Founding day of the capital Quito in Ecuador (06/12)

On December 6, Ecuadorians celebrate the Founding Day of the capital — of San Francisco de Quito or, in the most commonly used version, — Quito. The founding day of the city is considered to be December 6, 1534, when the Spanish conqueror Sebastian de Belalcazar entered the city.

Quito is recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in Latin America. In 1978, the historic centre of Quito was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, becoming one of the first cities on the list.

The entire first week of December in the city is — festive. This event has been awaited for a whole year. There are flags all around, amateur mobile orchestras roll out through the streets, and in the evenings people walk around the center.

One of the most important cultural events of the year — bullfighting in honor of the holiday. Performances take place throughout the week, once a day at noon. Famous bullfighters from all over the world come to show their art. Local Ecuadorian Toreros also perform. Fear, fear, adrenaline, the smell of blood... The courage and fearlessness of some bullfighters takes the breath of the audience.

In Ecuador they believe that a good torero — is necessarily a good actor, so the audience is completely passionate about the action, they nervously quench their thirst and share wine with each other, from time to time shout patriotic slogans at the city and not very flattering — at the too lazy, in their opinion, bull. And the winner receives his share of applause and shouts «Torero!», this is how the audience respectfully calls the real master.

939