Corpus Christi and the Septenario Celebrations

The Corpus Christi and the Septenario constitutes one of the oldest religious expressions of Cuenca , with a history that goes back 400 years, according to the experts in this area.

Since the Spanish foundation of Cuenca , they are celebratated each year in June. The devout Catholics show their respect to the Body of Christ for a period of seven days, which they named the Septenario. The festivity is run by different social groups, lead by the Archbishop of Cuenca.

The celebration of the Septenario begins with the Saintly Hour, and takes place in the Corazón de Jesús Church. It is followed by a procession with the Santísimo, which begins at 6 PM in the Gran Colombia street and ends at the Church of the Inmaculada. There the Eucharist is celebrated, given by the Archbishop of Cuenca.

Voyage of the Child ( Pase Del Niño)

During the 24th of December, a great procession occurs from the area of El Arenal, until the Calderon Park . Thousdans of children, accompanied by their parents and families, parade from nine of the morning until three in the afternoon. Of special interest are the mayorales, the blacks, allegoric floats, dancers, musical groups, and biblical scenes.

The Voyage of the Child is the most important religious festivity of Cuenca and probably attracts the largest crowds in Ecuador , (with approximately twenty-thousand participants), because of its exceptional beauty. It is a lively celebration that is locally sponsored, with almost no outside support. The event is realized as a show of faith in the Child of God.

The whole parade is to adore the statue of the “Travelling Child” (a representation of the Baby Jesus). He is named the Travelling Child because the Vicar Miguel Cordero took Him for a trip to Europe and the Middle East , where He visited holy places, including the Manger of Bethlehem. In this travel, which took place in 1961, the image was blessed by the Pope of Rome.

The Voyage of the Child has been celebrated since the 24th of December of 1961, first organized by the Mother Rosa Pulla and the Vicar Cordero, who called upon friends, comadres , neighbours, etc to celebrate this act, which took place from San Sebastian to the Cathedral.

From Christmas until Carnaval, the Voyage of the Child can be observed throughout the city.