Hispanic Mama

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fanesca

Everything You Need to Know About Easter in Latin America

Easter in Latin America is a major holiday since it’s the region with the most Catholics in the world.

Although I am not a Catholic, I learned to appreciate the beauty and solemnity for the Holy Week festivities (Semana Santa) in Ecuador. It seemed to me like the whole country would shut down to renew their connection with their Catholic faith.

The festivities of Easter or Holy Week (Semana Santa) in Latin America starts on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos). During this week, there are religious observations that include prayer meetings, masses, processions and other rituals.

Since it’s a four-day holiday, touristic attractions and resorts would benefit greatly of Easter. It’s actually the last weekend of beach season in Ecuador so visiting the ocean is a VERY popular thing to do during Easter.

 

Easter in Latin America

 

Related Post: Fun Easter Resources For Your Bilingual Kids

Catholic Traditions During Holy Week

 

One of my favorite memories of Easter was the year when my friend from school, Tatiana invited me to join her family at the beach. Her parents were devout Catholics so I got to witness some of the religious traditions that celebrate the last days of Christ’s life.

First, we didn’t eat any red meat during Semana Santa. Old wive’s tales indicate that whoever eats meat would become a fish!  Regardless of that funny urban legend, it was pretty easy for me to join the meat fasting since I loved seafood!

Starting on Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday), we attended several masses throughout the week. The Palm Sunday mass is as important as the Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday) mass. Although it was offered many times during the day, it got so crowded that it was difficult to find a seat.

 

 

The religious festivities would restart again on Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday) with a mass, a Procession of the 12 Stations of the Cross, foot-washing ceremonies and with plays describing the Crucifixion and Resurrection. National television will also be broadcasting movies about Christ’s life and other biblical movies like The Ten Commandments.

One of the traditions for this day is to visit seven churches as a remembrance of the vigil the apostles kept in the garden while Jesus prayed. This was an important tradition for my friend’s family so I joined them the quest to visit seven churches throughout the day. Most of the churches were old so it was pretty amazing to learn about the colonial architecture.

 

Easter in Latin America

 

On Viernes Santo (Holy Friday) when it recalls the crucifixion, there are masses, prayer meetings and solemn processions where devout participants dress in costumes and carry large wooden crosses. Sábado de Gloria (Holy Saturday) is a preparation for Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday) where it’s celebrated Christ’s conquer over death with masses.

 

Easter in Latin America

 

Related Post: 7 Christ-Centered Bilingual Books For Easter

Easter Traditions in Latin America

 

Burning of Judas

The burning of Judas is a popular Easter-ritual in Mexico and Venezuela where an effigy of Judas Iscariot is burned or exploded with fireworks. This tradition is interesting to me since in Ecuador we have a new year’s eve tradition of burning an effigy. 

 

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Procession to Remember an Earthquake 

In Holy Week, there is a procession to remember the massive earthquake that hit Cusco, Peru in 1650 and destroyed the former Inca capital.

 

Chocolate Eggs

Huevos de pascuas or chocolate eggs are part of the Easter celebrations in Argentina.

 

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Traditional Easter Food in Latin America

 

Fanesca

Fanesca is an Easter symbol from Ecuador, this high elaborated dish is made with fish and fresh grains that come from the Andean highlands of Ecuador. Learn how to make fanesca here.

 

Potaje de la Vigilia

This chickpea stew with cod is a popular Easter-dish in countries like Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia. Learn how to make it here.

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Chipa

This bun made with cassava, eggs, milk and cheese is a traditional Easter dish in Paraguay. Find here a great recipe.

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Rellenos de Pescado Seco 

These fish cakes are part of the Easter menu in El Salvador. Learn how to make them here.

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Habichuelas con Dulce

This is a popular dish during Lent in Dominican Republic. Learn how to make it here.

How Do You Celebrate Easter?

 

Fanesca: Ecuadorian Soup for Lent

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CocinoConKnorr #CollectiveBias

In Ecuador, we have a traditional dish called Fanesca that is only eaten during Lent and Easter. It represents the religious beliefs and a little of the history of my home country. While I didn’t grow up celebrating Lent, this highly elaborated dish helped me to appreciate its relevance in my Ecuadorian heritage.

I am impressed with the way Fanesca brings people in Ecuador together. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, this delicious stew is always on the table during Lent. According to historians, the Spanish introduced this healthy stew to the Inca as part of their religious traditions. The Inca not only embraced the dish but made it their own when they started adding fresh grains found in the Andean highlands.

