidered shirt, adornments and manifold pañolones that is changed
in each corner, the constant renovation make two people in as much one
third is the one in charge to take a full briefcase of these articles,
complete range of colors and models, in the haunch of the horse go
alforjones within which they are the two small colored people which
they represent the children of "Mama Negra", which as well takes in
his hands a wrist, its smaller daughter according to saying; to this
one it is making dance it between peculiar and picaresque gestures
without it lacks the moment at which "Mama Negra" tightens the "chispero"
(receiving with a mixture of milk and water) sending I eliminate agape
spectators.
"Los Abanderados": This military group between the last years has
undergone a remarkable transformation, because "El Abanderado"...originally
it took three flags: the Spanish, the one of the encomenderos and the
one of square polícromos that were used from inmemoriables times by
primitive Tacungas, Sigchos, Tigualóes, Angamarcas and other human
conglomerates, next went in correct formation the Honor guards, at the
so single present time can be appreciated to the Flagman with the
pavilion nativo(el with picture of carrying two intense colors) and
lieutenant of alfanje in their hands; "Los Abanderados" with modest
elegance is making with the flag a series of undulatory movements "mil
guaraguas". "El Capitán". |
