Independence of Cuenca 2023: The Independence of Cuenca is a public holiday in Ecuador that is celebrated every November 3. It marks the day in 1820 when the city of Cuenca claimed its independence. Cuenca, which had the third-most people, was an important colonial city that declared its freedom from Spanish rule before the rest of the country did. Guayaquil and other cities then did the same. In the end, Cuenca, Guayaquil, and Quito joined together to form the country of Ecuador. You can see the city’s bright parades, dance, and party during the Independence of Cuenca celebrations.
THE HISTORY OF CUENCA’S FREEDOM
Cuenca, whose full name is Santa Ana de los Cuatro Ríos de Cuenca, is the biggest city and capital of the Azuay Province in Ecuador. It used to be called Guapondeleg, which was a Cañari town that was built around 500 A.D. Around the 1470s, the Cañari were beaten, and Inca leader Tupac Yupanqui ordered the building of Pumapungo, also known as “the gateway of the Puma,” which was said to be as beautiful as Cuzco, the Inca capital. He then changed the name of the city to Tomebamba. Historians from Spain wrote about stories of golden churches and other wonders, but when they went to find the city, they only found its ruins.
After the Caari and Incas left Tomebamba vacant, not many people moved there until the 1550s. The Spanish called it “El Dorado” because the locals had destroyed it so badly before they came. Some people think it might be the legendary city of gold. People in the area thought El Dorado had been set on fire when they heard that Spain had taken it over.
Gil Ramrez Dávalos took the first steps toward establishing a Spanish settlement in Cuenca on April 12, 1557. It was named for Cuenca, Spain, which is where Viceroy of Peru Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza grew up. Cuenca was founded many years after Quito, Guayaquil, and Loja, which were all important Spanish colonies in the area and were founded in 1534, 1538, and 1548, respectively. Although it was a colony, the city grew in size and importance over time. It was at its most important in the early years of Ecuador’s freedom. The Cuenc
FIVE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ECUADOR
- Quinine, the first drug used to treat and prevent malaria, comes from the cinchona tree, which was found in Ecuador.
- Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, got political refuge from Ecuador.
- Ecuador was the first country to make the rights of nature legal.
- Ecuador is one of only two countries in South America that doesn’t touch Brazil.
- At its peak, Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador is the highest point on Earth and the closest thing to the sun.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT FOR CUENCA TO BE FREE
It honors the past.
The Independence of Cuenca is a memorial to the people who fought so that the city could be free from Spanish rule. The holiday is a great way to remember the country’s long and interesting past and the brave people who fought for it.
It shows off how beautiful the country is.
This holiday brings attention to Ecuador and the areas it covers. A lot of Charles Darwin’s idea of evolution was based on things he found while exploring the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. Many people think the island is too far away and impossible to get to, but it’s not. These islands give us a look at a place where nature mostly lives and grows without any help from people.
It makes us want to learn more about Ecuador.
Ecuador got its name from being on the equator; the word “equator” in Spanish means “equator.” It is the only country whose name comes from a trait of the land. The equator is marked by the Monumento a la Mitad del Mundo, which means “Middle of the World.” It is located just outside of Quito.
All Saints Day (Spain) 2023: Date, History, Significance, Facts about Saints
INDEPENDENCE OF CUENCA DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | November 3 | Friday |
2024 | November 3 | Sunday |
2025 | November 3 | Monday |
2026 | November 3 | Tuesday |
2027 | November 3 | Wednesday |