 

Since I am not near the Andean highlands, I had to go “hunting” for all the grains that I need to make this dish. Luckily, I found everything we need for great prices in the produce area and the Hispanic aisle at Walmart.  love that I can find a great variety of products and try new recipes, all in one place. In fact, I highly recommend to try Black Bean Salad by visiting select stores in Arizona, California, Florida or Texas in the coming up weeks!

 

 

The main ingredient of Fanesca is the fish. It’s usually bacalao or dried salt cod and needs to be soaked for at least a day. If you want your Fanesca to taste authentic and delicious, it’s also important to season it well. I used the 2.2 lb version of the Knorr® Tomato with Chicken Flavor Granulated Bouillon to give my dish an irresistible flavor.

 

But did you know that Knorr® Bouillon is perfect for many dishes? You can make pollo guisado, arroz con pollo, tamales, tacos, and many more. It adds authentic flavor to a traditional or to every day dish—beyond just soups, stews, and rice. With Knorr®, you don’t have to sacrifice on flavor by giving up meats or poultry! For more recipes and tips, visit Knorr.com or if you prefer Spanish, visit KnorrSabor.com

 

 

 Fanesca                                     

Yield: 8 people

 

Ingredients:

1 lb bacalao seco

1.2 tbs Knorr® Tomato with Chicken Flavor 2.2 lb (Granulated Bouillon)

1/2 cup shredded cabbage

3 cups of diced zucchini

3 cups of diced butternut squash

2 cups of corn kernels

2 cups of cooked rice

1 cup of green peas

1 cup of lima beans

2 cups of fava beans

1 cup of butter beans

1 cup of black eye peas

1/2 cup of diced white onion

1/2 cup of diced red onion

6 cups of milk

6 oz of cream cheese

bunch of parsley

1 cup os roasted peanuts

4 tbs butte

5 garlic cloves

1/2 tbs of oregano, annatto powder and ground pepper

Slat and pepper to taste

 Steps:

  1. Place in a blender cooked butternut squash and zucchini till it makes a puree. Then add the cooked cabbage.
  2. Heat the butter and add diced onions, garlic, achiote, pepper, oregano and Knorr® Bouillon and mix it with butternut and zucchini puree. Add the cooked rice to the mix.
  3. Add 3 cups of milk with all the beans and corn. Stir well and add cooked fish that has been previously seasoned with Knorr®
  4. Mix the soup with a roasted peanuts puree (peanuts blended with 3 cups of milk)
  5. After 10 minutes, add paisley and serve Fanesca with avocado slices, fried ripe plantains and hardboiled eggs slices.

 

Remember to add the rich authentic Latino flavor of Knorr® to all of your dishes with this Ibotta offer.

 

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Hispanic Mama Filed Under: Food

Fanesca: An Easter Symbol From Ecuador

fanesca_an-easter-symbol-from-ecuador

Every year my family attends the Easter festivities at the local park. My kids look forward to fill their colorful basket with eggs and give high fives to the Easter bunny.

After the egg hunt is over, we come back home to eat an attempted Fanesca, an Ecuadorian dish that represents faith, diversity and history.

While Easter eggs and the Easter bunny are the typical Easter symbols in America, the Fanesca epitomizes what Easter is in Ecuador.

This high elaborated dish is only prepared during Semana Santa (the week before Easter.) It is made of fresh grains that come from the Andean highlands of Ecuador.

The twelve main grains represent the twelve apostles. The principal ingredient of the Fanesca is a salty fish that comes from the Coastal area or the Galapagos area. The fish, a traditional symbol of Christianity, represents Christ.

 

bacalao

Fish for Fanesca is sold at the market, and as a reminder of what it represents, the sign reads: “Jesus the faithful friend”

RELATED POST: 7 Christ-Centered Bilingual Books for Easter

 

The Fanesca is a symbol of the encounter between the Inca and Spanish. Some historians believe that it was a dish that the Spanish conquerors introduced to the Inca and was later merged with the ingredients that were typical from the area.

 

 

What I love about the Fanesca is how it brings families together for the preparation and later at the table. Every Easter we attempt to make this traditional soup regardless if we get the right flavor. The thing is, maybe we never will. But, preparing Fanesca is more about the dish, it is a way to teach my children about their Ecuadorian heritage.

As many things in life, sometimes it is not about achieving but about connecting and love.

Wanna try Fanesca?  Check out my recipe here.

 

Hispanic Mama Filed Under: Food