🎭 Mama Negra
Biannual syncretic festival in Latacunga, Ecuador
📋 Fast Facts
- Held twice yearly: September 23–24 (Virgen de la Merced) and November (city independence)
- Originated in 1742 following a volcanic eruption, attributed to divine intervention
- Blends indigenous, African, and Spanish Catholic traditions
- Features iconic parade characters including Mama Negra, El Capitán, and masked Huacos
The Mama Negra festival, also known as La Santísima Tragedia (The Holy Tragedy), is a biannual celebration held in Latacunga, Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador. The festival emerged from a local legend dating to 1742, when the eruption of Cotopaxi volcano threatened the town. Residents credited their prayers to the Virgen de la Merced (Virgin of Mercy) with halting the disaster, and established this festival in gratitude. Today it stands as a prominent expression of Ecuadorian cultural identity ...