Pase del Niño Viajero in Ecuador: A Celebration in Honour of Baby Jesus
Religious activities are serious business in Ecuador, especially when it comes to festivities this late in the year. From traditional dishes in the form of fanesca and celebrating the day of the dead towards the end of October, Ecuador always seems to have something in store for just about every visitor that’s looking to get in on a bit of culture. It’s during this time of year, specifically on Christmas Eve (24 December), that Pase Del Niño Viajero (Passing of the Travelling Child) is celebrated in honor of baby Jesus. It occurs principally in the city of Cuenca.

Photo by: Matt Lingard
How did Pase del Niño Viajero Come to be?

Photo by: Mor
What Happens during Pase del Niño Viajero?
Attendees and participants partake in the celebration beginning at 10 o’clock in the morning. In Cuenca, the event begins at the Corazon de Jesus (Heart of Jesus) Church, ending at Carmen de la Asuncion. Up to as many as 70,000 attendees have been recorded in previous years.

Photo by: Carsot
At the heart of the entire procession of Pase del Niño Viajero in Cuenca is the sculpture of the infant Jesus, purportedly made in 1823 after it was commissioned by Cuenca Josefa Heredia from an unknown artist. It was then taken to the Holy Land and Rome in 1961 and was blessed by Pope John XXIII. Its return to Ecuador and ongoing use through the procession have labelled it as the “Traveling Child,” giving the parade its iconic name. Said statue of Baby Jesus serves as an everlasting symbol of hope and redemption to all those who attend the procession, bringing families and locals together to celebrate this monumental day in peace and love, looking towards the coming year with optimism and the best of wishes.
With parents that worked for the U.S. Foreign Service up until he graduated from high school, Chris was raised to have the heart of a nomad throughout his life. He has resided in Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador throughout his years, and just recently spent the past four up in Canada finishing his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy & English at the University of British Columbia.