The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: Pase del Niño Viajero
Travel is my favorite part of the cruising life. Last year we had the good fortune to spend Christmas in Cuenca, Ecuador. This charming mountain city, a favorite of U.S. retirees, is famous for its Pase del Niño Viajero, celebrating a Christ child statue that made a round-trip voyage to Rome. On Christmas Eve (noche buena), representatives of every province–from the Amazon to the Andes–queue overnight to take part in this eight-hour parade. Musicians and families join them. Young children in elaborate costumes ride horses festooned with symbols of the family’s hopes for the coming year. The tradition that began as a religious homage has evolved to include stilt-walkers, Biblical characters, effigies of disgraced politicians and an exploding cow.
Here are a few highlights.
Fair winds,
Christine
Do Tell!
Where would you virtually travel for the holiday season?
