Concrete Culture:
Ecuadorians dress according to which region of Ecuador they are from. In fact, someone familiar with the cultural history of the country can usually tell what province someone is from by what they are wearing.
Like anywhere else, the music in Ecuador is diverse. Pasacalle is dance music which is popular in Ecuador. Soccer is the number one sport and a national passion.
The food in Ecuador is diverse. Soup, rice with chicken, rice with shrimp, ceviche and chocio, (dry roasted Andean corn), are all popular traditional foods in Ecuador. Ecuadorian Churrasco, a traditional Ecuadorian dish, is steak topped with fried egg, rice, French fries, plantains, salad, avocado slices and hot sauce.
BEHAVIORAL CULTURE
Spanish is the official language of Ecuador. Although Ecuador has sustained quite a bit of political instability in the last century, including an invasion by Peru in 1941, it has remained peaceful in recent years. Currently, Ecuador is one of the safest countries to visit in South America.
The government is a constitutional democracy. The Judicial system uses the Napoleonic code, whereby a person is treated as guilty until proven innocent.
SYMBOLIC CULTURE
The predominate religion is Roman Catholic. Customs include long processions, walks and musical celebrations. Christmas celebrations include live nativities, Christmas pageants and reenactments of Mary & Joseph’s search for an Inn in Bethlehem.
Education in Ecuador is free and mandatory for six years beginning at age six. Funding has been insufficient in Ecuador for the public schools. However, private schools are available for the wealthy.
Folk art is very popular in Ecuador. Wood carving, painting and other crafts are common all over Ecuador with a large presence in the colonial center of Quito, Ecuador.
Pervasive misogyny (“Machismo”), affects much of the country. Although progressive ideas have been introduced, these values are strongly ingrained in the culture.