August 10: National Day in Ecuador
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Ecuador.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
Ecuador has a diverse geography, including the Andes Mountains and the Amazon River basin. It is located on the equator, which gave the country its name. In addition to several islands along its Pacific Coast, the country of Ecuador also includes the Galapagos Islands, located about 600 miles west of the mainland.
Land in modern Ecuador was included in the Inca Empire in the 15th century and then became part of the Spanish Empire in the 16th century. Like many other South American countries, it developed a culture with Spanish, Indigenous, and African influences. Marimba music is one example of the fusion of these cultures.
On August 10, 1809, a group of people in the city of Quito declared independence from Spain. They established the short-lived State of Quito, which the Spanish defeated in 1812.
As independence movements grew in other regions of the Spanish Empire, people in Ecuador renewed their efforts in 1820. Ecuadorians remember the Battle of Pichincha on May 24, 1822, as a decisive victory in their war for independence.
Ecuador joined the confederation known as Gran Colombia with Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela until 1830, when it became the fully independent “Republic of the Equator” (Ecuador).
Today Ecuador has a population of 18 million. About three-fourths have mixed Indigenous and European ancestry. Spanish is the official language. About 68% of the people are members of the Roman Catholic Church and another 19% belong to another Christian denomination.
This photo shows the presidential palace in Quito, Ecuador, decorated for National Day on August 10, 2017. Photo by Diego Sugoniaev / Shutterstock.com
Learn More
On August 10, 2020, the Embassy of Ecuador in Canada arranged for Niagara Falls to be illuminated with the colors of the Ecuadorian flag to celebrate Ecuador's National Day.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
