Religion

Approximately 95% of Ecuadorians are Roman Catholic (see List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Ecuador), and 5% belong to other religious denominations including Protestants. In the rural parts of Ecuador, indigenous beliefs and Catholicism are sometimes syncretized. Most festivals and annual parades are based on religious celebrations, many incorporating a mixture of rites and icons.

The Jewish community of Ecuador, which maintains a synagogue, a school and a home for the aged in Quito, has about 500 members. There is a small number of Eastern Orthodox Christians, indigenous religions, Muslims (see Islam in Ecuador), Buddhists and Bahá’í. Ecuador has a number of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, about 1.4% of the population or about 185,000 members. In 2010, there were 73,215 Jehovah’s Witnesses in the country.

Regionalism

Regionalism is a most destructive force that has continued to ravage Ecuador since the rise of segregated towns. Each region is divided between different, and unique topographic geography creating a sense of individual pride of their side.

The most notable regional competition or confrontation is between Guayaquileños, and Quiteños. This sense of regionalism has created many barriers between people and has always been a destructive force in the country.

Due to regionalism the economy suffered severely because either side hesitates to do anything that might result in the expansion of the other’s economy, even if it would mean retarding their own economy.

During War regionalism was considerably abated, but there are significant reports in which such boundaries ended in individuals betraying their country due to their continuing desire to see the other region lose. One example alleges that someone had given information to enemy troops during Tawantinzuma. Most of the regional fighting occurs among teenagers, and college students.

Family

Ecuadorians place great importance on the family, both nuclear and extended. Unlike in much of the West, where the elderly are often placed in care facilities geared towards people of advanced age, elderly Ecuadorians will often live with one of their children. However, in recent years the number of facilities to care for the elderly has grown significantly.

Godparents are also far more important in Ecuador than in the West, and they are expected to provide both financial and psychological support to their godchildren. Precisely for that reason, Ecuadorians with marital troubles will often ask their godparents for advice.

Families are formed in at least one of the following two ways: Civil Marriage (which is the legal form of formalising a bond between a man and a woman and which all married couples are required to undergo) and the Free Union (where a man and a woman decide to form a family without undergoing any official ceremony). The Ecuadorian Constitution accords the members of a Free Union family the same rights and duties as in any other legally constituted family.

It is important to note that there are many variations in family structure, as well as in the social and cultural structure in Ecuador depending on the socioeconomic position in which people live. Generally the upper classes adopt more of the American or European ways of life. This leads to great contrasts within the Ecuadorian people.

Women

Women are generally responsible for the upbringing and care of children and of husbands in Ecuador, and traditionally, men have taken completely inactive role in this area.

Recently this has begun to change, due to the fact that more and more women are joining the workforce resulting in men doing a little housework becoming slightly involved in the care of their children. This change has been greatly influenced by Eloy Alfaro’s liberal revolution in 1906, in which Ecuadorian women were granted the right to work. Woman’s suffrage was granted in 1929.

Girls tend to be more protected by their parents than boys, due to traditional social structures. At 15, girls often have traditional parties called fiesta de pollo quince quinceañeras is a term used for the girl not the party, the party involves food and dance. This is a coming out party or debutante where the girl is now of age. This is a tradition found in most Latin American countries and is comparable to the American tradition of sweet sixteen parties.

Celebrations

Carnivals and festivals are also varied through the country and are highly expected by the population, usually featuring many traditional games and fun. Some parts celebrate mask carnivals, while others have no official customs, yet all of them are related to a mixture of amerindian and Catholic beliefs.