The Battle Of Pichincha
The Anniversary of the Battle of Pichincha Day is a public holiday that’s observed annually on May 24th in Ecuador. This holiday commemorates the battle that would go on to secure independence for Ecuador on this day in 1822. The Battle of Pichincha occurred on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano next to the city of Quito.
This battle was fought during the Spanish-American wars of Independence and set the Patriot Army headed by General Antonio Jose de Sucre against a Royalist army that was commanded by Field Marshal Melchor Aymerich.
The History Of Battle Of Pinchincha Day
After the French invaded Spain during the Napoleonic Wars and Napoleon had installed his brother on the Spanish throne, the colonies of Spain lost their sense of loyalty to their country.
This coincided with a movement for independence that began to sweep through Latin America. This set the stage for Ecuadoran independence. On May 24, 1822, Ecuador’s moment of liberation would take place on the Pichincha volcano. This battle took only about three hours and ended with the Patriot army defeating the Royalist army.
Interesting Facts About Ecuador
Below are some of the interesting facts about Ecuador that we learned about this country while researching the Battle of Pichincha Day.
- The national tree of Ecuador is the cinchona tree.
- The Republic of Ecuador means “The Republic of the Equator.”
- Ecuador has the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Ecuador was once joined with Venezuela and Colombia.
Observing The Anniversary Of The Battle Of Pichincha Day
All across the country, special services and events take place. This includes festivals, concerts, and parades. Many of these events take place in the capital city of Quito. The flag of the Republic of Ecuador is also used on this holiday to adorn homes and businesses.